Winter Funk or Concern?

MangoTango

Established Member
hey guys. my girl usually gets the winter funk, but this year idk if I should be concerned or not. it’s been probably about a week and a half where she’s slowed down a little bit. after a few days I gave her a piece of a blackberry, hoping to cheer her up a bit. still slow, barely basks, barely moves. all of that is normal for her during a little bit of time during winter. bc she wasn’t moving, she wasn’t pooping, so I gave her 0.05 Lactulose - as I have from previous vet visits - on 2/5/25. it’s now 2/8/25 and she still hasn’t gone. (im assuming she hasn’t bc she’s been in the same spot and I have a camera in there). I don’t think she’s backed up tho bc she will still take food (bugs) and it’s the only motivator to get her to move a little bit. she is incredibly food driven tho so i’m not sure if she is backed up, and just eating bc she doesn’t know how to help herself and loves food. she also got a hornworm a few days ago which I gave in case she was a little dehydrated and she ate it so fast without a second thought.

now here’s the part that gets me:

she’s usually like this for maybe a week max, but now its been a little longer. BUT, we’ve been having lots of snow here in NY and are expected to get more tonight. maybe she just feels the weather coming and that’s why she’s in a funk for a longer amount of time ??

plus, since she won’t move, it’ll be hell to try to get her to the vet - but still possible.

what do you guys think? her only symptom is being lethargic. (and obvi no poop but that’s due to being lethargic) I feel like it’s normally two or more symptoms togeyher that cause concern (minus the obvious like closing eyes in the daytime which she hasn’t been doing)
 
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edit: forgot to mention, she’s been doing the leaf walk too. and here’s a pic of her. she moves decently fast for hornworms, and I got her to sit in the basking spot now so at least maybe she can digest a bit faster
 

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I agree with what @MissSkittles said about the temps. Here is FL we have had a colder than normal past month and I had to add a basking lamp to my females cage. She was still eating well just not as active as usual.
All but one of my chams normally poops once a week this time of year. IMO would only give the lactulose if it’s been like a month with no poop and after you have done other hydrating methods. One of my males will usually only go once or twice a month during the winter. I can usually get him to go with increased hydration and an increase in temps.
 
I agree with what @MissSkittles said about the temps. Here is FL we have had a colder than normal past month and I had to add a basking lamp to my females cage. She was still eating well just not as active as usual.
All but one of my chams normally poops once a week this time of year. IMO would only give the lactulose if it’s been like a month with no poop and after you have done other hydrating methods. One of my males will usually only go once or twice a month during the winter. I can usually get him to go with increased hydration and an increase in temps.
@MissSkittles her lamp died the other day, and I think it was reaching about 79 F, and the same day I got a new one and it’s reaching 80 F. should I go higher for winter? I try to keep her clutch size down
 
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