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So far all gila keepers I have spoken to have seen their animals sleep on their backs at one time or another. I checked my animals one night and found 4 like it!

So does anyone have any thoughts to why they do this? Has it been seen in wild gilas?

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Regards,
Scott

CaptiveBred.co.uk
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In my opinion,Helodermids exibit this behavior for the fact that they are tunnel dwellers. So in theory, while sleeping on their back they are under the protection of thier cozy cave or enclosed shelter.
Take care,
HorridumAngeli

HorridumAngeli's Beaded Lizard Web Site

I like that reasoning. The first time one of my Gilas did that I freaked and whipped open the cage door. The Gila just opened one eye and looked at me kinda funny.
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

think that's the reaction to all heloderma keepers the first time they see it...lol
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Regards,
Scott

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Maybe but to what purpose would sleeping on their backs in a tunnel benefit them? Animals rarely do things for the sake of it, so what advantage would sleeping on their backs brings?

It's obviously not uncommon for keepers to see this behaviour, so it must be for a particular reason?
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Regards,
Scott

CaptiveBred.co.uk
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could it be that the roof of the tunnel / burrow would be warmer so they lay that way to press them stomachs against the warmer area? (just a thought)
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Regards,
Scott

CaptiveBred.co.uk
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Freaked me out too!
Everytime I try to get a good picture, they turn over!
Steve

lol....great photo, I have the same problem trying to photograph them.
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Regards,
Scott

CaptiveBred.co.uk
UK based website, forums, classifieds

I would suggest that it might be related to their need for increased humidity as an aid in shedding. Heloderms have a very porous skin and are actually prone to dehydration. They also tend to shed in large pieces. Perhaps by sleeping on their backs in tunnels the contact between their backs and the moist soil eases the shedding process. As evidence of this, my heloderms rarely if ever sleep on their backs, however they have waterbowls that are large enough to allow them to completely soak when they like. Do those of you that use small water bowls have a higher frequency of this behavior? Let me know what you think of this hypothesis.

Brian

You might be onto something there. My water bowls are large enough for them to soak and I have not seen any on their backs since providing them.
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

I have kept my gilas with very large lidded water bowls (they climb in thru the side) and they still laid out on their backs when out of the water bowl.

Has anyone found any reference to this in the wild?
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Regards,
Scott

CaptiveBred.co.uk
UK based website, forums, classifieds

I use huge water crocks in all of my enclosures and my animals still at times sleep on their backs, but non the less a good theory.
HorridumAngeli

HorridumAngeli's Beaded Lizard Web Site

My Mexican beaded lizards do it all the time and they have water dishes large enough to soak in. I have noticed that the pattern on their tummy is as bold as the dorsal side. From a distance they appear to be right side up, now in a dark burrow that would not matter, but mine will often sleep like this at the entrance to their hides and sometimes in plain sight. Could this be a means of thermal regulation in the wild where by the ventral pattern serves as a visual cue to a potential predator? Exposing ones soft underbelly would seem to be quite risky, unless one was reasonably certain of ones defense. Perhaps they do this in the wild as a means of temp. regulation, and sometimes it occurs near the entrance of the burrow?
Its pretty keen at any rate.

Ciao Pescados
B

I too keep large enough water bowls for my gila's to soak. I have never seen them on their backs but I did find one laying on its side at the enterance to its hide. Didn't get a photo though....
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C.E.Smith
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& that everyone is reading too much into it.
How many of you sleep in exactly the same position all the time?
Your spouses? Kids? Cats? Dogs?
You get the idea...they're just hanging out. It's comfortable.
Cheers,
Max
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"I got out of the business because it's almost impossible to do business without breaking a law some place, whether you knowingly do it or not."
Tom Crutchfield

...this is not just a helodermatid behavior...it is occasionally observed in other varanids too. In geelers Ive kept & occasionally observed this, my read is on this is that its about comfort... not defense or anything too heavy.
First time I saw it tho & thought SoB...its dead..it was in a deep slumber & thnk-goodness didnt wake up pisst!