Mintaka brumation

[Janella]

Hi guys, I just wanted to make sure I was doing everything correctly. Mintaka is an almost 2yr old Northern male. He started going into brumation on 12/5/16. He woke briefly 12/18/16, ate and drank, and passed urate/stool. Since then he has been buried in his substrate. I have not tried to dig and find him nor have I changed his light schedule. I offer fresh water everyday just in case he wakes up. He woke up again on the 10th of January and passed more stool/urates. Since then he has been down. I have read multiple things in what to do during this time, but I just want to make sure I am doing everything right. I have not wetted down his substrate because I don't want to cause an infection or anything. Does this all sound ok? I haven't dealt with a bluey doing brumation, so I just want to make sure. Thanks

[Susann]

Unfortunately I have zero experience with brumation, keeping only Meraukes, but to me it sounds like you're doing good...
I might personally try to inspect him visually to hake sure his breathing is quiet and that his condition looks OK. If you saw him on the 10th and all looked well, maybe that's enough.... but being the worry-wart I am, I'd want to take a peek...
Yes, keeping things dry during his cool period also sounds logical to me, again, as long as he looks good.

[Janella]

Thanks for the reply, I do appreciate it. I am tempted to peak, and another part of me is telling me to just leave him alone. Decisions decisions. Lol

[alichamp]

Sorry Janella, in my mind I had already replied to this! Oops!

As Richard C advised me once if he's staying put he's happy with conditions

You could just swish the top layer of substrate off to have a look at him every couple of weeks. You don't need to pick him up or anything so really it's minimal disturbance and then just put the substrate and hide back how it was. He will either just stay put or it might encourage him to come out and have another drink.

Just to clarify lights are on but heating is off? Next time you could even save yourself the globe and electricity and turn everything off for the period of brumation but as he's happy now I wouldn't change a thing.

[Janella]

Thanks for the response Alichamp. I appreciate it. I will take a peek at him this weekend to just make sure he looks ok. I actually didn't change a thing. He seemed content, so I just left well enough alone. I miss my Mintaka!!

[Janella]

Well, I managed to take a peek at him this am. Needless to say I was greeted by a grumpy hiss..lol. I didn't even touch him!! That was just me very gently moving the substrate. So needless to say, I think he is just fine.

[alichamp]

Awesome!