Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi
I recently picked up a new monitor, had it about 2 months, was told its about 2yrs maybe a little less. I thought it to be a female but now im thinking it is actually a male. The last couple nights it has been mounting both my female and my other large male. He chases my male and grabbs onto him with his front legs and shows mating behaviors. Is this a sign of dominance? Is this how they fight? My other male who is about twice his size just runs away and doesnt try to attack him.
Im confused, Ive had my other male for a few years and I dont want him stressed out because of this new young stud.
-----
"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

It most likely has nothing to do with mating. Similar to the person's post below about their Ackies. It is somthing monitors do when in close proximity, somtimes they will, sometimes they wont.

Here is somthing to think about. People throw around male and female freely I feel, without really understanding what they have. If you truely know you have a male and female and they get along well, don't mix it up by tossing another in, no matter the sex.

I have found males to be the most combative of the two sexes but there is no doubt, I have both sexes showing similar signs in different circumstances.

Maybe that helped?
Mike.

Yea you are right i cant be absolutely positive of their sex. I just assumed my big guy was male because he is so much larger than my "female" and I saw him trying to copulate a couple months back. And then this new one is a rescue, (s)he is about 2ft now and was stuck in a 20 gal, surprisingly it has all it toes and full tail and is a great looking lizard. I would have taken it no matter what. I did think it to be female just by it body structure and what not, but obviously that was just a guess.
-----
"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

Should I remove the new one? they arent acting vicious(sp?) towards eachother, so im not sure what to do.
-----
"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

In my experiance, my lizards are very unique from one another. That is, some will get along well together; others, not so much. Just use sound judgement is all I can say, if nudging and mounting are taking place, use caution; if it exacerbates to biting there are some problems that may relax over time or lead to one killing another.

Goodluck,
Mike.

OK thank you. I will just keep an eye on them.
-----
"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

You have three monitors in one enclosure together? What species?