[DDReptiles]

Hi,

I have a question for other breeders that maintain a larger size collection that requires cooling. In past years I have simply moved all the cages of animals that needed cooling into my basement area that stays in the 60's for the cooling period. While it was a pain in the butt, it was feasible. This year I am not thinking it will be possible and so I was wondering has anybody tried cooling there geckos by simply putting them in a large cooler in individual deli cups? (maybe larger deli cups?)

I figure the geckos are not doing much during this time period and this way I will not have to move countless cages into another room (which is already limited on space). I figure with the cooler method I would be able to control temps more easy and maintain stable temps. This past winter was abnormally cold and so the temps flutuated drastically resulting in the demise of a few animals.

Just wondering what method you use. I am not able to lower the whole room temperature down that they are already in, as I use that room for other tropical species that don't need to get too chilly and also to house babies in over the winter (so they continue to grow).

Thanks Derek

[LarryLockard]

Derek,

My question would be during the brumation period, what kind of activity level do you typically expect or experience? In the past have you fed them during this time, with the temperatures at that level. I've never had experience lowering the temperatures to that level, best I achieve is mid 60's during the winter and a pronounced photoperiod.

I'm interested in learning if you can have them(or if they do in the wild, enter more of a hibernation period, as opposed to brumation). I figure then that the cooler idea would be ideal, maybe? It would be like horned lizards I kept as a kid, and during the winter months, I put them in styroform cooler with a mixture of sand and dirt at least 12" deep and kept them in a cellar-like room(almost like a potato cellar). I simply left them there during the winter months. I don't know how low the temp was, but it was cold, 50's maybe??? Well hope some other people speak up on this issue, it would be nice to know

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Derek & Larry ~

Chiming in just to stay "posted"

[GenaVorn]

Hello Everybody ,

I raised this question a year ago , since temperature in basement last winter was very unstable with a spikes of cold ...I was very concern about health of my geckos.
Next time I went to Reptile Show I spoke with couple local breders about this issue and one of them told that he using wine cooler for brumation of his geckos (he has a big collection of aussies).
I think , it's makes sence :controled temperature , small containers .
With wine coolers temperatures don't go below 50 F , I think it's best choise .In my opinion temperature has to be controled by by reliable temostat or ( temperature controler) .I am going to use Herpstat
I bought small wine cooler and planing to try this coming season .

Good luck ,
Gena V

[oli]

Yea I don't think there's a problem with the whole cooler/wine cooler idea, I think the question is about putting the animals in a smaller container such as a deli cup and then placing/stacking these cups in the incubator. I do not have experience with this Derek, and have never heard of anyone that has done this, but it sounds like a pretty good idea to me, especially with terrestrial animals. I'm sure if you kept it dark so the animals felt secure like in a hide and had a little cap of water they'd be good. I've seen Steve put shinies in a shoebox container with leaf litter and just leave them in the cold for months without any ill effects lol.

[danscantle]

Theoretically, I think it's possible. I know that whenever I export animals I've collected they've essentially spent 2-6 weeks in conditions like you describe - individually in delicups in a climate-controlled space (an igloo cooler in my case). For some individuals and species, this appears to mimic a cooling period because they start breeding quickly after returning home (and being fed heavily and heated). In my case, this is done out of necessity (there's no other way to maintain a mobile gecko facility in the field).

However, my concern is it's so stressful for the animals that I don't think it would be practical, or affordable for any hobbyist. Obviously, you'd be cooling a different set of species than the tropical sphaerodactylids my research is concerned with. Perhaps you'll have better luck.