I wonder.....

As we all know its hurricane season. What will happen if we get hit and all of our chams lights in the cages go out for a week? Will it die without light? I have a generator but for the ones that dont, you should get one.
 
The lights thing is not an issue. They could go awhile without lights. But water would be an issue! I always think about what it would be like to evacuate with the Great Dane and the other dog, the bird, the Dragon, and all of the chams inlcuding babies that are getting ready to hatch!
 
Like Julirs said, light is not an issue. Hurricanes don't stay long enough in one area. After that, you can alway take your Cham outside for some natural UVB.
People with automated misters on the other hand will have to suffer through hand pumping, or get a 12 volt timer and a car battery, since pumps normally run on 12 volts too.
 
Im more interested in the other side of the coin. I have freinds in various parts of the states, One who lives in Maine suffered a major 3-4 day outage due a storm near the end of your winter, and unfortunately lost many reptiles from the cold.
Id love to find out the percentage of herpers in these climates who use backup energy generators or (what else) to mantain their reptiles in such conditions).

Another freind has just lost an entire clutch of veiled eggs due a power outage. Makes me think that anyone with more than one or two reptiles should consider a generator a nessesary peice of equipment if you live in such places.

I wonder how common well insulated herp rooms are? Id find it devastating to lose animals in such a way.
 
Going without UVB for a few days is no issue.

A solar panel and/or wind turbine if you've the $ for it, can be used to run heating and cooling equipment.

For short term heat, put chameleon into a shoebox (he'll settle down after he's been in the dark for a while) and use a hot water bottle (your hot water tank will stay warm quite a while, or boil water on a BBQ) or use one of those chemical heat pads such as are used for shipping or keeping hands warm in gloves, or the salt(i think?) based ones in which you snap a metal disk and the liquid gets hot as it hardens, then you can reuse it after boiling.

Some emergency animal hospitals have generators to keep their buildings warm (or cool), and may allow emergency day care, for a fee.

Consider a little UPS to run a small watt lightbulb - just enough to keep him warm in a smaller cage covered with a blanket.

You can buy small human-powered generators - you pedal a bike to create current to run a heat light bulb or an electric blanket. This isnt as far fetched as you might think: http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen/pppm_electric_blanket.html
http://www.windstreampower.com/Human_Power_Generator.php
http://www.econvergence.net/easy.htm

Consider a generator if storms arent rare where you live.

Consider living somewhere with an alternate source of heat, such as propane or a wood fireplace.
I purposely choose a home with a wood burning fireplace, just in case I loose power for an extended time during the winter. Thus heat is not an issue (I'd have to move all the chameleons into the living room, but it can be done if necessary).
 
I have wondered about this myself. I know in 2004 (I think that was the year) I did not have power for 3 weeks...it sucked. I would be more worried about my pygmies than my veileds, they could go outside. and would probably love it, but i have observed the pygs freaking out when it gets closer to 80...Also food IDK if the mail runs during natural disasters, i should look into it.

Considering that Clea is living under 2 direct compact flourescent's, it might be a blessing in disguise.

He still hasn't gotten rid of those things.
 
Orlando gets into the 50s during the winter, but your pushing it on a safe sub tropical location to keep these.

If I were to need an illegal insect, I wouldn't PM a member who has them and ask them to sell you some. *cough* *wink*
 
Orlando gets into the 50s during the winter, but your pushing it on a safe sub tropical location to keep these.

If I were to need an illegal insect, I wouldn't PM a member who has them and ask them to sell you some. *cough* *wink*

Thats what i am planning on...I mean not planning on...;)
 
I live in calgary so i don't get tornadoes but if the power was to go out i think the city of calgary has emergency power supplies that are mobile and water wouldn't be a problem because I know the city of calgary has mobile emergency water supplies.
 
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