Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Many thanks to Phil Clevinger for my new addition female platyrhinos. Funny story how I got her from Phil actually,... A friend and I were doing some night road cruising in Whitewater earlier this week and I happened to bump into Phil out there. He had been doing some day hiking earlier in (or somewhere near?) hwy 247 , I think, and he came across this girl. He knows I have been in search for at least one female, so when we ran into eachother he asked if I wanted her. "Of course" I said! I got her home later that night and put her into my 40 gal tank w/ my male DHL, turned on the lights to warm her up a bit and offered her some ants and boy did she accept!! She must have taken at least 50 ants within 3-4 minutes. I was amazed at how fast she was willing to accept food in a new environment! Other lizards, as well as my other DHL, seem to take a few days to get aquainted before they take food regularly. She has a great personality and is doing good so far!!

Weird to be out night cruising for snakes and stumble on an HL at around midnight!!
Who says HL's are diurnal? HUH!

Thanks again Phil.
-Ryan

I think she might be gravid. I can feel a few egg-like lumps in her stomach. I'm definately not an expert in determining this in HL's, but if she is I know I am educated enough to hatch any would be eggs.
Anyone know what the average number of eggs a DHL usually lays in a clutch? I think I can feel at least three.
I might be wrong all together, so I'll keep a close eye on her.
-Ryan

p.s.
(here's another pic of the first DHL I got this year, who is also doing well)

Hi Ryan,
Looks like you have a very nice pair there. Can you provide a full side profile shot that is a little lower down? Preferrably when she is up on her legs so to speak.
I also wanted to ask you what kind of sand you are using? That is much finer grain than the playsand I get at home depot.
Thanks!
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Phrynosoma.Com

Just a thought, I know this may be a matter of taste and personal preference, but the very fine reptile sand does not usually show up in nature. Many times these lizards are on hard pan and dirt with rocks etc. I think the home depot sand more closely matches the envirionment and is very cheap. I also noticed that the very fine sand does get in their eyes and when they pick up ants with their toungue if you observe the scat a day or two later you might find more sand than what I think is normal. I am also not sure under a magnifing glass if the shape of the sand is more close to silica and not round edged sand which might also not be good in a digestive track over the long run, again maybe you all should tell me to go jump in a lake, but I usually recomend the home depot sand...just being picky I guess! Cheers you guys and great looking lizard, looks to be a male, good luck!!
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

I will post a better side profile pic soon. As for the "vita Sand" I use, I will buy some play sand from Home Depot. Thanks for all the advise guys.
Ryan

Hey Ryan!

I'm glad that I saw you out there, for a little while I wasn't sure what I was gonna do with her. I saw you, and the pieces fit. lol. Anyway, she was actually running off the road around 5:30pm Weds. night. Weren't sure what the little "leaf in the wind was" so we went back and there she was. We found 4 more DHLs inside one of my favorite lizard spots nearby. Here's a pic of three monster males we found, Ryan's new female, and a hatchling, all courtesy of blankminded. enjoy

-Phil

Here you go Cable!
Ryan

wow she got dark!!!!!!
take a look at how light colored she was when I picked her up!
Amazing the variability in DHLs. You're certainly welcome for her man. I'm glad that you're taking care of her. I have read that DHLs are thought to lay multiple clutches in a season, due to longer active seasons in parts of their range. This was reported from Nevada though....so perhaps here too? They lay 2-10 eggs according to sherbrooke. Good luck with them. nice looking pair. =)

Check out these two males I found early the next day, about 20-30 miles away. photos by Blankminded Enjoy!

-Phil

Really nice photos Phil. I really enjoyed looking at those guys.
Regarding dark and light shading in HL's I have notice that mine tend to be darker when it is colder and lighter when it is hot.
This totally makes sense as dark tends to absorb heat and light shading tends to reflect it.
Color changes are a different story and I haven't figured that one out yet.
Anyways, thanks for the photos. I'd love to see some more close ups of the juvenile you have there if you can swing it.
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Phrynosoma.Com