Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm in FL, and I just came home to a pretty toasty house...80 to low 80's...I have "montane" type chams (quads and merus)...how long can they take this heat? I have someone coming to work on it within the next hour, hopefully. I've always had the temps so controlled that now I'm panicking! I have an air conditioned room in my barn that I can put them in...but I don't want to stress them out more by moving them if I don't have to. So, how long do I have? Also, has any damage already been done???

I turned off everyone's basking lights, sprayed everyone's cages really well...that's all I can do for now unless I go ahead and move them.

Thanks!

Kristen
-----
1.2 c. quadricornis
1.2 c.j. merumontanus
1.1 r. brevicaudatus
0.0.2 red eared sliders

I'm sure an OCCASIONAL hot day happens in their wild habitat, but they would have the ability to move very low in the canopy to escape the heat. In captivity they can't. I would move them regardless of the stress. That temporary stress will be easier to recover from than overheating and possible kidney damage. You could also get chill packs (blue ice) and lay them on top of the cage (cooler air drops down), turn out the lights, and wrap the cages partially with towels to keep the cooler air in.

Thanks Carlton...

Well, here's my dilemma...it's been hot for a bit...so since they've already been with it about 80, I hate to add to the stress by moving them around. If the a/c guy gets here soon and fixes it, do you think their already being warmed up to 80 already could have hurt them?

I put a container full of ice on top of one cage, hooked up a fan and turned it on a very low setting, misted them and managed to get it down to 75 for the moment...

Thanks again
Kristen
-----
1.2 c. quadricornis
1.2 c.j. merumontanus
1.1 r. brevicaudatus
0.0.2 red eared sliders

Probably not. If they were going to be in the heat for more than a couple of days yes, but one day with icepacks and lots of misting should be OK.

Thanks so much! The a/c guy should be here any minute.

Kristen
-----
1.2 c. quadricornis
1.2 c.j. merumontanus
1.1 r. brevicaudatus
0.0.2 red eared sliders

Hey Kristen,

I wouldn't worry about if it is but a few hours. As you know, i keep Merumontanus too, and there are days when the temperatrure gets above 80 degrees. As long as it doesnt get to 90, and as long as they are misted, don't worry yourself too much. the early 80's are fine

Thank so much...I feel much better reading this. I was really stressing out more than the chams were...hahaha...although, I turned off their basking lights to keep it cooler and they were thrown for a bit of a loop.

A/C is fixed now, so we're back to the nice cool house now, thank goodness!

Take care
Kristen
-----
1.2 c. quadricornis
1.2 c.j. merumontanus
1.1 r. brevicaudatus
0.0.2 red eared sliders