Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

My collared's are in a wooden vivarium that has glass sliding front doors. I was told by the pet shop that this is best for WC lizards as they try to get out and less glass is less frustrating for them. Basically this means that the heat bulb is screwed inside the viv on the roof.

My lizards I have noted will sit on the basking rocks looking up at the light and will jump up, hitting their heads quite hard on the bulb. I have been a brought a light guard but was wondering WHY ON EARTH DO THEY DO THIS !!!

The bulb is hot and they really do crack their heads on it. It's not a particularly regular thing but i have seen them both do it more than once in the 3 weeks I've had them. The bulb guard itself is plastic coated metal so surely this can still cause their little heads substantial damage? The viv is 3ft x 1.5 x 1.5 and they can jump from the floor and still hit their heads so lowering the basking rocks wont help......

Any advice???

In my tank there is a screen top, and the light sits on top. Sometimes my lizards do what you said, except they grab the screen and hang for a while. I don't know why they do this, but some one might.

Morgan

I just think its strange that they only jump at the light, nothing else. You'd think they would hit it with their nose but no, the tops of their heads.

It must hurt even if only a little, and believe me I set my viv up at 88-90 at the cool end which means the bulb get really hot first thing in the morning. I've not seen either do it when the bulb is dimmed or off.

Nevertheless they dont seem in the slightest bit bothered, really weird habit they got there.

My lizard do the same thing, but mine mainly look at the UVB light sometime will hang upside down. BOOOM! POW! KAZAM! its Batlizard. I wouldnt worry your temps sound good basking at about 100-110f.

I know that they seen in a highter UV spectrum than we can. I also know that they can see UV trails that other lizards leave behind from there pores in the back legs. This might have something to do with the light jumping.

I don't think there is anything to really worry about, Bonnie and Clyde have done this in the past.

I'll watch as Clyde does a 180 and then does his best impression of a gecko and walk upside down on the screen, Bonnie has done the same thing.

Perhaps Eve should make little collared lizard crash helmets???

Boost

I thought they were just disturbed, now I know we have bat-lizards instead.

Eve if you make helmets for them as mentioned above it seems they will sell by the bucket load.... I'll have two.... could you please quote me postage to the UK?? Just kidding, LOL )

Hey...I've got a collard lizard, I've had her (I think it's a her...) for about a month and I have her in a wire cage, which yes I know is the wrong kind, it's been fixed, lol...but anyway, she'd climb up the mesh sides to try to get on the top and try to push out through the top (I guess she was pushing) she'd do it 'til she fell. I thought maybe she was trying to get closer to the light. Anyway...I guess it's 'normal'.

I have found that they only do this before the UV strip goes on, always first thing in the morning.....

I have started turning the UV light on first then ten minutes later turn the thermostat up to 88. They go straight to the UV bulb to warm up each morning and dont seem to bother with the heat bulb even after the UV has been switched off.

Very odd, I have no idea why this works but it does.