Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Daytime highs in La Paz Bolivia are plus 6 degrees c daytime and minus 5 at night, how far from La Paz are yellows found?...Is La Paz at a very high altitude?..Mike

Mike,
Unfortunately, La Paz is one of the highest cities in the world at around 12,000 feet. Instead, check weather data for Asuncion, Paraguay which would be a good average for environmental temps within the natural range of yellows.

Kelly

Thanks Kelly.........night time lows of 10 and 11 degrees c..for Ascunsion...wow, a BCC could never handle those temps.......very very hardy boid......I am sure sebae natalanesis and the northern edge of the range of molurus molurus are also exposed to some chilly night temps. My male only ate 3 1/2 months this year, if that, and now he is off food and will be til late March early April.......his fast has been 6 weeks longer each year for the past 3 years. I don`t weigh him but he probably gains 15 pounds in less than 4 months.

Mike,
You are correct, the species that range into the higher latitudes like you listed are capable of surviving winter period night time lows into the low 50’s F for short periods with no problem. Most bask heavily during the winter day periods when temps are back up into the 70’s. Other classic examples of high latitude species that have adapted to cool winter climates are southern B. c. occidentalis and northern Mexico B. c. imperator.

Interesting that male of yours goes off feed for extended periods like that. During non-breeding periods, how close to the females enclosure is he being housed?

Kelly

He is housed 4 feet away all year round, the fasts get progressively longer each year, and each year he holds his weight better.....to compensate for the long fast, in the wild though they not getting optimal feeding frequency so that may be a factor. he started fasting while she was still pregnant. I can`t imagine him fasting any longer(he resumed feeding after March 25 shed...1st shed in 5 months then shed 5 weeks later) and refused food July 15.......though he is thick and solid...when he was eating he passed very little....mostly uric acid and fur.....very efficient liver........actually Kelly, Argentine Black and White Tegus only eat 4 months of the year so maybe there is something in the air lol.