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bast Dec 05, 2007 09:04 AM

Hello all,

I have had herps for almost 30 years. I'd love to try some horned lizards, but I haven't. It always seemed to me that it was impossible to care for them and I had no need to kill animals for my entertainment. Reading this forum has taught me that HLs can be very successfully cared for in captivity.

I have a few questions that I'd like to answer before I seriously consider getting some.

1. I have read that there are cold tolerant species that do not require harvester ants. Have you found this to be true? If so what species? I am not going to continuously order ants as that seems like a sure way to introduce species around the country (with is not at all conservation minded) not to mention a huge pain in the ...um neck.

2. Where can I get the more cold tolerant species? I'd like cold tolerant individuals as I have large outdoor pens. My more sensitve species are outdoors for the warm weather and come in for the winter. The cold tolerant species (Russian torts) hibernate through thewinter. I cover the pens with plastic to keep them dry for the winter. I live in New England so I can't cheat and just keep everything outside all the time. Is it possible to get indivuals from nothern species/populations?

Thank you for the advice.
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Brian

"The Earth was not given to you by your parents. It is loaned to you by your children."

1.0 Argentine Tegu
1.0 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.1 Children's Python
3.5 Russian Tortoises

Replies (2)

bast Dec 06, 2007 10:27 AM

Thank you for all of that great info. It seems that now may not be the right time for me to take on such a challenging species. Maybe in the future.

Good point about non-reproductive workers!

Thank you,
-----
Brian

"The Earth was not given to you by your parents. It is loaned to you by your children."

1.0 Argentine Tegu
1.0 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.1 Children's Python
3.5 Russian Tortoises

Cable_Hogue Dec 08, 2007 06:54 AM

Just as an FYI, there are a few folks out there successfully keeping the short horned species. It seems they are being fed crickets, roaches and ants of various species. Not so much the pogos.
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