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Tips on hibernation

ZelasMetalium Mar 15, 2009 05:29 PM

I have 2 Phrynosoma platyrhinos that I've had for almost a year. The winter has been rough on them and my female hibernated for a month. I'm worried about my male because he stored fat for winter and hibernated steadily for a month, got up for a month, shed alot of his weight and has now been hibernating for 3 months in which time he got up twice looking thin both times. Should I dig him up and try feeding him or leave him be?

Replies (6)

reptoman Mar 16, 2009 08:26 AM

Time to get him/her up, I would warm them up and hydrate them, get a water dropper and give them a little water on the mouth by the snout, not on the nose holes but on the mouth, and see if they will drink, if they are real weak, if not but just skinny I would spray the rocks in the cage and also after they lap up some water and get around some you might consider soaking them in warm water as they may absorb water through the cloaca as well. Again they need to get warmed up first. After getting them to drink, I would next consider feeding them very lightly and get them eating, ants should be coming out shortly, unless your in the north where it is cold. Alternative small crickets 3/8 size, wax worms, or fresh shed meal worms, maybe occasional mini-meal worms..... Also you might try an occasional moth as well....
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www.phrynosoma.org

ZelasMetalium Mar 16, 2009 03:48 PM

Thank you for the tips. My female, Talimar, got up on Saturday and she's been eating her ants with a good appetite. I will russle Amberdrake up this evening and do as you've suggested. Thanks again!

reptoman Mar 17, 2009 08:36 AM

Just checking back, your female is eating ants, did your male come up and start eating? Did you hydrate them, soak them in warm water and also spray the rocks or try a eye dropper to get them to take in some water?

What kind of lighting set-up are using for these guys and cage size, just curious????
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www.phrynosoma.org

ZelasMetalium Mar 20, 2009 04:19 PM

The very day I asked for advice Amberdrake (male) was up when I got home. I tried some water from a dropper and he refused so I did soak him with Talimar (female). Talimar has been doing great. She's plump on ants and the occasional mealworm. Amberdrake ate 58 ants and 6 mealworms the day he woke up. He seems to be very sleepy when he does get up. He does get out of the sand and sit under the heat bulb but he's drowsy and half sleeps. He's eating alot each day and has gained some weight already.
I converted a coffe table into their home, 5ftx5ft with a foot and a half of sand in it. I am using a mercury bulb for lighting, sometimes I alternate it with a regular heat bulb accompanied with a strip uvb bulb. There is rocks and drift wood in it as well as some live desert plants.

reptoman Mar 23, 2009 10:29 PM

Listen--if These are DHl's then the ground temps are usually around 120-140 defgres, obviously they don't sit in that all day, but in order to get these guys up to snuff, the ambient air temps be around 90 degrees. If you have one bulb in that big of a cage its not enough, I guarantee it. The ambient temps are pretty important. I am glad the female is doing well, but I suggest you check that out. Other than that you should be good...... In a 50 gallon breeder tank, I usually have a 160 watt UVB bulb and right next to it a Basking bulb 150 watt usually halogen, which puts out white light and good heat.... Just a suggestion, your fluorescent bulbs do not put out heat. Actually for hls I like the 10.0 Zoomed bulbs for UVB set at 12 to 14 " off the substrate and then two 150 watt halogen bulbs side by side, I usually by the ones from tractor supply for $8.00 for two. They seem to work well.
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www.phrynosoma.org

ZelasMetalium Mar 24, 2009 04:28 PM

I usually have 3 bulbs (2 heat 1 uvb)going at the same time depending on the season. During the summer our room gets so hot that I can use just one bulb. Their home has vents but the way we designed the lid, it keeps the heat in. I did place temp gauges on all four corners and one on the top inside lid for extra assurance. I record the temps every other day in my Horny journal.
I noticed some sand in my female's feces yesterday. I've seen her lick the ground once or twice. Is that normal? I always pick apart their poo to make sure everything is digesting right. Aside from some sand in one fecal dropping, everything is normal.
And, while I have your aid, my male has been bobbing his head up and down every so often for the past 2 days. I've had other lizards and it usually isn't anything bad. But I don't take any chances on my Hornies. Thanks so much for assisting me with my Hornies.

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