Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm getting ready to decide when I should brumate my BTS. I've read many caresheets and they seem to all agree on the period starting at around November and ending around February (give or take a month at the start or the end). But I was wondering if I could start the brumation in October? It's a pretty cool October this time and I'm having trouble keeping my skinks at optimal temp. So I don't want to stress them out by stretching out this cool period longer than it should and the best way to avoid that, in my mind, is to start the brumation now. If I did start it, I would end it around December.

If I'm having trouble keeping temperatures at optimal ranges now, how will I keep them optimal in the middle of winter, you might ask? I have a fire place in the house and it gets the room I keep them in quite warm, except perhaps very late at night and very early morning. And of course I would increase the photoperiod accordingly at the end of brumation even if it's dark outside.

Will this work? Or should I hold off on the brumation? Are there other factors that I'm forgetting? Let me know what you think. Thanks to all those who reply.

One more thing, what is the opinion of the rest of you on what temp. the brumation should be. The majority of the caresheets mention a max of 70 degrees, and a minimum of low 60's. Is that pretty much right?

Unless you are keeping easterns, westerns centrillians, or Blotcheds, I would not go quite that low. My temps dip down to about 68 degrees in the coldest part of the night during the cooling period. They go up to 80 during the hottest part the day during the cooling period. Just my opinion, and what has worked well for me.

It's good if cooling works for you at temp. in that range. I was a bit worried because I didn't think I'd be able to get the temperatures low enough, but if temp. like that work for you, then I should be fine. BTW, it's for Northerns. What do you think about the other things I was wondering about, like the time of month to start, for example, or do you not really have a firm opinion on those other parts?

Sorry I haven't called you back James. I keep meaning to call you on the weekends but something keeps coming up or I forget. Just a few weak excuses for me not calling you. It's definitely not because I don't want to talk to you, though.

It is hard to give you advice about some of your other questions like starting earlier. I just do not know for sure. It should work, if you cover all of your bases and simulate whatever season you need for the desired results. I know Sea World Breeds Penguins (which are on a breeding Cycle from the southern Hemisphere), and they simulate the South pole winter right in the middle of San Diego's summer, and vise versa. Back to BTS. I tried to breed Northerns once without cooling or reducing their photo period (I was curious to see how important it was for them). They did not breed, so I put them through a short 6 week cooling cycle starting the last week in Feb to mid-April. They bred and gave birth in early August. So in my experience, there can be some modification.

Why not just do it as naturally as possible? In other words, why not just let the temperatures outside guide your cooling period? As long as it's not some bizarre weather pattern, it should work best: Slow, gradual -- you know, like in the wild.
Just one thing about the temperature: It gets cooler in their native habitat than we usually think, but I'd generally agree that low 70s should be cool enough.
I hope this helps.
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Edward
Carpe diem

Hey Edward!
Do you keep your guys outside during the Winter?
I'm not quite sure what to do with my Northern. The room I had him cooled in last year now has Crested Gecko's! I had considered putting him under my bed but I do believe it might get too cold (no heat in my room!). So during the day you think the temps should be in the 70's? I also have 3 Uromastyx to cool. They are already slowing down, with these cool nights.
Hmmm... what are your thoughts?
Beth

Actually, I'm sure others will disagree with me on this, but I believe BTS experience rather cool temperatures in their native habitat, except perhaps those in the warmest areas of Australia (Cape York peninsula, Western Australia) and those in Indonesia. So, yes, I do keep them outside over the winter.
I wrote that 70s would be good enough for cycling purposes, but from the climate maps I've seen of Australia, the overnight temperatures go down into the 40s over most of the continent.
Works well for me so take it for what it's worth.
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Edward
Carpe diem

Here's a link to a map of Australia showing the average low temperatures. Notice most of the continent is green or purple: Between -5 and 5 C which is 23 and 41 F.

http://www.anbg.gov.au/hort.research/zones.html
Link

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Edward
Carpe diem

That's a very helpful site! I wonder if anyone has done studies on native BTS and temps in their dens in winter time? Realizing that temps above ground aren't necessarily the same as down in the den. It would be interesting to find! A friend just copied off a chapter in a very interesting book on Uromastyx's that is very technical, but extremely helpful when considering building an outside habitat. You know, what type of tunnels, entrances, location to plants, etc.
Anyone know of any such technical books on Blue Tongues?
Hey James, how technical are you going to get on your book?
Beth
(another Arizona Desert Rat!)