Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

Darwin is, for the most part, "toilet trained." After he eats or drinks he will race down to one end of the tank and do the "why can't I get to the other side?" dance. In the beginning it was great! What he wanted was to be placed in his warm bath so he can poop. Then I dump/clean that, refill and let him swim around (or just soak) for awhile. I thought this was great b/c, needless to say, it kept his tank clean and poop free!

Now, he will not poop unless I let him out. I work at home so I am pretty much always here, and he gets insistent. Put it this way: he has probably pooped in his tank twice in the last couple months. Have I created a problem? I was just in the room where his tank is and he really wants out. I tried to ignore him but had to leave the room - to write this. As I said I am usually here but am worried about him blocking himslef up if he is not allowed into his bath. He is in semi-brumation so he is not eating everyday and poops every other day.

Should I "force" him to poop in his tank sometimes? I hate to stress him out by not taking him out, but do not want him to "think" he should not poop in his tank.

help!

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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Well i think u can try to put a tupperware container in his enclosure thats filled with warm water and see if he goes in there. otherwise i dont know what u could do. this reminds me of how people baby their dogs evenn when there adult dog and what happens is the dog keeps acting like a pupy.

yeah, I hear ya! Believe me, the last thing I am is one of those poodle primpers! I do tend to spoil my animals but it is simply that I am not out of the house for 8-10 hours/day for job or school. The time and location allow me to spoil!

Bottom line (no pun intended ) Should I just make sure he poops a few times a week on his own? The last thing I want is to have some prissy boy dragon! lol! ;-/

I did put bowl of warm water n the tank today but he kept runnng around. I'll try different approaches over the next several days.

thx
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Lele, I guess I've "trained" Zilla to poop in his bath too. When he was little it was everyday. Now it's about every other day. One day I put him in his bath tub and he went before the water was even in. LOL Several times, though, he has pooped in his cage. I think it's kinda like someone thinking they've toilet trained a one year old baby.....the adults are trained. I think our beardies are going to poop when they have to poop. If we happen to have their toilets ready....all the better. I really don't think he'd hold it?

I mean, I'm no expert. Just the way it seems here.

maleea

maleea - great to know that there is another doting mom! I have tested him a few times and left him in the tank and he does not poop - and that's after a meal of cockroaches or silkies the days preceeding. Oh well, I guess it might be a good thing for my herp sitter, she won't have to clean out the tank but just dump eveything down the toilet!

Btw, Darwin does not always need the water either! lol!!
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet