Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like to start keeping ,my lizards outside this winter.
I made (with a heatpad) a device that will keep them around 60 degrees in 35 degrees weather. ( I tested this in the fridge

I live in Santa Clarita CA Here is a list with teh average temps for every month.

http://www.weather.com/weather/climatology/monthly/91355

As you see it can get pretty cold here. Since they are almost 1 year old I dont want to hibernate yet. Is it smart to keep them outside in their little heated cavern with the temps being colder.

Should I bring them outside now and as soon as it gets really cold, back in their normal cage?

What is your scoop on all this. Should I hibernate after all.

I am not sure how effective a thermostat will be outside and try to keep the temps at 60 degrees that way. For your understanding the whole outdoor cage will be ambient temperature except for the little area they sleep in.

Tx for your insight.

Learux

If it were me, I'd do what I could to build an outdoor pen that could be used as a natural hibernaculum (word of the evening). I built my 9 X 9' pen with that in mind. I considered putting some of our native skinks or racerunners in there to try it out. I dug a pit about 4' deep and 3 or 4' wide. I filled it with large pieces of busted concrete (my old back porch) and then terraced some nice landscape rocks over the top to hide the mess.

I would likely fail in any attemp here in central Illinois, because it gets very cold. However, this is something you may consider as an option.

Right now, I'm toying with the idea of building my next pen along side my house, using the house as one of the four sides. I would build it so one of the sides also contains one of my basement windows. That way, when I'm in my basement, I can look out at ground level, and enjoy my lizards...even toss them a cricket from time to time.

In your current situation, it sounds like you are not ready to hibernate you lizards due to their age. If they are healthy, it should be fine, although you will become bored and want more lizards I think it you tried to do this outside, more than likely, your lizards will not choose the areas you want them to, and may end up somewhere cold and stiff.

Just some thoughts, as I'm not really sure what you want to do.

John Eddington

Saturdaynight 0100 very drunk right now, you'll have to wait for a sensible answer in the morning!

Chris

P.S: I thought it got cold her at night

chris

And here I thought you to be a TEA kinda guy, lMAO Eve