Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have recently purchased a male ackie from pete weis to accompany my female. I have seen some behavior that would normally not concern me except the apparent role reversal. My female has been chasing my male, biting(apparently not hard) on my males tail, sides, and neck. This is usually accompanied by twitching head motions and what i can only guess to be 'seductive' movements of the tail by both lizards. While I have read that it is quite common for male monitors to engage in similar courtship behaviors, I have never read of females being agressors. Is this not unusual? Is their something wrong? Are they not compatible? Is the male I purchased possibly a female and this is some sort of pecking order? opinions, suggestions, advice? Thank you.

you could have to males (your female was really a male), it could just not be breeding behavior and it could be an invasion of space issue.

like it has been said a thousand times, don't start out with breeders from two different places, but start out with hatchlings. the problem is extreme impatience and lack of work that people want to put into this.

cheers
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Varanus Creations

the one we already had is most certainly female, she's the one who laid a surprise clutch of eggs for us. there is definitely no question that at least one of these is female.
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1.2 Mali Uromastyx (Ricky, Quinn, Anna)
1.1 Yellow Ackies (Eddie, Roxie)
1.0 Timor (Zealot)

Emily
www.egomantra.com/npoh

i realized it is a moot point since they are together, but our intention was not to breed them. We got our female a cagemate because it was suggested by some that our female might benefit from social interaction with another of the same species. This was not a half assed attempt at breeding, but since intentions don't really control behavior, that really doesn't matter now, does it? I will continue to monitor(heh heh) their behavior. But yes, as my girlfriend did say, we most certainly have at least one female, unless males have been known to spontaneously drop eggs.

it was actually your advice to possibly get a male.i am not pointing fingers or blaming you, please dont think that. I am just trying to justify our decision and reassure you that this wasnt a half-assed attempt at breeding, we were interested in our animals well being. if and when i do decide to own monitors for the sake of breeding, i fully intend to do it the proper way. I would rather people not think i was so ingnorant that i would avoid basic tips that virtually EVERY breeder offers. I dont care if people think i am an asshole, i just dont them to think im stupid.Our female was purchased under the assumption that she probably wasn't all that fertile, I dont really think you would find too many adult female breeders on the open market.

My female albig did this to her half brother before she tried to kill him. My friends small banded cape WT tries that to male monitors 2 times his size if hes near them. Side to side head shake, pursuit, poking, prodding, grabbing, scratching, at the neck and sides etc.

SHvar's right, if breeding is the intent, it should not include biting. Mounting is a form of varanid kicking ass, when not between a compatible sexed pair.

I assume you introduced the new one into the female's cage? Why don't you try setting him up alone somewhere else for a week (make it simple and small), then introducing the female into his territory. She won't have anything to defend then, and may behave herself. Leave them to work it out for a week or so. When they are friends, put them into the big one. Maybe clean and move stuff around the big one, so its not 'hers' anymore?

I don't own ackies, but this is my plan for introducing some juvie monitors I'm getting soon. Monitors are said to be pretty territorial, and I aim to nip that particular behavior in the bud. Wish us luck. D.

an interesting idea. I'll try it.