Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Critter used to love chasing after prey, but now he just sits in his hide and ambushes and rarely comes out unless he's basking or taking a poop.

Is this him maturing or is he just lazy now?

Also, i've been noticing his throat sorta vibrating slowly like he's rubbing his throat with his tounge. Is that a sign of anything?

What is laziness? A bad thing if it is a way of life. It's a lack of motivation. Monitors are very active and curious some of the time. Are you sure it is being lazy? Basking is doing something. It shouldn't bask continuously though; your hotspot temp might be too low. If it is underground it could be digging. Laziness could be a sign of illness, stress, dehydration, inability to reach proper temps, boring or tiny enclosure, lack of privacy, overeating, depression, loneliness--(for a compatible monitor), or something else related to your situation. Now you get to figure out why he is lazy and fix it if you can
Goodluck, -H-

Actually, i may have found the problem. His basking spot is way under what it should be. I hadn't checked the temp in there for so long and I had replaced the bulb with a different one, but lower wattage.

His basking spot was only 100 degrees when it used to be around 125-130. I also had 2 hide spots for him, but he never used the one of them, so I took it out to give him more room to roam around in. His current hide spot consists of flat cinder blocks stack on one another in which he can squeeze in and barely turn around in the space.

Tomorrow I will pick up a higher wattage bulb and see if his "laziness" improves.

Also, i asked about his throat gulping thing he does, is that an indication of anything or is it regualar monitor behaviour?

I only have 4 aging monitors, I can’t answer your question with any authority. The mangrove Scooter constricts his throat to crush crickets that may be wiggling in his gullet, he grunts and burps sometimes. If he decides to eat egg shell he crushes that in his throat too, it makes a popping noise. My monitor is pretty big, it would stand to reason he would be more audible than a little monitor. He also "talks sometimes" forcing air through his nose and opening/closing his throat (not his mouth). I was worried about that because I didn't think healthy monitors make noise like that on purpose. My vet said there was no cause for worry in my situation. His airways are clear, for his age his health looks good.
My first instinct is to be concerned, like you are. If this happens pretty continuously or if it’s happening when he is sleeping I would have him checked by your vet. You said the light was too cold? He could have respiratory issues.
Goodluck! –H-

An old pic just for fun...
I used to encourage Scooter to chase me around (exercise) for food. Looks like he is getting ready to jump...

I like to rearange the cage funiture and bury worms and cut up mice in their dirt or bury a little bit of poo from a different monitor in the cage. This seems to keep mine active, no bored lizards at my house.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Well, I think the major problem was with me. I used to force handle him when I first got him and I think he fears me now. But like I said, i'm going with a higher wattage bulb to try and increase his basking spot or I may just find a way to raise his spot.

Entirely too many people refuse to admit they made a mistake.
Sir, I am impressed.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Welp, a person can always learn, even an vetern like Frank is still learning (at least I hope). I went back and read one of the last threads in the BT/WT board and found my real problem wasn't with the heat in the cage, it was with me, although the heating ordeal is a problem, but it wouldn't make him stay underground.

Anyways, there needs to be a sticky topic about the do's and don'ts for beginners like DO NOT GET A SCREEN TOP, proper substrate, proper diet, etc.

Some species are less active than others, but what you are describing is a change in behaviour. I would try and figure out why the behavior has changed.