Waking up???

[snibborsirk]

so any of you who overwinter had your tegus start waking up yet? I've never put mine down so I'm curious on when they start perking up for spring. I figure it's prob still a little early for most!

 

[Walter1]

Mine can be used as an endpoint. They've been in deep slumber, in the dark, at 58-63F, with biweekly brief checks, since late October. Late March, I'll move them to warmer and lighted enclosure until I can move them outside sometime in April.

The opposite is an Argie not given a a cool end. Frustrated even if for a short period.

Of course individuals vary, but in the Southeast, wake-up time on average, should happen sooner than in say Northeast.

On average, I'd expect mid-March if not earlier, in SC. After a few seasons, things should get predictable, especially as adults, reckon.

 

[Walter1]

Did I post this from a few weeks ago? A periodic check on the sleeping dragons.

 

[snibborsirk]

Don't recall seeing that pic but I could've overlooked it in my late night visits! Awesome pic though! Would be entertaining to ask visitors to fetch something from that container for you...surprise!!! Just curious, approx how big and old are your three?

On another note, have you seen the research David Steen is doing at Auburn University on the invasive tegus potentially surviving/spreading to Alabama? I emailed with him a few times and he said that while the research is still ongoing, the tegus will likely need very high quality winter refuge to survive the cold there. http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news...tial-invasion-of-large,-predatory-lizards.htm

 

[Walter1]

Oh, wow. I'll check it out. You know gopher tortoise burrows can go 6 ft down and 30 ft in. Most assuredly safe for tegus.

 

[Walter1]

Oh, approximately 3 yrs old each. I hope they will breed this year. Sure do miss them being out and about.