but it seems to me that at this point in the reptile's adjustment it might be more stressful to move his warm, safe hiding spot than to have to move him from said spot every now and then.



Keep in mind, in the wild reptiles very rarely bask out in the open. most of the thermoregulation for most species is done in hiding. As a general rule I try to make sure that most of my reptiles have hiding spots that allow them to warm up and cool off at will. If there's only one hiding spot in the enclosure the reptile only has two choices, which are safety or thermoregulation.



If I were you I would add more hiding spots to and leave the existing one and make note of where he chooses to go. With most reptiles that are new (which in my mind constitutes several months to a couple years, not the two week 'adjustment' period most give) it is normal for them to remain unseen. That doesn't mean that the animal never leaves its hiding spot (at least not always), it just means that he does not yet feel safe enough in his enclosure to walk in the open. Finding ways to force him into the open or removing him from his cage for extended periods before he is ready will hinder the adjustment period. Who knows...if you move things around and he doesn't like it, he might start missing meals. After all, safety and staying alive is most important to reptiles, and often they will choose to go hungry if they don't feel at least minimally secure.



Often patience is key when keeping reptiles. You have to be careful not to slow or reverse progress.

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