Reptile & Amphibian Forums

would installing mirrors on the back of my rough neck monitor's cage stress it out or would he enjoy it or not care about it? i think it might be kinda cool so i can see him from more angles, but this is purely selfish and unnecessary. i would appreciate your guys' opinion on this, especially FR's.
thanks
-jake

great looking rudi you have. . . how old is he? mine is 2+ yrs old (estimate from prev. owner) and what I've noticed when I have him out, if I go to close to a mirror (bathroom, bedroom), he takes notice of the reflection and puffs up/hisses, etc. I dont let him too close for fear he may lunge at it and hurt himself, butI can tell he does not like the appearance of another monitor. You may want to try the same with yours? I'd be curious to talk with you more about yours. . . how well does he handle? What kind of cage do you have him in, etc, etc?

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Chris
1.0.0 Columbian Boa
1.0.0 Columbian x Hogg Island Boa
0.1.0 Argentine Rainbow Boa
2.0.0 Bearded Dragons
0.0.1 Black Throat Monitor
0.1.0 Black Rough-neck monitor

They don't need the added stress of thinking there is another monitor there.Especially if they are used to being alone.If they are raised that way or with other monitors,maybe it wouldn't bother them so much.My female blackthroat paces back and forth against the mirror when roaming the house.My male Iguana actually attacked any mirror when he saw himself in it.

I think your monitor will learn very quickly that the mirror is nothing to fear or of any actual use.

Which means, its worthless. Your better off offering something of use. Particularly for Rudis, something to climb on, would be great.

Of interest to me, would be if you could determine if the monitor would use the mirror to see you coming. That is, to understand reflection. I have seen this happen. It would be nice to see that confirmed by others. Cheers

Do you think they look at it as you coming from within the mirror or as a reflection of something coming from behind them??

Several things about mirrors. Almost all monitor cages have mirrors. That is, the glass functions as a mirror. If the lites in the cage is on, and outside the cage is off, the glass becomes a mirror, on the inside of the cage. And of course the monitor will see the reflection, of whats inside the cage. So I get the feeling captive monitors learn what a reflection is. I also have seen many instances that monitors know the real direction, a reflection comes from.

Now to add to this and this is actually the most important. Most people have no or little understanding of monitors, or heck animals. You know, I know, that with monitors, sight is only part of their senses. Sight is about awareness, if a monitor sees something, its becomes aware of it. Then it needs to smell it. As smell confirms and identifies the object. If sight and smell does not identify the object, the touch is next. Monitors touch with their claws, but more importantly their nose. When unsure of something, they poke it with their nose.

Monitors like us and other animals, have more then one sense, and they use them. They most likely have senses we do not have. Like some sort of electrochemical or chemical organs on their face and lips.

You have mertens, yes? They have very sensitive organs on their face. They are very sensitive to metal. It blows their minds.

I believe most if not all monitors have this to a certain degree. Ever wonder why the dang things are so careful about keeping their face clean? Cheers

I only asked to get your thoughts/opinion on what you have observed. Thought it may be a nice change up from the same old what dirt to use what temps to use discussions.

My thoughts are they do comprehend what a reflection is. I am not sure if they realize it is themselves or not. I do know they get over the reflection and pay no attention to it. I also have found if they see me in the reflection they turn around towards me. I found that interesting and have tried the same with something more appealing (food). They did the samething at first they studied the reflection but soon realized it was not in the mirror but was behind them. What I am unsure of is if they used other senses to realize this or if it was just in thought process alone.

Yes I have mertens along with many other monitors that I have noticed the receptor pores you speak of. I think they are most noticable on my rudis as the white lips make them stand out.