I think I found the minimum temps for a Veiled
- Thread starter jajeanpierre
- Start date
JoeDigiorgio
Avid Member
And just like that nature calls my bluff. 46*F feels like 41* with wind chill. I had no idea it would get past the 50s last night. Woke up this morning and went out to get them, the veiled was spry enough to try crawling away from me. It the panthers just had their strong grips and not much else going for them. Pissy as ever though they kept hissing at me and gaping.
They're all sitting on the Christmas tree now with a couple lamps aimed at them. They honestly probably would have been fine but I felt bad.
They're all sitting on the Christmas tree now with a couple lamps aimed at them. They honestly probably would have been fine but I felt bad.
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
If it makes you feel any better, wind chill doesn't mean anything to an animal that is already the ambient temperature. Wind chill only matters to us because the wind blows away the bubble of warm air surrounding our bare skin so we cool faster than we would in still air. Once a cold-blooded animal is chilled down to the ambient temps, all the wind in the world won't chill it anymore unless there is some evaporation going on. A cold-blooded animal will chill more quickly, but won't get cooler than the air.
I think it important to consider that a healthy animal likely could handle cooler temps and bounce back more quickly, but don't have any proof to back this up. Also, I would say that they could likely handle colder than what you have stated. I remember a few years back seeing the iguanas literally frozen dropping out of the trees in the south of Florida and the next day they simply warmed up enough and walked away. Even last night it was down at or below freezing and the little lizards in the yard are starting to scamper around again. I'm sure most found slightly insulated hiding spots for the night, but it was definitely cold.
JoeDigiorgio
Avid Member
Where do you live? I remember the iguanas falling too. This morning I was driving along a canal and the iguanas don't look like they've missed a beat today.
Not sure how this didn't occur to me. I'm kind of embarrassed I didn't realize wind chill literally wasn't a thing for reptiles until you mentioned it. Also partially explains why they were all more lively than I expected for the weather report.
I'm north of Tampa, so no iguanas here. These were down in either Ft. Lauderdale or near there. I've got tons of anoles and geckos though
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