Posted by:
johne
at Mon Oct 4 09:53:09 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by johne ]
People have different methods of brumating, and also different temps. Some people have great luck, just letting their lizards do it naturally. What I mean is this. Their lizards will slowly quit showing interest for their food. If they are healthy, don't be afraid of this. Let them slow down. They will gradually eat less, and come out of hiding less. If they do this on their own, it is best to help them along. I would do this by not feeding them anymore. Give them about 10 days of normal conditions, but with NO food. Keep offering water.
After the 10 days, reduce the lighting down to fluorescents only. This is best and easiest when using timers (about 4-6 each). After a few more days with the fluorescents, shut those off too, and any other heat sources. Let them stay in the dark for a few days.
Regarding the attempt to synchronize the above. This can be done if everyone's lizards are in the same condition. Definately possible to do this, but some peoples lizards have already started their own processes.
I may start mine in December if they are still awake. I like to keep all my lizards on the same schedule too, so if several start to brumate on their own, I will probable force the others to do so too.
Hope this was helpful.
John E.
Now, what I've mentioned above is what I have done every year...I keep mine in the basement, which maintains about 68 F. I let them stay like this for a couple days (still keeping water in the tank). Now here is where things may be different. I transfer my lizards into Sterlite shoe boxes that have several pencil sized holes in the top. The last couple of years, I have not used any sand, just papertoweling on the bottom. IF you do this, you will have to monitor them every couple days to make sure they do not dehydrate. If their tails start to get thin, you will have to slowly warm them up and offer them (or force) them to drink. Most shoe boxes have some small dimples in each of the four corners...I would put a tiny bit of water into each of the four corners, then add more when it was all evaporated.
I keep my refrigerator set on 45 F. This may not be possible with some refrigerators...you definately don't want to approach freezing temps, so make sure you have a stable cool temp before even trying this. I try to open the door once a day, or ever couple days to make sure their is fresh air. They really don't breath too much at those temps though. They will move extremely slow, and appear dead sometimes. I check on them, but don't disturb them too much.
After a couple months, I reverse the above process (bring them out into the tanks for a few days and let them adjust to basement temp; still no lights)...then bring on the fluorescent lights on a timer for a few days, then bring the incandescent lights back on with the timer. It might take them a few days to start acting normal again, and often they will still sleep for a few days. I don't worry about it. I let them adjust to their own schedules.
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Valerie... - johne, Mon Oct 4 09:53:09 2004