Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My adult Schneider's skinks are already down for the big snooze. And the babies (hatched in August) are not coming out during the day anymore, even though their lights come on. I am still putting small crickets in, just in case. Not seeing them come out makes me nervous because I always thought that babies usually don't overwinter their first winter. I don't like to disturb sleeping lizards because their metabolism is nice and slow and waking them up forces them to speed up their respiration and heart rate. I'm just wondering if you have had new babies overwinter their first winter. It is entirely possible that I fed them well enough that they feel okay to start snoozing. I think that once the night time temps fall below a certain thresh-hold they just don't come up during the day even if their heat light comes on. I'm anticipating that the babies will come out once or twice during the winter sleep time, while the adults will stay down. Your thoughts?
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Lisa Rakestraw
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My skinks:
1.1.0 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni)
2.3.3 Egernia striolata
2.2.0 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa)

Hubby's snakes of the Southwest:
0.1 Lichanura orcutti (Rosie)
0.1 Lampropeltis pyromelana (Little Red)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer (Jennifer)
2.0 Bogertophis subocularis (Humphrey and Oliver)
0.1 Lampropeltis alterna (Sandy)

I don't know much specific about schnieder's skinks but can offer the following thought. The common practice is to not hibernate yearlings. This is essentially because we are "chicken" to do so. Younger animals are indeed more fragile; more prone to dehydration, and other errors in husbandry that the adults might take in stride.
However, the fact to the matter is that outside, the seasons change regardless of how old you are. Your young lizards are full capable of hibernating as per what is normal in their native habitat. So the real question is, how confident are you in your husbandry? If you've replicated the conditions well, then you have nothing to worry.

To be on the safe side, a quick weekly weigh-in and visual inspection should help you monitor for problems.

I hope this helps somewhat,

Ian

Thank you for the response. Yes it is very helpful. I see the dilemma. Like I said, I am reluctant to wake them, as it seems like that messes with their metabolism, and yet, of course, I would hate to lose them. Stuff to ponder...
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Lisa Rakestraw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My skinks:
1.1.0 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni)
2.3.3 Egernia striolata
2.2.0 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa)

Hubby's snakes of the Southwest:
0.1 Lichanura orcutti (Rosie)
0.1 Lampropeltis pyromelana (Little Red)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer (Jennifer)
2.0 Bogertophis subocularis (Humphrey and Oliver)
0.1 Lampropeltis alterna (Sandy)