ALL THE REPTILES HIBERNATING?

[barb1]

:DHi Friends,

The weather has changed in UK. It's really chilly down south and now rain.

Have your reps. "pulled down the shutters" and digging in for winter.
My Eyeds' were sunning last weekend when we had that warm spell but not eaten for weeks now. I guess that's it unless we get a mild spell.

Let's hear your news?

Barbara

[Killian]

My guys have made a hasty retreat!! its really cold here up north! My axolotl are the only ones still active but they are active even under the ice on their pond!

[robv]

All of my animals are still out and about as of last friday; they are all still feeding well so I expect them to be around for a couple of weeks (providing the sun is out!).

Its not been too cold in the South west (Bristol) - it's windy but my outdoor vivs are pretty well sheltered and obviously the greenhouse vivs are still reasonably warm.

[barb1]

Well, after thinking they were all hunkered down for the winter, today has been blue sky and warm, just right for lizards and tortoises! The lizards seem quite agile but not eating. I guess having a greenhouse would soon warm them up? Mine do not have that luxury but they do have a small cold frame to go into for a warm up.

[mark68]

In Portugal it is very sunny still with temps 21c day 5c night. Most of the adult lizards have stopped eating, but the young continue to grow and feed well. A couple of tortoises hatched naturally in the last few days.

[Iowarth]

Most of mine were still up in the sunshine on Friday just gone. Weather has been damp and cloudy since then but still the odd appearance when the sun has tried to come out. On the Friday it was noticeable that most adult animals were quite desultory about eating although the young are still pigging away!

Chris

[chrisd]

In East Yorkshire we've had some sunny weather this last week. My Eyed, Sand and Greens have all been out and about. I think they have been feeding sporodically on and off. They are looking full and healthy. It cools down quickly about 3pm though and they are usually 'in bed for about 5ish' I've taken all my juvenilles ( various greens and sands) into a warm shed and will probably keep them there for the winter, extending the season and bringing next season forward next year after a shortish hibernation.
They have grown very very slowly this year and I want to try to feed them up a little in what's left of this year. Will this problem be due to the poor amount of sunlight and therefore they have been unable to process/synthesis some of the food that they have had ?? My year old sands have especially suffered; have not grown much and have recently lost weight as stated in previous messages. I'm pretty sure that I still may loose some.

Also before I go to the vets could someone help with a problem I have. One of my Viridi I have has recently developed a swelling on one side of its jaw. I have taken it inside and raised the temp. Is there anything else I can do or do I just bite the bullet and take it to the vets and the obligutary 'blood tests and antibiotics.'

[barb1]

Could it be an abscess developing? Have you got a local reptile vet who could have a look at it? You are certainly right to keep it warm. An abcsess could kill a lizard and poison the system. Watch to see if it gets larger. It could have been a bite, or even a grass seed might have burrowed in. Probably best to get it checked out.

[Iowarth]

Hi Chris
I hope your viridis is doing OK. Mouth infections are not too rare in males of this species but if they don't sort themselves out rapidly then I'm afraid a visit to the vet is essential.
So far as your young lizards are concerned I fear you may be trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea here. If their condition is deteriorating in this way then, untended, winter losses seem inevitable. Sadly, by bringing them in and inducing a short abnormally timed hibernation, although this may well ensure their survival you are likely to have to do this every year henceforth. Lizards of genus Lacerta seem to very rapidly adapt to NOT hibernating naturally and as a result fail to do so in succeeding years. This does not apply to Podarcis and Timon - presumably because these are not true hibernators - rather brumators. Lacerta, if disturbed in hibernation are almost indistiguishable from death. Timon will immediately wake up and start hissing and biting and Podarcis are so awake they will run away (and in the latter genus, they may get up and bask on any day of the year if the sunshine is warm enough!).
So far as hibernation is concerned down here on the south coast, the only indication that it is close is loss of appetite. Almost all of my temperate lizards are still up and about. In the last two days, just to really confuse matters, one of my male L. agilis has been seen successfully mating with two separate females. Night time temperatures are around 7-9C and day time 13-16C - but toasty warm in the sun.
Chris