robv
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by robv on Nov 5, 2007 8:44:00 GMT
Hi Guys; just wondering if everyones critters are hibernating yet? Pretty much all of my animals are still active during sunny days, although there is evidence of tunnels being dug. I guess this rather mild autumn is not helping!
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robv
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by robv on Dec 13, 2007 9:03:53 GMT
Just a quick addendum to the above; all of my Lacertid species are now burrowed down and completely out of sight. I have a pair of Laudakia (stellio brachydactylus) who are steadfastly refusing to burrow down. I have moved them into a greenhouse viv and each night I head down with my torch to place them under the leaves in the viv. I have a feeling that in their natural environment they have very dry cold winters interspersed with warm days. This could indicate that they do not hibernate in the classic european way - does anyone have any experience with this species?
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morbid
Full Member
"Assumption is the Mother of all f**kups.."
Posts: 183
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Post by morbid on Dec 13, 2007 10:17:30 GMT
All of mine are in hibernation now.. Good to have some "holiday-time", but I know that I will miss the little buggars before they are up again..
I cannot help you with the Laudakia sp. have no experiance with it..
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robv
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by robv on Dec 20, 2007 12:28:42 GMT
Hello again - apologies for the one tracked mind, but this is my first winter with animals outside and the opportunity to observe 'normal' beahviour at close hand is fascinating. I have solved the Laudakia problem by constructing a box above ground in their viv, filled with Newspaper. They have both entered the box and have not reappeared. I was also warned that very occasionally on sunny days a lizard will appear even if the temperature is not particularly high - we had a heavy frost last night (-4c) and today in my greenhouse the temperature is not yet in double figures but this beautiful male nigriventris is out and about for the first time in about 8 weeks! He looks in very good condition for it! [ ]
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Post by mark68 on Dec 22, 2007 15:08:30 GMT
I went out a few days ago to inspect my outdoor vivs during the afternoon while it was nice and sunny. For a week day temps had been only 8-12c day time, and frosts had occured every night for a week. Despite it being only 8.6c max that day, Lacerta strigata and lacerta trilineata could be seen basking. The viv's are only covered with chicken wire !
I am worried about the L. strigata, one female in particular seems to be out everyday when I am sure she should be hibernating.
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Post by Killian on Dec 28, 2007 10:43:46 GMT
Have your animals been bred inside? I have heard that if they do not hibernate outside in their first year they can get confused!? Somebody else maybe able to elaborate? ?
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Post by mark68 on Jan 1, 2008 17:00:07 GMT
That is what I was thinking. The Lacerta strigata pair that are outside I got from germany this sept just gone. From the size of them it is possible they were kept warm last winter, I think they were CB06. But interestingly only the female appears, while the male is not. She looks ok though There is also one female Lacerta agilis exigua that is doing the same, but she is now in her third winter outside. The L. trilineata were bred by Rob P in 2006 so I will have to ask him. I know he believes the theory you mentioned Killian. During sunny spells this week I have also seen Laudakia stellio picea, Bearded dragons and Aussie Water Dragons out too (the later, some adults and a couple of the young bred this year). However the native Psammodromus vanish in Sept and will not reappear probably till late March/April !
Also this week have heard midwifes calling after rain despite it being only 5c at the time ! Also western spadefoots, fire salamanders, sharp ribs (the first one I have seen) and natterjacks have been out and about, again after rain.
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