Winter preparation for herps?

[EightLeggedFrea]

Judging by the moderately cool weather that's beginning to show in my area, I'd say I'm in for a fairly harsh winter. I have three herps -leopard gecko, Budgett's frog, and Pyxie frog - and am wondering what I can do for them when the temperature in my room falls. In the Spring to Summer it says in the klow 70s to low 80s, but last winter it fell to the mid 60s. I know leopard geckos can survive temperatures no lower than 64 at night, and my Budgett's, being aquatic, lives in a tank with a submersible heater 24/7.

My Pyxie, though, I'm most concerned about because she requires night temperatures of no lower than the mid 70s. She does have a heat lamp that stays on during the day hours over her water bowl but I'm worried this may not be enough during the winter. Should I place a heating mat on the side of the tank? If on the side, then above the substrate or below it on the side, where she spends most of her time buried opposite of the water bowl? Or should I just invest in another heating lamp and thermo gauge and place that on the other side of the cage for night time use in case the temperature in the room falls too low for her liking?

I understand a space heater is an option, but those things eat up tons of energy and I don't want tio go that route if there are cheaper ways.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

Last winter I just used a standard 60 watt bulb encased in a deep red globe on my ten gallon tank and it kept it in the save zone. Of course, using that method can cause humidity issues, but as long as you monitor it and mist accordingly, it shouldn't be that big of a problem.

 

[Matt K]

Could you use Flexwatt or heat tape under the enclosure? Low electricity consumption and may keep it 75 or 80 when its cold out.

:?

 

[ErinKelley]

encased in a deep red globe

What's this? Do you have a pic?

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

Sure, but there isn't really too much to see. It's just a really dark red transparent light globe I found around the house. I don't know what it was originally for. I just have an old table lamp with a 60 watt bulb in it that I insert into one end of the globe, lay it on it's side on one end of the screen lid and voila!-instant red heat lamp. The bulb heats the glass globe which then radiates a good bit of heat. Here is what it the globe looks like for what it's worth. As you can see, the glass is very dark red, but beyond that it's just a glass globe. Sorry if I made it sound more exotic than it really is.

 

[ErinKelley]

Hahaha it DID sound a little exotic and I know I can't resist exotic! Thanks Tim, I see what you mean now

 

[kupo969]

The only option you really have is to get higher wattage bulbs or let your pyxie aestivate.

 

[reverendsterlin]

another possibility is to move the enclosure into a small closet or cabinet, this will allow a smaller heat source to warm the area better without having to resort to a space heater in a larger area.

 

[EightLeggedFrea]

The only option you really have is to get higher wattage bulbs or let your pyxie aestivate.

There's a thought, she does that most of the time anyway even if the temp in the room is above the high 70s! So, even if the temp drops below, say the mid 60s or lower, she'll be fine if she just stays under the entire, what, 5 to 6+ months of winter?

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

Be aware that there are measures to be taken prior to allowing the frog to go into aestivation. I don't know many details, but somebody will be along to detail them, I'm sure. I do know it's important to make sure they don't have anything to eat for a period of time before "shutting down".

 

[ErinKelley]

My pixie slept all last winter even with me trying to keep him warm enough, . I definitely won't be trying to keep him warm this winter. I mean as far as extra heat.
I keep him in a 20L with a big water bowl, coconut peat, one live plant still in its pot(mostly for looks) and a 60 or 75W nighttime heatlight(can't remember which). No extra lighting since it's still somewhat long daylight hours.
For this winter I think I'll move him back into my bedroom where its a little warmer(the living room where he is now is drafty), leave him on the regular light cycle of Idaho(so no timed lighting), and keep the same heat setup but just run it maybe half the time its on in the summer. I don't think it will heat up underneath the soil very much, which is where he'll be.

Now I wish I knew what I was going to do with my new blue tongue baby...

Edit: Also what Tim^^ says is important. Yuo want to stop feeding awhile before you start letting the temp drop, im thinking maybe 2 weeks? a little less?

 

[kupo969]

The pyxie should be fine. Some sleep longer than other. I've read about them waking up during April/May, some in June. You should let it clear its stomach before it goes down under.