Winters here!

[barb1]

Just wondering how every one is coping with this exceptional cold at the moment.

Any body brought theirs in, or decided to use another method to keep the lizards safe?

[robpilley]

All of mine are buried outside, I wouldnt dream of disturbing them and risk bringing them in. I wouldnt stand much of a chance of finding anything anyway, I have no idea where they burrow down to, and would only risk partially disturbing and exposing them if I did lose my nerve and grub about looking for them. Its all part of the big experiment eh! Theyve been through worse, they experienced -10c the year before last.
All I know is a few years back we had to move house in the winter so was forced to dig out the various burrowed lizards. Many were nearly 30 cm below the surface and one male exigua I didnt manage to find at all, Im sure he reappeared the following spring though (assuming the new home owners hadnt turfed over where he had burrowed down!)

Rob

[ameivaboy]

I have all my lacertids (agilis exigua,agilis chersonesis,lepidus,Podarcis sicula) In a mini fridge now.
I had the Podarcis outside, but we had quite a cold spell and being that my outdoor cages are merely cages and they can't go underground (substrate depth less than 15cm) I have brought them in too and placed them in the fridge. My first year doing this and every day/night I'm a nervous wreck about my lizards - but they are all fine so far. Currently I have my fridge at about 5-7C

[barb1]

Yes all mine are asleep and hopefully OK. My Lepida are about 3-4ft down. The Bilineata were quite late hibernating and although I provided an underground chamber, they are probably elsewhere. I have covered the area with leaves and carpet over the top of their pens. I am having to watch one of the large pens, the snow lay on top of the nylon netting and weighed it down, so had to climb up and shovel the snow off.

We now have snow, since yesterday, so I guess that will help to insulate them.

[chrisd]

Hi Everyone, we've had snow practically for the last week up here in York. I've tried to give my lizards extra protection this year first by filling the cages with straw then covering the cages with glass, bubble wrap, and a tarpaulin. Hopefully that will be enough ! Rob, when you disturbed your lizards a few years ago what did you do with the lizards ? did you re-hibernate them ? Or did you keep them awake ? I'm going to awaken afew of mine when the weather warms up slightly and bring them indoors and any tips will help.

[robv]

Hi Guys - all of my animals are well and truly out of sight! Mind you the couple of inches of snow in the cages would probably discourage most things! I would also echo Rob's comments, in that, if your animals are 'under' I really would not disturb them at all. My early experiences taught me that some of them just don't want to hibernate and as a result there is very little you can do to keep an animal determined not to hibernate alive. Animals that of their own accord appear early having gone dormant naturally - and in your opinion a bit early - could well be brought in and given a 'boost' prior to releasing back into the enclosure later in the year. Chris - I know it must be worrying, but if your animals are all hibernating naturally this is a good thing.

Rob

[barb1]

Now it's suddenly gone milder. The snow is fast melting. Must have changed 10degrees since last night. If we have any sun, could they start waking?

[chrisd]

Warming up !! Are you joking Barb ? -13 this morning (mon), a record. It hasn't warmed up much the rest of the day either !

[barb1]

Goodness, real artic conditions Chris. It's 3+ tonight Tues. suppose that can't be bad compared with what you're experiencing. Are you fearful for the beasties?

I have hibernated my tortoises in a cold utility room and other lizards now indoors, saving on high electricity bills. Am I glad not to have to go out to the shed to check lizards!

My outdoor pens are full of leaves and covered with mats. Do you reckon yours will come through?

[chrisd]

Hi Barb,

We have experienced the same temps for days now. Down to -13ish during the night then warming up to a balmy -8/-5 during the day. I've never experienced temperatures quite like this before and yes I'm worried for the lizards. They are well protected as I have mentioned above but you never know. Nothing I can do though, just keep my fingers crossed for the next 5 months ! The forecast is for the temp to rise to 4/5 this weekend, hopefully I can clear the snow off and check the cages. If they do survive then it just shows what hardships they can withstand. Last winter was bad as well. Not quite as cold but quite long lasting and they survived. If there has been casualties then I will probably move them all into seperate cages within the greenhouse, which I can heat as necessary.

chris

[clemmys]

Here in Worcestershire its been as cold as i can remember, have never lost an animal hibernating outside in 10 years. But with temps down to -10C at night and daytime values barely getting above freezing, i am a bit concerned. Brought all my not so hardy reps in, they are hibernating in an unheated garage.
My ponds have up to 3 ins of ice and the forecast is for the cold weather weather to continue till the end of the year.
Good luck with all your animals.

Graham

[barb1]

Well, it's a lovely day today Thursday, sun out and very bright but bitter cold. Will be a hard frost tonight for sure. I guess down south we have come off lightly compared with you folks further up country. I hope you soon get some respite. At least if you have snow, it will help to insulate the vivs. Our snow went last weekend. I remember the year 1963 as a youngster, that winter was very bad. Lost a lot of tortoises then, so not prepared to make that mistake again. I've got them tucked up in a cool room.

[jl]

Hello,
In France also, it is the winter...
In my outdoor enclosures, a group of Sceloporus jarrovii and a pair of Podarcis siculus, which have already faced the similar temperatures in - 9 ° C raised there is a few days.
But we are always worried all the same!
Some pics :