mistressofmuses (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mistressofmuses) wrote2024-12-15 08:44 pm
mistressofmuses) wrote2024-12-15 08:44 pm
Summer "Berry Mad" Refresher update... sort of
A couple months ago, Berry Mad started getting really restless in her terrarium. Trying to climb the walls, flinging herself against them, leaping end to end, filling her pond with substrate...
Here she is, perched on top of her hide, staring wistfully out the window.
One day I looked in and couldn't find her... because she had in fact completely buried herself.
Now, this would be the right time for a hibernating species to start doing that... but I'd really prefer that she not do that. (Mainly because I know that sometimes coming out of hibernation is a struggle.)
I picked up a bigger terrarium from storage at my mom's, hoping that a little more space would make her happier. We also moved the new habitat nearer to the plant light, so that she'd get more "daylight," in case it was the shorter sunlight at the north-facing window that was triggering it. That also pulls her away from the window, in case it was getting cold there overnight, even though it's pretty warm in the apartment.
...And she immediately burrowed again.
I'm not sure that she is actually trying to hibernate. There are lots of species of toads - including Woodhouse's - that tend to burrow year-round. Our previous Woodhouse's toad didn't ever have an inclination to burrow, preferring a sideways flowerpot as a shelter, but maybe Berry Mad just feels differently.
For a while she was coming out pretty regularly, every couple of days to soak in the pond for a bit and re-burrow somewhere else.
...But we haven't seen her come out for a while now.
A week or so ago, Alex asked if he thought we should dig her up to check on her, but I was able to look in the "entrance" of her current burrow and she was just staring at us, so we didn't disturb her. Now she's moved the burrow and I can't look in, but I assume she's still doing all right.
I'd like proof that she was eating something, though. I've dumped crickets in there, but I don't know if they've just found good hiding spots or if she's eaten them, ha.
Here she is, perched on top of her hide, staring wistfully out the window.
One day I looked in and couldn't find her... because she had in fact completely buried herself.
Now, this would be the right time for a hibernating species to start doing that... but I'd really prefer that she not do that. (Mainly because I know that sometimes coming out of hibernation is a struggle.)
I picked up a bigger terrarium from storage at my mom's, hoping that a little more space would make her happier. We also moved the new habitat nearer to the plant light, so that she'd get more "daylight," in case it was the shorter sunlight at the north-facing window that was triggering it. That also pulls her away from the window, in case it was getting cold there overnight, even though it's pretty warm in the apartment.
...And she immediately burrowed again.
I'm not sure that she is actually trying to hibernate. There are lots of species of toads - including Woodhouse's - that tend to burrow year-round. Our previous Woodhouse's toad didn't ever have an inclination to burrow, preferring a sideways flowerpot as a shelter, but maybe Berry Mad just feels differently.
For a while she was coming out pretty regularly, every couple of days to soak in the pond for a bit and re-burrow somewhere else.
...But we haven't seen her come out for a while now.
A week or so ago, Alex asked if he thought we should dig her up to check on her, but I was able to look in the "entrance" of her current burrow and she was just staring at us, so we didn't disturb her. Now she's moved the burrow and I can't look in, but I assume she's still doing all right.
I'd like proof that she was eating something, though. I've dumped crickets in there, but I don't know if they've just found good hiding spots or if she's eaten them, ha.
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Luckily, it's like the post called her forth, and she came out for a while this morning. So I know she's eaten and she's doing well. (She then dug a new burrow, and has vanished again.)
She's very cute. I loved her little half-burrow. And I think she has pretty eyes. :)
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