I've been reading about how the low temps have wreaked havoc on the fish farms and how it causes the wild iguanas to shut down and fall out of the trees,but what about the pythons and other exotics that were thriving in Florida?This could put a big dent in that population,could it not?
Florida Frost taking care of invasive exotics problem?
- Thread starter krichardson
- Start date
It is possible. If they don't seek some type of warm shelter then I suppose a lot of them could be killed off. But reptiles are survivors so you just never know.
I dont have much concern for for the wayward pythons and such but I hope those monkeys pull through.
it is very cold (relative to the area) down here and we are seeing fish kills on a larger scale than anything in the last 20 years. Exotics for sure are dying off in mass numbers and the fish farms are in big trouble. But it has been cold for so long that even some native species are in trouble.
I am sure the snakes will be fine. They will probably do what the iguanas do and go into a sort of hibernation where everything shuts down but the blood flowing. And then revive once it gets warm. As Seth said, reptiles are survivors.
This weather has been horrible for us. I've yet to look into the canals, but I expect to see a lot of dead pbass when I hit a few this weekend. Many dead Iguanas, and many getting back up and going. I know a whole lot of people whom have 'rescued' Cuban Anoles and Iguanas and taken them home to re-release once it gets warm again.
I took down the pond and rented a huge Tuff stuff tub and brought all my larger fish inside. No losses. Unless you count the one who may not make it on account of the Armatus trying to get him. Big holes on his head now...
Anyhow, Reptiles will continue to flourish. They may have taken a big hit this past week, but there were many places for them to seek shelter as well.
Our Manatee population apparantly took a hit as well.
Time will tell I suppose...
I took down the pond and rented a huge Tuff stuff tub and brought all my larger fish inside. No losses. Unless you count the one who may not make it on account of the Armatus trying to get him. Big holes on his head now...
Anyhow, Reptiles will continue to flourish. They may have taken a big hit this past week, but there were many places for them to seek shelter as well.
Our Manatee population apparantly took a hit as well.
Time will tell I suppose...
kdrun76;3780664; said:
Most of the exotics here are harmless and don't compete with any natives esp house geckos ,iguanas and cichlids. Cuban tree frogs are another story unlike green tree frogs they can live where there is no green foilage just construction .
Thus in some areas we humans killed the green treefrogs and green anoles not the invasives.
They get blamed but it was our cement which is truly the killer of native fauna here in Miami.
The best thing that could happen to natives is a halt on constant development that is eating the wild lands ESP by Glades and an end to the constant run off pollution .Politicians here don't care.
The invasives aren't a problem.
The house geckos have been hit hard by the cold in Miami here is one "frozen" to the wall and countless dead babies but they eat night insects esp mosquitos and dont bother anyone .
Some I found on my outside patio floor .
I gently removed many from my outside wall and placed them in a 10 gallon with lots branches ,etc .
The adults all made it and every baby died. Never recovered from being "frozen".
I will put them out tommorrow when it hits mid 70s . The Cuban tree frogs did not die (well not in my patio). The green anoles "frozen" to bush and impossible to remove look dead but who knows .
Superlaz;3780724; said:
I think the manatee population took the worse hit according to the news.
I did see dead Peacock bass but it was in area golf course pond thus not a canal.
I have heaters in my cichlid ponds but like you I brought them all in couple weeks ago and end of feb they go back out. The Florida sunfish and minnows I left out which was foolish but as of today and warming up they are fine .
What is Tuff stuff tub ?
"I know a whole lot of people whom have 'rescued' Cuban Anoles and Iguanas and taken them home to re-release once it gets warm again."
I do to and glad others do.
That's to bad for the manatee.From what I have heard they have enough to deal with with the motor boats...Good information and thanks for posting Louie.