Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have you noticed how they like to sleep on the highest branch or leaves?
Been thinking about this for a while now, and even tested this behaviour with an 8ft high cage, it seems that regardless of height, they will try to get to the highest point to sleep at night.

On this photo you have a baby capra and a gonocephalus of about the same age, the gonos are very shy and spend the day in hiding, you really have to look for them daytime. On the other hand the capras are all over and don’t seem to mind my presence, however I have not seen them basking on leaves except at night, both these species have similar sleeping habits. I believe this behaviour may serve two purposes, first avoiding predation and second thermoregulation from morning sun.

From temperature readings I have personally took in full sun, basking lizards on leaves have very little risk of over heating, leaves do not accumulate heat and radiate as they have reflective properties and are cooled on both sides by the wind. Sun baked branches of even 1.5-2inches in diameter can reach 120f and more in a very short time.

In my care the babies soon learn to sleep on the bulb side, this even though they are provided with similar sleeping on the other side of the cage.

I have to ask this!
Seems to me that anything other then the basic questions we see on this forum attracts very little attention, lately I have posted many interesting observations that where simply ignored, why?
I am puzzled, aren’t you guys passionate enough to want to know more?
Hec I wake up every morning wanting to know more! This quest for knowledge allows me to see and better understand things I missed the day before, aren’t you guys the same way?

I have noticed this. Especially true with the youngest hatchlings. It seems that as they get older the behaviour changes and they move lower to the sturdier branches.

Even my 6-mo-olds seem to have changed this already. I have a slab of cork bark, several branches, nets, and vines. They seem, at this age, to sleep under the leaves in the upper branches now. One will always be on the highest vine but I swear he camps out there 24/7! LOL!!

Your theory on the leaf temperature and basking make good sense. The sun would warm them up kick-starting their day. I'm sure they wouldn't want to remain on the leave like that during the day or they would be easy prey for many birds and other predators. This would give them their daily dose of sunlight/Vit D as well.

Jobi, this forum is slow, always has been. I have been very frusterated with this. When I started there were a lot of regulars here, don't know where they went! since then others have come and gone but it is just slow. I crave information. I need others to bounce ideas off of and others to kick-start my thinking. Instead I end up being the instructor. Not that I mind helping, I think there is a need and heaven knows I don't want to see every beginner killing their dragons. But it is good to have some more advanced keepers interested in this species too. There just aren't that many yet!

There are a few people starting to breed them though and that is a start. If they are going to breed they are going to have to dig deeper too!

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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

I am always interested in your posts. You and Marcia have been keeping and breeding reptiles longer than I have and know so much more. I read everything even if I don't respond.

This guy was sleeping in this position Looks like the "Hang in there baby" poster. Sorry about water spots.

I get these tiny hornworms and they just love them. Even more than silks. I'm thinking it's the green color. If I can get a pic of them doing a tug-o-war I will post it.

The horn worm is the same color as the new capras I am trying to import. neet!
Also have you noticed that capra’s are actives when hungry in the morning, then they sleep and become active (hungry) again by late afternoon. Is this how yours are acting?

These remind me of the crested geckos morphs, I think they have some flames, harlequin, tigers and the all beige are called fauve!?
I have no idea how the dragons morph will be called, but if you produce them, you get to call them! How cool is that?

I find all your little guys awesome, do they act like capra’s? Are they as easy to care for when baby?

Rgds

I cant help but to compare these lizards with chemeleons when I looked at this forum it was the first time I have seen one. Ive had the normal lizards monitors swifts and recently a bearded dragon but am looking to get a nice exotic. I was set on a chemeleon, but havnt got one becouse of the setup needs. I have a question, do these lizards need a misting system this is my major obstacle. I agee with you on the forum I also am always looking for new info and cant get it fast enough alot of the forums have the same questions on for days. Maybe its because of the hobby we chose you have to admit alot of people look at herps as creepy critters. Im just glad my wife loves them as much as I do.She even cried when our monitor "gurinski" died so I use his name in his honor. I think many of the people that use the forum are first timers and ask alot of novice questions Im just mad I found it so late and had to learn everything from my mistakes and whatever info I found in books. I plan to be on for awhile now and maybe we can share info again if I ever make my mind up.

Well to be honest I don’t use any water system with my dragons, they use a regular bowl when they need to drink, I don’t mist them often ether.

However my cages are quit humid 60-90%

This is the specie that got me interested in them, it’s a captive hatched gonocephalus. To my taste they are the most beautiful lizards, however this particular male was turned down by a local pet shop, can you believe this?

It seems to me that acanthosaura make better captives, especially if you want to handle them once in a while, but then again I have many gonos that are just as easy to handle, but most are temperamental.

Witch ever you choose you will like them for sure.

A couple of q's how big do they get and how big the enclosure also where can I get one? thx

Jobi, My babies are also active in the morning and later in the day when hungry.
I can't believe ANYONE turned down that beautiful Lizard. Wish you were in the states.

About misting system. Some of us differ on how we keep our MHD but the higher humidity is agreed on by all. You can achieve this in different ways other than a misting system. If you decieded to get one Big Apple Herps has a very reasonably priced model that can be used on multiple cages.
I don't have gonos (yet) but the MHD are great lizards. I'm told they are easier than chameleons once established.