What Species?

[barb1]

Come on Guys, here's another picture, let's have some feedback. Also how have your reps survived the winter? We have had some lovely sunny days here in the south.

[chrisd]

Hi Barb,

I'll have a shot at guessing. Is it the Liverpool variation of Agilis ?

Don't get me started about the weather too !! There was a good start to the year up here near York in March and then for the last 3 weeks nothing but overcast sky's and cold winds. I moved all my lizards outside in March when the weather was better but since then I only occasionally seen them. I lost a Lepida, a Bilineata and 2 male exigua's through winter. I have my suspicions that the exigua's were eaten by the Lepida's which may have helped them get through the winter !! They were certainly looking very fat at the end of the year ! The exigua's were practically fully grown, about 3 years old while the Lepida's were only 18 months old. I've seperated them now to stop anything like that happening again. The lepida probably came out when the weather was mild in early spring and just didn't get back deep enough when the weather turned bad.

Each species are now in a converted rabbit run. I've clad the sides, back and front in polycarbonate and the top in glass. half the front and the top can be removed on sunny day's. The rabbit runs have fine mesh to stop the lizards escaping and are stood on thick poltstyrene and sealed with thick plastic. The hides have been made out of more polystyrene filled with moss at the back of the cage to make sure that they are well protected during winter and cold weather. The cages have been the filled with a mix of sand and compost with logs, stones and plants. Sorry if I've gone on a bit can't stop once I've started !!

Chris

[barb1]

Well done Chris for making an attemp and nice to get info on your lizards and projects.
Yes you are right it is an Agilis and lovely coloured male but the Wealdon race. If you were thinking I might have taken a pic. of it in its natural habitat, well I wish, but have not seen one in decades. This super little guy is from the Sand Lizard Conservation Project and I had the privilage of seeing them not long out of hibernation thanks to Chris who helps with the breeding programme.

Sorry to hear you lost some. My adults were fine but did lose some juvenile Lepida not sure why but certainly not from the cold. I can't believe your young ones got eaten by the other lizards, they don't eat during the winter. What about mice?

I am very interested in your design of outdoor cages, could we have some photo's?
I now have a trio of juvenile Bilineata, have been trying to get them for years, so looking foward to seeing their progress.

All the best, hope your weather improves wer are in for some sun next few days!

[chrisd]

Hi Barbs,

The juvenile's didn't get eaten during the winter they disappeared at the end of last year. I've since dug out the greenhouse to redesign it and found mice holes. You may be right. I live on a farm so there's plenty around. I've dug chicken wire down but they still manage to get in by digging.The greenhouse also struggles with the heat as it is shaded by tree's part of the day. I've clad part of it with bubble wrap and put polystyrene on the floor to insulate it further. I'm still not convinced and will probably catch the Lepidas and build another cold frame for them. The Exiguas, Viridis and the rest love there new home in the other cold frames as they catch the sun unshaded lat into the evening. I will put some pictures on my little website soon as I struggle to put pictures on this one. But please remember that they are not as well made as some of the cages on this website as I'm trying to do things alittle cheaper as I've spent a fortune in the last few years on my lizards. They still do the job though and are well insulated.

Thanks for the pictures !!