Keeper timer setting
T5 UVB: one hour later on, one hour earlier off
During active care — ON: 1 hour after daylight starts.
OFF: 1 hour before daylight ends.
During hibernation / full brumation: T5 UVB OFF (0 hours). In transition months, keep UVB off while dormant and use the active timer only once the animal is warmed and active.
October: daylight 10 h; T5 UVB 8 h.
The active T5 duration is the photoperiod minus two hours. Example: daylight 08:00–20:00 means UVB 09:00–19:00. Follow the monthly UVI strength measured beneath the tube and provide access to shade. This timing rule does not introduce hibernation for species whose schedule has only a mild or active winter rest. If an older combined heat / UV column is present, the new T5 UVB duration column governs UVB timing; existing heat settings are preserved.
UVI beneath the optional T5 tube
Working exposure targetOctober target at normal back height
UVI 1-2directly under the tube when it is on
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Your measuring point
Measure at the animal's normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the T5 strip, positioned toward the middle/back. The animal can enter and leave this area freely.
Keep a lower-UVI gradient and fully covered refuges near UVI 0. This is the optional exposure area, not the average across the cage.
Use a UV Index meter, such as a Solarmeter 6.5/6.5R. Warm the tube for about 30 minutes; keep reflector, guards and mesh in place. Raise or lower the fixture within its manufacturer's minimum-distance guidance, then recheck the reading and every higher accessible surface.
Evidence level: Provisional retention. These are working recommendations, often inferred; exact species optima and seasonal UV dose usually have not been measured. Log lamp-on time and animal behaviour as well as UVI.
Baines et al. (2016), UV-Tool · Muryn, Baines and Dishman (2026), Reptile Lighting Guide V10
October management
Selected automatically using the Netherlands date
Late mating / seasonal taper
Volcanic slopes, basalt ledges and high-elevation grass steppe - Copahue, Neuquen, Argentina
12-16 CDay ambient
6-9 CNight
34-36 C limitedBasking
1-2T5 UVI*
10 hPhotoperiod
8 hT5 UVB duration
Minimal local sprayMoisture
1-2 then stopFood offers*
Annual schedule
Scroll sideways on smaller screens
| Month | Day ambient | Night | Basking | T5 UVI* | Photoperiod | T5 UVB duration | Moisture | Food offers* | Seasonal management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5-9 C | 4-7 C | Off | Off | 0-8 h | Off (0 h) | Water check; no spray | None | Deep brumation |
| February | 5-9 C | 4-7 C | Off | Off | 0-8 h | Off (0 h) | Water check; no spray | None | Deep brumation |
| March | 7-11 C | 4-7 C | Off | Off | 8 h | Off (0 h) | Water check; no spray | None | Deep brumation; assess mass |
| April | 10-14 C | 5-8 C | Off; 34-36 C late | Off / 1 | 8-9 h | Off during rest; 6 h to 7 h when active | Water check; no spray | None / restart late | Staged emergence late |
| May | 15-19 C | 7-10 C | 35-37 C | 2-3 | 10.5 h | 8 h 30 m | Light local spray weekly | 2-3 | Emergence / reconditioning |
| June | 18-22 C | 8-11 C | 36-39 C | 3-4 | 12.5 h | 10 h 30 m | Local spray 1-2x weekly | 5-6 | Full activity; birth watch |
| July | 19-23 C | 9-12 C | 37-40 C | 3-4 | 14 h | 12 h | Local spray 1-2x weekly | 6-7 | Peak activity / births |
| August | 19-23 C | 9-12 C | 37-40 C | 3-4 | 13.5 h | 11 h 30 m | Local spray 1-2x weekly | 6-7 | Full activity / courtship |
| September | 17-21 C | 8-11 C | 36-39 C | 2-3 | 12 h | 10 h | Light local spray weekly | 4-5 | Mating comparison window |
| October | 12-16 C | 6-9 C | 34-36 C limited | 1-2 | 10 h | 8 h | Minimal local spray | 1-2 then stop | Late mating / seasonal taper |
| November | 8-12 C | 4-8 C | Off | Off | 8 h | Off (0 h) | Water check; no spray | None | Cooling / brumation |
| December | 5-9 C | 4-7 C | Off | Off | 0-8 h | Off (0 h) | Water check; no spray | None | Deep brumation |
Keeper notes
Use measured gradients and animal behaviour, not single thermostat readings
T5 UVI measurement
Measure UVI at normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the optional T5 strip. Place the strip toward the middle/back with free access to and away from it; preserve a gradient into fully covered refuges near UVI 0. These numbers describe the exposure area, not the whole enclosure or a daily average.
UVI review
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Identity and range
A localized Argentine endemic known from Copahue and Termas de Copahue at about 2000-2050 m. A historic synonym proposal linked it to Chilean P. vociferator, but later morphology and molecular phylogeny support separate lineages; current major databases accept P. dorsimaculatus.
Habitat and climate
The species occupies cracks, spaces beneath slabs, volcanic scree and basalt ledges in high-altitude grass steppe near the Araucaria ecotone. Copahue 1994-2023 climate normals average about 18.9/6.9 C in January and 2.5/-3.0 C in July, with roughly 805 mm annual precipitation concentrated in the snowy winter.
Thermal management
No direct preferred-temperature study was located. Related P. palluma field animals were most active on 25-28 C substrate and averaged about 29 C body temperature, while another high-Andean population selected higher temperatures. Use 36-40 C only as a local basking-surface starting point with cool air and immediate crevice access.
Diet and structure
The species is documented as herbivorous. Provide stable volcanic-style rockwork with numerous deep crevices and feed varied fibrous greens, safe weeds, browse, herbs and flowers. No species-specific diet composition or humidity target is published.
Breeding
Viviparity is confirmed, but no detailed species reproductive cycle was located. Closely related P. vociferator reportedly produces one or two young every two years and mates in February to early March locally; the August-September mating and following June-August birth-watch windows are explicitly comparative.
Evidence limits
The inferred November-March local activity window, UVI 3-4, enclosure size, food frequency and social configuration are conservative facility starting points. Verify with individual behaviour, calibrated instruments, body condition and veterinary imaging rather than treating them as measured species requirements.
Keeper warning
Cool only healthy, conditioned adults after feeding has stopped and the gut is clear. Use a controlled 4-8 C refuge rather than outdoor freezing exposure. Record starting mass, perform planned checks, reweigh every 2-4 weeks, and reverse cooling for weight loss, dehydration, respiratory signs or persistent activity without digestion.