Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Solare that up until now has been rather healthy... always eats her ants, and has been growng nice and big. But lately she hasn't been very active or eating much. She's just been sitting half burried in her usual basking spot. A week or so ago she was digging like mad one day but has given that up for just sitting around half asleep.

I've heard that you can skip a hibernation cycle but she seems like she really wants to go down but doesn't know how. I've tried turning the basking light off so that it's only in the mid 70's in her terrarium but she's still sleeping on the surface. How cold does it have to be for her to want to dig deep and hibernate? What are the best artifical conditions for this? Do I fill a tupperware with sand and keep her in the fridge for a couple months?

Thanks for any advice you could give me!

Hi Bruno,
It sounds like she wants to go down. 70's is too high for her to really go. It should be more like 45 to 50 to get her in full hibernation mode.
A refrigerator is an airtight container, so not recommended for hibernation. It would also be difficult to keep the sand humid as the refrigeration action naturally pulls moisture from the air.
A garage or shed could be good, if the temps won't drop below 40 or so. She should have a 20 gallon size tank with about 6 to 8 inches of sand for a good hibernation.
Moisten the lower couple of inches of sand, but leave the top dry, except maybe the corners, where you can add water maybe once a month or so until she wakes back up.
Put her in this kind of setup and give her 2 or 3 hours of heat per day, letting the temps drop down at night. She should dig in.
Sometimes they won't dig in though, and it is safe to let them remain on the surface, as long as there is no predator threat and you ensure the sand gets some moisture from time to time. You also should make sure she drinks well before you put her down for good.
I'm sure others here will have some things to add or some alternative methods.
Good luck!
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I have female solare 5 years old and for the last three years she has dug down just below her eyes, not all the way down. She also this year has chosen a place under an elevated stone, and her back side is exposed. It is between 45 and 60 degrees in my garage and a light comes on every day for several hours but she doesn't come out at all. Mark is right 70 degrees is not cool enough for an all out hibernation. If worse comes to worse, put her in the closet if its cool enough and has a plug in for a light on a timer. I would use a 40 or 50 watt light if your cage is 16 inches high. If its 13 I would use a 40 watt. but just for a few hours a day....

She will eventually become inactive. As a rule unless they are sick I do hibernate all my adults, but first year neonates I do not hibernate, but that's just me....Hope that helps. Cheers!!!
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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

My two are doing similar, want to sleep some, staying on top.Male becomes active and eats some, but I usually just leave the heat lights off on that side so the female can doze for a few weeks.But they are on top, partially buried.they both get active, or sorta stand up and look around now and then , so I turn on the lights/heat, and feed them some, and water and then they crash for a few days or more.
Wish the others would go down as feeding 5 through the winter is a challenge, but the hern is coming around good on the baytril and the others love the roaches , crix, and a few ants I order now and then.they are all healthy looking and good weight.Incubator, correct one is on it's way, don't want to get caught with several clutches of eggs and not be able to handle them this spring.Roaches are holding up real well, three colonies of them, two kinds, and its working well.
scott