Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have any of you considered using the USDA Plant Hardiness ZOne maps to compare the climates of different parts of the US. I live in southeaster Massachusetts near Cape Cod. The Atlantic and the Gulf Stream keeps our climate moderate. Infact we are in the same Plant Hardiness Zones as the northern 2/3s of New Mexico. (Zones 6 & 7) I would think that it never gets cold in NM....NO 50 degrees is not COLD!

Admittedly last winter was a corker up here...lots of snow and really cold. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone maps were created using average minumum temperatures over a period of years. I think this could be applied to reptile husbandry, but I am interested in other opinions too.

What do you think?

Brian

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I have made a single attempt at brumating 5-lined skinks outdoors in my pen. They are within 30 miles of me, so definately within my zone in Illinois. As far as I know, it did not work out. Conditions for brumation may not have been "Just Right" or the came out later than anticipated and were eaten by my collareds. Either way...in keeping reptiles outdoor is your goal, I would not experiment with costly specimens.

I am really surprised the skinks did not show up. Hell, I dug a 48" deep pit, filled it with busted concrete, then cappedit off with large slabs of landscape rocks. Plenty below the frost line. It is possible they never went that deep before a cold night set in. Interesting to think about though.

John Eddington

Currently housing a pair of eastern collareds, one chuckwalla, one yarrow spiney, and maybe even a Texas banded gecko...I haven't been checking too much at night for him though.

John Eddington

lookin the belly of the collareds!!

"spotty girl" LOVES geckos!! (so I hear)

D

Where are you?

Maybe they are in there and not seen, or your collared theory sounds good too.

Brian

Ok, I'm not really working, but I am at my desk? Just kidding. I'm in central Illinois...pretty danged flat all around here. A few miles south, there are fence swifts and skinks. The closest lizards often use the deep riprap along the damns for hibernating. AT least that is what I think. I guess they could hibernate about anywhere within homes too, such as crawl spaces, cellars, basements, etc.

I have a feeling the skinks didn't make it...collareds would definately eat the theory if they did LOL.

Are you going to set something up? I am really thinking about doing one more pen within the next year or so. I love the placement of mine for viewing off the deck, but the house starts shading it about 4:30. By the time I'm home from work, the lizards are nearly done basking.

John Eddington

Do you leave your animals out all year? I just checked the map and your are either in the same zone or one higher (colder) than I am. If you can do it I should be able to also.

Brian

I have not tried to do it with collared yet? I thought I would first try the skinks. Depending on how long I keep the adults out this year, and provided I don't sell all my offspring, I may let them try to overwinter it.

I know collareds were introduced into the extreme southern portion of Illinois in the 90's sometime. It seems they reproduced pretty good for a while, then numbers began to decrease. I also know they were doing or trying to to eradicate them...funny, it was still illegal to collect them since it was in a portion of the National Forest. Anyway...if conditions were just right for the winter season, and the collareds were lucky enough to get into the right spot in a brumation chamber, I think it would be possible.

In my pen, my fear would be they would get to the bottom, then possibly get swamped with rain all at once in Novemeber...that crap happens sometimes.

The collareds are also native to Missouri...hardly any difference in average temps here in Illinois. Habitat is however completely different, as it is in S. Illinois. Lots of rocky outcrops, which makes a nice environment for the collareds, and more importantly the collareds food items.

Let me know what you try? Always fun stuff to do!

John Eddington