Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well all four of ours are now in brumation, the greenies have been in for a month, their 6 weeks is up on the 18th January, and the others is the 1st February, though they might all just be left til the 1st, we'll see how I manage my patience, lol

For those of you that Brumate your Collared Lizards, it is my first time brumating this year and I have SOOOOO many questions I'm dying to ask, so rather than harrass you all individually would you be kind enough to answer the following for me......

Anyone brumate for more than 6 weeks?

And how long do you normally brumate for if over 6 weeks?

Is there any particular reason tht you choose your preferred timescale?

Also,how and at what Temperature? Ie in the fridge at 55 degrees, in the garage at around 50, etc

Do you breed after brumation?

Ta!!
-----
Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:2 Collared Lizards
1:6 Green Anoles
1:0 Dune Scorpion
3:0 Imperial Scorpions
2:0 Desert Hairy Scorpions
0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula

Hiya Kell, you know as strange as this might sound I let Bonnie and Clyde decide when they come out of Brumation.

I do know now after a previous conversation with the pet store I bought them that they are wild caught, so they have their own internal sleepytime clock. Once they started exhibiting that it was time to sleep the winter away I took the steps to ensure no left over food, less light and heat time.

Is that most days it is about 13 degrees in there which is 55 and all good, but because of the mild winter this year it has gone as high as 19 degrees, the day that happened I though we had mice, I heard scratching and later realised it was the lizards in the back room. They have NO heating and the window is wide open, its normally our dressing room, thats where our closets are, but its been too cold to get dressed in there since the lizards went in. They havent lost a lot of weight, the greenies are still over 30g but I wondered if it were bad for them to wake up intermittently because of the temperature. Also, I'm keen to try breeding them, there is only Andy here in the UK that breeds at the moment, and there are FAR TOO MANY Wild Caught Collareds out there.

I dont know if I will be successful with all the ups and downs in temperature, but I really do hope so. I also need ot prepare myself in advance for incubation, so I'd like to buy my hova-bator and get the temperatures right when the lizards wake up, but then I dont want to exceed my own expectations and spend money on something when I might in fact not need it!

ANYWAY..... Please keep the replies coming, I really think I've done all the research necessary before I brumated but being the keen student I always have niggling questions, which is why I'm keen to see what other people practice, lol

My posts are always 10 pages long, please accept my apologies, I really want to learn more and I figure thats only going to happen if I keep asking LOTS of questions

Thanks
-----
Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:2 Collared Lizards
1:6 Green Anoles
1:0 Dune Scorpion
3:0 Imperial Scorpions
2:0 Desert Hairy Scorpions
0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula

Lol, don't be afraid to ask questions Kell.

Well I live in Southern California, where our low's have been around yours but that isn't the normal temperatures. Our house temperature hovers between 68 to 70 degrees Farenheit, can't remember the conversion to Celcius.

OK thanks as always

So you both brumate higher than normal temps, I was wondering Boost if you let yours decide when to get up again how long is that normally, roughly?
-----
Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:2 Collared Lizards
1:6 Green Anoles
1:0 Dune Scorpion
3:0 Imperial Scorpions
2:0 Desert Hairy Scorpions
0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula

Well aside from their normal check-ups and soakings, they normally start brumating October/November through to March/April.

do fine Kelly, it's not unusual to see them move around here and there or go to a bowl for a drink, or even scratch. They will settle again when it cools. Only worry if they lose weight.

As far as how long, 6 weeks is pretty much the minimum time, anywhere from 6 weeks to a few months. I personally go from 6 - 8 weeks. I start late, mine will be going in a lower level room, I have a split level home, 3 levels (no basement) but the lower level room I will be using gets cool. I will put them in on Monday for Jan and Feb and maybe the first week in March, have to see. My temps are in the low 60's and they still have kids I don't get into the 50's.

One of your next questions if I remember was do they mate right away. Some females begin showing their (Blush color) orange about 2 weeks after brumation, some may take a bit longer. This means they are ovulating, and not long after, the male will begin to dance around her, head bobing, doing what we call the pelvic drag, he drags his back end along the ground and you may see him go in a circular motion.
Then he will grab her by the neck to hold on and mount her, if she allows him they will mate, if she rejects him, she will put her back up (arch it) and sometimes even roll over. Be patient if this happens, she is not quite ready, LOL

C. vestigium mating

-----
PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

It helps to know what other people do, because we all seem to have our own variants. I know mine have not lost more than 1g each, I guess I wondered if they would not breed at temperatures warmer than what I've read are most suitable, not that I've brumated purely because I want to breed, I want whats natural for them wherever possible anyway. I just thought they might need longer than 6 weeks if I am to try breeding them.... if they arent as cold as they could be I thought they might need longer, but I guess from the above they should be ok.

Also, while they are in there it might sound silly but I miss them, though I want whats best for them, not what's best for me, lol.

Thanks for your help, as ever its appreciated
-----
Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:2 Collared Lizards
1:6 Green Anoles
1:0 Dune Scorpion
3:0 Imperial Scorpions
2:0 Desert Hairy Scorpions
0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula

Hehehheee I DRAG my feet each winter, I hate bruamtion, I like them up and eating and me looking at them each day and talking with them telling them how beautiful they are, LOL.

I miss each face, and know each ones lil ways. And there are alot of faces, Only thing thats nice is I do keep some up.
It is a happy day when brumations over and they are back in their home looking pretty.
-----
PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

Exactly how many do you have of each species?

I always wondered that, lol.

You're a good mom, bless you Eve
-----
Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk
0:0:1 Timor Monitor
2:2 Collared Lizards
1:6 Green Anoles
1:0 Dune Scorpion
3:0 Imperial Scorpions
2:0 Desert Hairy Scorpions
0:1 Mexican Red Knee Tarantula

Never really took a toll of each species, I like to just say my scaley family is quite LARGE collareds being the largest part of my lizard kids.
-----
PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

Anyone brumate for more than 6 weeks?
I plan on 8 weeks but usually wimp out nad take them out at 6 weeks.

And how long do you normally brumate for if over 6 weeks?
Some of my lizards go under the rocks in their cages and brumate on their own. Some of them stay under for 3 or more months.

Is there any particular reason tht you choose your preferred timescale? I'm not sure where I came up with the time scale. I've been told that the length of light cycles plays a large role in getting them to breed.

Also,how and at what Temperature? Ie in the fridge at 55 degrees, in the garage at around 50, etc
I try to keep it in the 50's but their is alot of fluctuation in temps.

Do you breed after brumation?
I usually do breed then