What exactly is going on here?

[infernalis]

Almost looks like a sexual advance?

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[jaleely]

uhm YUP that's what my guess is! Aww they're growing up!! LOL

[AjaMichelle]

:) awesome! I can't wait to hear more opinions!!!

[crocdoc]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in my opinion that's aggression. :(

[BarelyBreathing]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in my opinion that's aggression. :(

That's what I thought, too.



Wayne, feel free to share what I said over PM.

[jaleely]

I thought that at first...but then i thought it looked more like a mating thing! the bottom one (i assume is cera) clearly wants no part of it, so that looks a little hostile, or at least irritated, but the one on top...happy and interested seems, to me

[BarelyBreathing]

I thought that at first...but then i thought it looked more like a mating thing! the bottom one (i assume is cera) clearly wants no part of it, so that looks a little hostile, or at least irritated, but the one on top...happy and interested seems, to me

Monitors display mating behavior when trying to dominate another animal. You see this behavior happening in male/female pairs without actual mating, male/male pairs, and male/female pairs. I believe in this video it was the female who was "on top".

[infernalis]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in my opinion that's aggression. :(

Guess it's time for that second enclosure then.

The smaller lizard has been bullied by the larger one now for a while, suddenly it seems reversed.

[infernalis]

Monitors display mating behavior when trying to dominate another animal. You see this behavior happening in male/female pairs without actual mating, male/male pairs, and male/female pairs. I believe in this video it was the female who was "on top".


Yes, that was Cera on top of Littlefoot.

[Gregg M]

Clearly assertion of dominance. Most times it gets worked out and they each know their place. I would not be too worried about building a new cage at this point. Maybe some time by the new year.

[Gatorhunter1231]

Agreeing with others on it being a dominance thing. My 1 month ackies are already doing that. I would suggest another basking spot and a few more things in the cage for visual barriers.

[Wildside]

Yes, that was Cera on top of Littlefoot.

Maybe she's just had enough lol

[infernalis]

Agreeing with others on it being a dominance thing. My 1 month ackies are already doing that. I would suggest another basking spot and a few more things in the cage for visual barriers.

They have their own burrows, however during the last 40 or so days, Littlefoot (larger) has been hanging out with Cera in her burrow.

There is two basking spots, I have seen them use indavidually and I have seen them share.

Maybe she's just had enough lol

Yes, retaliation is a bitch.

[crocdoc]

Sometimes my female lace monitor has a go at the male for no apparent reason (and some people think that humans and animals are separate beings created independently - pffft).

[jaleely]

awww i was hoping it was mating instead lol

[Pirarucu]

I agree, looks to me like a dominance display. However, I wouldn't say you need a new cage yet.. Monitors have rituals for establishing dominance that shouldn't involve injuring the other lizard, this behavior serves a similar purpose as when they stand up and wrestle. So long as there is enough space and plenty of visual barriers for one to escape the other, you should be okay.

[lady_bug87]

My lacertas have a similar mating display but it's my male who pounces on my female, to be fair though she teases him by running by him and lifting her tail.

However, they also display when they have had enough of each other. My female gets pretty aggressive with my male Since she has a very dominant temperament which is why that though I would lve to get another adult female and build a larger colony I can't because Isis is a pyscho

I would love to hear of your 2 successfully mating in the future I couldn't think of a better keeper for it to happen to

[infernalis]

I agree, looks to me like a dominance display. However, I wouldn't say you need a new cage yet.. Monitors have rituals for establishing dominance that shouldn't involve injuring the other lizard, this behavior serves a similar purpose as when they stand up and wrestle. So long as there is enough space and plenty of visual barriers for one to escape the other, you should be okay.


They have all that, yet they chose to hang out together and harass each other.

[Pirarucu]

They're working out the pecking order. I'm not saying I expect they'll live in fear of each other or anything, I'm saying that as long as they have the option to escape from each other, even if they don't use it, you shouldn't need to worry about their safety.