Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I'm a iguana breeder (cyclura and ctenosaura) who happens to have a pair of V.melinus for 6 or 7 years. I finally moved them outdoors with the iguanas (separate enclosure) and set up the tall cage with a heated hide box they can enter through a long tube (like a tunnel) in the upper part of the cage. I live in a temperate zone 30 miles south of San Francisco. Unlike the iguanas that will utilize the hide box for thermoregulation (going in when it is cold outside)these guys just stay out basking or exploring the cage until at night when it gets too cold (55F to 60F) for them to effectively move and then I have to grab them (I don't like to handle my animals) and push them through the tube where they then run into the hide box. Is this common behavior for monitors or can they learn to use a hide box like the iguanas (which takes them about a day or two to learn).
Thanks

Only stupid keepers. No offense, they are what they are.

Some varanids are very very good at learning that, some are not. It has nothing to do with how smart they are. Some species like Melinus come from areas that NEVER get temps that are out of the usable range. Of course varanids that occur from the northern or southern extremes, fully understand what cold is, and will make your iggies look dumb. Of course they are not, but you get the picture.

Monitors are about a million times smarter then iggies, only because they are so generalized. That is, no extreme modifications, just very behavioral. You the keeper have to figure out how to allow those behaviors. So they make up for lack of adaptions with behavior, hmmmmmmmmm maybe its better to automatically do something then have to think about it, so maybe iggies are smarter. I don't know which is smarter, I do know both iggies and varanids are much smarter then most keepers that keep them. So I will stick with that. The lizards are smarter, keepers suck. Cheers

HOW DARE YOU CALL MY IGUANAS STUPID! (lol)
That makes sense. Iguanas are burrow utilizers and this species of monitor would just as well probably curl up in a bush or hide in some tree leaves at night. It did get down to 52 degrees one night and when I found my melinus atop the basking spot (top of the cage), it was completely limp from the cold. Brought it in, heated it back up and it was fine.

Hmmmmm.........I had a male peachie that would eat wood. Doesn't that qualify as stupid? Maybe just nuts.

Maybe if you put the hide low they may be more inclined to use it but they will just as likely try to dig under it. I used to give mine hides up high but they always preferred to go to the ground at night. They like to dig burrows and jam themselves tight under rock piles and stuff at night. Even in hot weather.

I keep mine out side in south west Florida year round .They handle the mid to high forties with no problem and no subsequent heat source. I wouldn't call them stupid. Mine certainly seem to have figured out everything the cage has to offer and the best way to use it.

Ernie Eison

Ay Piason!
Try lowering the box, this should help.
I never new you had Melinus, good luck with them Brother!
Anything good with the Garters yet?
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!