Reptile & Amphibian Forums

every once in a while my brumaters will wake up cuz the temperture in the tank rises above 55 degrees, will this screw up the brumation process. is it ok for them to go in and out of sleep, let them warm up a bit then cool down. i figure that would happen in nature, so i wasnt to worried about it. let me know what you guys think.
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Guy LoPresti
2.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Adrien)
1.1 firebelly toads
1 baby emperor scorpion (ceasar "caligula" )
( if you know what caligula means you'll get it)
4 dogs (groucho charles bugs Gracie)

I guess awake time increases their heart rate and burns calories, meaning they use body fat but as long as its not too often and they are hydrated well/dont lose too much weight I wouldnt be worried. You'll probably notice they lose weight from the base of the tail first, had that happen once or twice and had to wake em up.

On the flip side I wish mine would quit breeding and go sleep already !!
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Kel

www.collaredlizards.co.uk

1:1:0 Common Collared Lizards
1:1:0 Auriceps
1:2:0 Desert Collared Lizards
0:1:0 New Mexico Collared Lizard

Hey Guy,

Thanks for asking this. I learn from all you guys.

I've been worried about this issue. My lizards are not really brumated. I've been letting the room cool down for all the other reptiles. My Collareds still have all their temps and light maintained but a little cooler at night. Nevertheless, they seem to know it's winter and they are always hiding, and eating a lot less. I presume this is normal and not unlike what they would see in nature in warm places like Texas or Arizona. But I've worried about them not eating as much. They've been drinking well, and I give them a soak every two weeks or so. During the past month they are just hiding under rocks most of the time. They do look fat and happy though, so I guess it's OK.

I'm looking forward to seeing them all active again in the spring!

Thanks,

John

Mine wake up when the temps rise close to 60. They are in a stupor and have not lost any weight. But as soon as I see the temps rising above 57 or so, I add an ice pack. I think that you have to be careful about how warm it gets. They will lose weight if they become active and aren't warmed and fed properly. I'm sure that Eve will chime in here soon, but she tells me that if they are awake but still in that stupor, then they are fine.

Is it dark where they are, or can they see light?

it rises to about 60 or as low as 57 they are awake and trying to get warm. altho i have the space heater on one side so they tend to flock to that side, if i dont keep track of it, it can warm the tank to about 60. so i have to keep at about 50 to 55, if it goes below 50 i monitor it, 45 is the lowest ill let it go. but it doesnt rise above 60, and thats happened about 3 times since we have started on thanksgiving. but they are little cheaters, cuz they know that one side is warmer then the other so they gravitate to that side!! im like "guys your cheating, your supposed to be sleeping". in terms of light or not, they are in the garage which is pretty well lit, but the lights are off most of the time, plus i keep blankets over the tank, so they are blacked out. but yeah nothing above 60, i check them muliple times daily. just worried about them waking up.
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Guy LoPresti
3.2 collared lizards (Lizzy,Stevie 2,Ike,Rocky Caroline)
1.1 firebelly toads