I have a lizard that I caught outside on my window screen about 2 weeks ago [and I named him Borris haha] and he doesn't look so hot. At first, he was about at long as my pointer finger and now he's only half the size. I've given him crickets, but they've died in his tank and he hasn't eaten anything since I've got him. Now, crickets just have to be bigger than him. Also, I have a heat lamp and everything for him, but it's been getting as cold as 45 degrees outside and he's been looking about dead. A minute ago, he looked totally dead and i put him on my desk and he wasn't even breathing and then he ran across it really fast, but I caught him... So do lizards hibernate in this time of the year or is this something I should know about and possibly let him go? Also, since crickets are too big, what should I feed him?
Picture: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v601/princesshaleybug/DSCN5703.jpg
2006-10-16 16:25:30 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
They don't hibernate, per se, but most will undergo a cooling period known as brumation, where they become less active and go off food.
Honestly, in this case it sounds like he's just stressed. Most reptiles fare VERY poorly when dragged into captivity, and often don't survive. Not only will they go off food, but the stress can lower their immune systems to the point of making them vulnerable to diseases/microorganisms they were never susceptible to before. Stress can easily kill them. The best thing for him would be to let him go as soon as possible where you found him, or in another suitable area.
2006-10-16 17:49:04 · answer #1 · answered by snake_girl85 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hi, reptiles don't fully hibernate, they go into whats called brumation, its kind of a semi hibernation. Un like full on hibernation they don't stock up on fat stores and sleep for the winter, they just slow down, and seem, well, lazy. you could reduce the temps a little to let him do this properly, but a lot of reptile owners don't worry about brumentation, and just keep the temps as they are. Some allow their animals to brument prior to breeding them as it stimulates the breeding response as this is what happens in the wild, but Leo's are soooo many generations captive bred, it won't hurt if he doesn't go into brumation.
2016-05-22 08:02:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let it go!! The lizard needs to go find his own food. Most little animals - like lizards - get freaked out in captivity and won't eat until they feel safe again. If you do keep it, try finding/buying smaller bugs for it.
2006-10-20 10:24:05 · answer #3 · answered by JenN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look up the type of lizard. this one might eat fruit or smaller bugs, even vegitation.
no, they do not hibernate
put the cage in the sun and get a sun lamp
lizards are cold blooded. that may be the issue.
2006-10-16 16:29:19 · answer #4 · answered by Artemiseos 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes of course!
2006-10-16 17:11:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they do. If you keep him awake he'll die of exhaustion.
2006-10-16 16:31:22 · answer #6 · answered by cdrotherham 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋