Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Justin’s male was trying to mount the female today, he would stay clinging to her as she climber the branch, tongue flicking and head jerks just like adults do, only these are babies?
I think it’s a domination thing as I was late for feeding today?

That is aggression, plain and simple.
Ornates and Niles will act like that just days out of the egg.
I purchased 3 hatchlings back in December and that behavior was displayed even in an 8' x 3' x 3' enclosure. You will probably need to separate because eventually the the lesser will become stressed out. After I decided which one I liked I ended up with this one, which was more dominant but also the best looking.

Your solution was to separate them when babies, how do you plane to pair him up later?

Theirs many ways to work such situation, the first rule is consistency with your support, they don’t take kindly to being hungry.
In this case I saw it before it escalated, not a problem it’s my responsibility to support them properly. When all animals are feeding well it’s a none issue. I would never separate them ever, doing this means the end of the project, finish back to square one ( Genesis) that’s anti evolutionary isn’t it?

This is normal behavior, hungry or not.
I fed the 3 hatchling Ornates plenty. Crx were always available and they were given pinkies daily.
Just sharing my experience and what I have learned from others.
That's what we do here, right?

It is all in preperation for whats to come. You know what happens when they are not prepared (no social order).

Is that a plastic drum barrel? I have a few laying around and was thinking of using them. I thought about mounting the light where the whole is on top. But I haven't figured out how to do any viewing window.

I jigsaw a hole and use the cheapest plexi I can find, I wouldn’t start babies in anything else, they work good.

As light fixture I use a $0.75 socket , bulbs and cord from the dollar store, total $5 to $7 per barrel, I use them sideways or upward, they last forever.

Thats what I thought it was. I wasn't sure if I would have to heat the plexi to get it to bend or not. Guess if I use the thinner stuff it shouldn't be a problem. Looks like I may have found a use for them things after all.

Thanks for sharing