Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For those of you who have free-roaming Cyclura, are they potty trained? I have to keep Kismet confined to one area because she just goes whereever she feels like it -- even if that is while we're vegging on the couch. Other than that, she is an absolutely wonderful lizard. I know at least one person said his rhino is potty trained. So for those of you who have trained your lizards to go in a specific spot, where do they go? My green was relatively easy to train since he'd go in a tub of water, but Cyclura are different. So, what did you do?

Goes in the toilet, I kid you not. Now, I have to take him there, but he knows why he's there, and in the morning if I am late getting him there will hold it for an extra hour or so until I take him. Twice a day usually does it, although there are still messes occasionally.

My guy Frank is not a free roamer per say, but he does get alot of time to roam the house and what not when I am home. Anyways to me it seems as long as you stick to a routine they kind of figure it out. Like frank is put in the bathroom in the morning after I get up, to do his buisness on the tile "much easier to clean up then on carpet" After he goes, he knows he is allowed out and able to raom about. Sometimes he tries to hold it and sneak out, but I just put him back until he does his buisness. He has gotten to the point that he will not go in his cages unless I am away for a few days. He will hold it up to a day if need be. So far this has worked for us. Hope this helps. Now if only I could get hiom to tame down a bit more. We would be set!
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-Robert

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

***FRank the Tank, Enjoying his shower***

How old is Frank?

they really tame down with age (4 years) I thought I was doing something wrong and then BAM, she was a "good lizard".

I believe he is around 2 1/2 or 3.
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-Robert

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

***FRank the Tank, Enjoying his shower***

Your posting about this once was what set me thinking. How on earth did you train him to use the toilet?

Kismet used to mostly go on the kitchen floor, which I didn't mind because it's easy to clean. But she's gone on the carpet a few times too and lately, when she is really relaxed while we're watching television she'll get all comfortable and go right on me. I've had to take to putting a towel between us.

I would love to see a pic of your ig using the toliet! I wish i could train mine to do that! Mine has gone on me a few times as well! Kind of sucks, but it happens
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-Robert

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

***FRank the Tank, Enjoying his shower***

So he sits on the ring and then assumes what I imagine is a familiar position to everyone here? He raises up and then squats...

wow! How did you ever train him to do that?
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-Robert

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

***FRank the Tank, Enjoying his shower***

Ditto. That is what I was going to ask. How on earth did you train him to do that? I can't even get Kiz trained not to poop on me!

OMG! My greens used to do that!!!

and my Rhino was heading down that path untill she decided that she liked pooping on the bathroom rug instead! (dammit.)

For a while she was going in the empty bathtub, after I put her into it, but then, she gave up

Then, well, you know. Finally, I find it beneficial to have a little pile of strategically placed TP squares to drag his rear on, another familiar maneuver. These days the whole thing takes less than a minute: the best part? Flush and you're done. SO nice.

Here's how it happened. Very straightforward and I believe any cyclura could learn this.

Step one: Put him in the bathtub. For a while at first I would have a little water in the tub- not because they like it, I don't believe they do. But It really seems to trigger their, um, "evacuation response."

Step two: Same, no water.

(note: already this is better, I just rinse the feces and urates down the drain. No cleaning an enclosure or my floor)

Step three: Because I am tired of washing the tub everyday, 2x a day because other people use the tub too, I start placing him on the toilet to go. He gets it almost immediately (Less than 2 days, going 2x/day).

Now it's just flush and go. Also, doesn't have to be the toilet, you could train to go wherever, and just make that your step 3.

See, here is my problem. I tried getting Kismet to potty in the tub like my green and she won't. She'll sit there forever and not go and then when I take her out and set her on the floor -- boom, then she'll go. But she likes the floor.

I too have heard and read that Cyclura don't want or need a bath, but I do find it necessary to bathe her to keep her clean enough for her to get onto my furniture and, truthfully, whether she is supposed to or not, she really does seem to enjoy it. She often climbs into her water dish when she is outside and in the tub is the only time I have ever seen her drink water.

But, I am back to square one on the potty thing.

On the bathing issue, my guy hates baths, but loves the shower...I let him roam my bathroom, why I shower, then I leave the water on and the door open and crawls in and sits in the water for a few minutes. He seems to enjoy it and it keeps him clean enough to raom the house
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-Robert

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

***FRank the Tank, Enjoying his shower***

I think one thing all of this proves is how different each of their individual personalities are!

One thing I forgot to include, and it was instrumental early on, was having made a note first of his existing patterns. I would take him into the tub about the time he would normally go.

Having said that, it sounds like Kismet may just not be into it. Doesn't mean it won't ever work though, seems like they mature over a fairly extended period of time? I wonder how much difference gender makes... not regarding this issue specifically, it seems like the females can be pretty significantly different behaviorally, and wouldn't surprise me at all if the two genders came at something like going to the bathroom very differently as well.

You know, Bayzow, they just all seem to have such individual personalities too. I mean, with Kiz, she is absolutely perfect in every other way. And, incidentally, I've noticed that she neither eats nor poops at the same time -- something else that makes it very difficult to train her in any way shape or form. About the only thing I can ever guarantee is that she'll never turn down a blueberry! If she ever does, it's time to race to the vet's office!

How old is kismet? I think frank the tank is soo wild, because he was kept outdoors most of his life until I aquired him at the age of two, least thats what I was told. He is calming down some, but he still has alot of spunk and personality to him.

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-Robert

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

Kismet is seven and a half. She'll turn eight on October 2nd. She does get a bit of temper if she has to come inside on a bright sunny day, but mostly she is a good girl. I posted some new pics of her today in a thread called "My Girl".

Yeah frank gets annoyed when he comes in on a sunny day. I call it sun rage! lol
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-Robert

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

Sun Rage. I like that! LOL