Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

My crotaphytids have begun undergoing changes in behavior during the last 2 weeks. My adult C. bicinctores, for example (a group of 1.3), are only accepting food every other day, or every two days. Although they bask regularly, they seem to do so for shorter periods of time (they are still very active, though). My C. collaris, a group of 1.3 as well, have decreased their food intake drastically as well (the two younger females ate more than any other lizards I have before these changes took place). And finally, my pair of G. wislizenii have almost stopped eating completely. The female eats occassionaly, but the male does not seem interested in food. Interestingly, their "environment" has not changed at all (all enclosures are on the same light timer), but the only thing I can think of is that these changes started around the same time we began to get lots of rain. All of my animals are now (in their respective enclosures) inside a large "shed" (have been for over 2 months) that is climate-controlled. Since nothing has changed (that I can control) I am left to assume that the air unit introduced air from outside (during the rains) and affected the "atmospheric" pressure in the shed, causing a decrease in appetite. Or it could simply be that their biological clocks have determined that it is time to begin brumation... Any opinions?

Note: one of the female C. bicinctores is a bit thin, and I would prefer NOT to subject it to brumation. But they have all decreased their food intake! What to do??

Thanks in advance,

Fabián
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Fabián Aguirre
Zookeeper/ Freshwater Aquarist
Department of Herpetology and Freshwater Biology
The Dallas World Aquarium
(214) 720-2224
fabian@dwazoo.com
www.dwazoo.com

here is san diego, whenever the sun is not out, it is really cold in my opinion and regardless of what i do the lizards always notice. i just think you cannot really control barometric pressure. if we could i would certainly live in a house with it because my knees always ache when it is cloudy/raining. however, after the sun comes back out and it is warm again, the lizards always wake back up and resume eating alot and are wild and crazy. last week it did this and i thought for sure walter would be lazy until spring but he has been out and having fun. maybe once the sun comes back out yours will perk up a little. if they continue to eat just a little amount, perhaps you could give the skinny girl something with a higher fat content. last year walter tried to self brumate ( i was not really aware at the time, i just thought he was really lazy) and i would just wake him up everyday in enough time to let him warm up before feeding.
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

Thanks for the response, Vonnie. Sorry it took so long for me to reply... I was watching the debate (hehe, who wasn't!)

I too agree that atmospheric pressure might be affecting the levels of activity of my lizards, so I will definitely look for any signs of regaining appetite once the weather changes once again.

Regards,

Fabián

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Fabián Aguirre
Zookeeper/ Freshwater Aquarist
Department of Herpetology and Freshwater Biology
The Dallas World Aquarium
(214) 720-2224
fabian@dwazoo.com
www.dwazoo.com

About even up I'd say this time...although Bush couldn't keep seated...he may have lost a few points for chomping at the bit tonight ;P

JE

...I would strongly disagree. But that is only an opinion... who was it who said "not all opinions are of equal value"? hehe...

And John, thank you for your detailed response concerning my lizards. Your suggestion sounds most interesting. But how would that affect their reproductive cycle? Do you think, for example, that subjecting a female collared to a short brumation period would prompt the same result as subjecting her to the opposite (longer period of brumation)? In other words, would the animal wake up thinking that it's "spring" once again? What implications do you think this shorter brumation period would have on their physiological state?

And once again John, Vonnie, thanks for your input.

Fabián

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Fabián Aguirre
Zookeeper/ Freshwater Aquarist
Department of Herpetology and Freshwater Biology
The Dallas World Aquarium
(214) 720-2224
fabian@dwazoo.com
www.dwazoo.com

I don't think she would think it is Spring again...this is pure speculation, but I see this more of a sudden snap of crappy weather in Spring that keep the lizards down under the rocks for a couple more weeks. I see it more comparable to something of this nature.

John E.

the backs of my eyelids were playing the presidential debates too.
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

Try some butterworms, or waxworms to supplent her on if she is still eating.

John E.

I have had some degree of success with using a very short brumation time for those lizards that starting to brumate without me wanting them too. I have seen people try to keep them awake by handling and forefeeding, and it always seems to increase stress levels in the animals. Try a shorter induction and a couple weeks of cool temps, then slowly bring her back out of it, and hope for the best.

Strangely, some of my lizards appetites are decreasing, while three of my aquaflame females have become gravid over the last week. I swapped my aquaflame males, and witnessed an immediate breeding take place. Strangest thing is one tank about half my lizards are preparing to brumate (I think) and the other half are still eating daily. Just a wait and see. I hope my gravid females decide they need to stay awake a few more weeks, and I also hope I only see one clutch from each at the most...too late in the year! LOL

John E.

wow i thought milly was bad at laying eggs in mid-september. so could you possibly have some christmas/hanukkah eggs depending on how long it takes i could have an election egg
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

late in the season, but I told you Johneee in email, my Kachina the female that runs with Kong is about to lay.

I do not THINK they mated, who knows!

Wish you luck Sockhead, as I know you would love to have some youngins this year!
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Eve / PHEve