Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,
I just got a collared a week and a half ago. At first, I had two half logs for him to hide under and he never hid. He seemed very happy in his cage and was active and I would take him out every night to hand feed him to help tame him. But... I felt it was important for him to have a hiding space so I went out this week and got him a rock that has a hiding space in it and another new and got rid of the half logs. At first, he was still hopping all around in his cage and appeared very happy... but yesterday and last night he finally found this new hiding space and now he never wants to come out it seems... even when I put some nice juicy wax worms and some mealworms in his dish last night... he was timid to come out... I am bummed b/c I wasn't able to watch him be a clown like he has been... he even let a couple of the wax worms go and didn't eat them... he has been eating really good until last night... I didn't want to disturb him though or take him out by respecting his choice to hide... but I am kinda bummed.... I thought he would remain out and about in the day and go in there at night... I have it half on a peice of slate rock that is heated by an under tank heater... and half off it... and it is under the basking side of the tank... so... he is staying warm... I just wish he woudln't hide all the time... will see about tonight... but any thoughts????
Thanks!!!!!

JIM

He seems to feel content now, he has a place where he feels safe that is also natural to him, instead of the logs.
I would just give him time to settle in. He will come out, or he may try and brumate, that may be whats going on also.
Its that time. Just hang in there and see what he does.
Either way, he will evenually come out, and you will see him jumping and be able to hold him, so on, believe me.

As long as he is healthy , and happy, and feels CONTENT in his space, you will have a Better and CALMER pet down the line.

Eve

What if I don't want him to brumate? Would kinda suck since I just got him... do captive bred ones do it too on their own? If so, it must be a biological thing with them... How will I tell? I don't know a lot about lizards so I am learning as I go... and trying to do the best I can... is it also good to just drop the food in his bowl when it is time to eat and just let him hide? Instead of coaxing him out and then picking him up? He just seems to only stay under that rock now...

Yes, they are still lizards, wc or cb they all have that biological clock, your right ! And you say you don't want him to, the onlything you can do, if he wants to, is stay up round the clock and keep him awake, hehheheh! Seriously, no, if he wants to, he will.

What will happen is, he will not come out at all, he will not bask, his appetite will decrease or stop all together, and he will sleep.

But wait and see, he is new, he may just be adjusting, before with the logs he did not hide, they did not suit him, his new rock , he feels safe. He could come out after a few days !

Heres a site , belongs to Will Wells, that you can read when ya have time, and learn some things, help you know what he is doing.
when you get there, click Captive Care on the left. Also another good site to read. Hope they help
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http://www.mountainboomer.com/crotaphytus/

www.collaredlizards.com