Vinnegaroons hibernate!?!

[tyrel]

When did they find this out?!

I just got my vinnegaroon a while ago, and had no idea that they did this. Is there any action I have to take to help it hibernate? What would happen If It was disturbed?

 

[Galapoheros]

They live several years. I see them in Texas. It freezes here in the winter. They have to go under and stay there for several months or die in the cold. I just don't think they would last as long if you didn't leave them alone in the winter. I don't know where you live, but you could put it in the garage on the floor in the winter with some deep sub where it will go under and just sit there until the spring.

 

[Stylopidae]

So hold on...they can survive sub zero temps?

If I lived in Iowa, could I keep them in my garage without a die off?

Temps get to the minus tens in the dead of winter pretty reliably but inside a garage, I doubt I couldn't keep it at 0.

So what's the mininmum temp they need to live?

(I may have finally found a bug I can keep :razz

 

[tyrel]

I keep mine at a room temperature of 70 degrees.

Is the hibernation really nessesary in captivity? I would prefer to keep him warm the whole year round.

 

[Galapoheros]

Well, no, they can freeze, that's why they go underground. I'm just going by what I see them do in Texas in the wild. I wouldn't put them anywhere it freezes in the winter. It gets 50 to 70 in my garage in the winter. Ha, sorry, everybody's garage is diff. Around here they go dormant in the winter. They stay underground, make a round chamber and just sit there for several months. This is just speculation on my part, and that is that I'm thinking they will last longer if given this long period of dormancy, so use your own judgment. It just makes sense to me but I could be wrong. Don't know if there have been any formal studies about that.

 

[Stylopidae]

Well, no, they can freeze, that's why they go underground. I'm just going by what I see them do in Texas in the wild. I wouldn't put them anywhere it freezes in the winter. It gets 50 to 70 in my garage in the winter. Ha, sorry, everybody's garage is diff. Around here they go dormant in the winter. They stay underground, make a round chamber and just sit there for several months. This is just speculation on my part, and that is that I'm thinking they will last longer if given this long period of dormancy, so use your own judgment. It just makes sense to me but I could be wrong. Don't know if there have been any formal studies about that.

With a heat pad, would I be OK?

 

[Galapoheros]

From my experience with them, these little animals are pretty hardy. I've never used a heating pad. Seems like I heard that there is a population in northern Florida. Has anybody heard that:? ? If that's true, maybe the dormancy behavior is diff for them there(?). Someone would have to do studies that lasted years to see how long one group lasted under certain conditions compared to another group in other conditions. Don't know if that's been done. Maybe someone else knows? I like these. But like terrestrial T's, the centipedes and allot of scorps, they like to hide in the ground. If their comfy, you probably won't see them much.

 

[tyrel]

Does anyone know If the hibernation is absolutely needed? Or do they just need it in the wild when it gets cold?

 

[Galapoheros]

Hey, it's ok. You know, it may not be a temp thing, but a seasonal thing. In the winter here in tx, besides getting cold, there are no bugs running around (because it's too cold ) for the vinny to eat so,...another reason for it to go dormant. Well, that is cold related, isn't it. Here's what I would do...just keep it at room temp, if it digs and shuts itself in, just leave it alone. It may not come out for 7 or 8 months!....but that's ok. That's what the one's I have had do. They are hardy! Just give it plenty of sub to dig in and a rock. It will know what to do. People usually keep their house at about ground temp so, see what I mean? Just put it in there and enjoy!

 

[tyrel]

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Tleilaxu]

Yes I heard they have established themselves in FLA.

 

[Stylopidae]

Yes I heard they have established themselves in FLA.

What hasn't?

 

[Tleilaxu]

What hasn't?

Hyacinth Macaws. ;P

 

[ShadowSpectrum]

Hyacinth Macaws. ;P

Let's do it.












Anyways, I agree with Galapoheros, just supply your vinnegaroon ample hiding place and it'll take care of it's self. If it feels the need to burrow and hibernate, then it'll do it on it's own.