mammals vs reptiles

[MartinW]

If you don't agree with this generalization then let me know, but do most reptiles spend most of their time standing still, while mammals are almost constantly wondering around? Why is it like that?

Martin

[alex_33]

I can think of 2 reasons right now: 1) reptiles are cold-blooded so they always need to thermo-regulate, unlike mammals who are warm blodded and do not really have to worrry about basking in the sun and cooling of in the shade. 2)Many Reptiles such as your leopard geckos are nocturnal, so they would be most active during the night.

[sSNAKESs.com]

Snakes for example, if given what they need usually wont move untill one of the things they need is no longer available. If a snake gets loose in your house and it finds a spot, that is secure, and warm, it probably wont move untill it needs food or water or to thermoregulate. Im not sure why they do this, but i guess its instinct... "You can take the cat out the jungle but you cant take the jungle out the cat" - Jeru the Damaja

I think it might have to due with sleep differences. Mammals sleep, close their eyes and basically pass out. Most(?) reptiles go into slow mode, still and not moving but awake and aware. Also conservation of calories, less movement=longer periods between meals.

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

..Simple rule but not all applies to it such as my moms tiger.
Laziest animal I've ever seen; even at night. Perfectly healthy, lots of room and even a playmate for him. Which the dogs pretty lazy, too..
..Now lets take my crocodilians. From about noon to 3 or so they do nothing but sit there, however after the basking hours they do nothing but move, weather they are frolicking the shore lines or surfing the seas. They are on the move. Just a few personal things I saw that broke the general rule of ecto. and endothermic animals.
From what mom says, most large cats are pretty lazy. Patrol a little bit then sleep..
Xain

thanks for the great info Krok, stills seems to be a conservation of energy to me when they aren't looking for food, even in the lion/dog kingdom lol. When they go 'on the move' how is the feeding response?

[Lizzy001]

I think another reason is because reptiles need heat to digest food quicker too....and mammals dont...sorry if i have this wrong!

[Lisa]

Also many mammals have to learn how to hunt when juvenile, which they due by playing, were many reptiles come out of the egg with the basic instint on hunting. I beleive many carnivorous reptiles are also ambush hunters, waiting for their prey to come to them, where sitting still is the key to not being noticed.

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

..Yea, the minute I bring the food for the tiger, he becmes very alert. The crocs, they always come swimming up to the bank no matter what time of day it is...
But yea, the conservation of energy is the main feature, but then again, I guess the activity should also be regulated by actual hunters (Crocodilians, Tiger, Leopard geckos) or the animals that use the sit and wait method. ( most snakes ).. Something like that.

[MartinW]

Krok, your mom has a tiger!? Does it wander around in her house? I love em but I'm not brave enough to own one as a pet, unless it's behind a cage Plus, I'd probably need a bigger back yard for the tiger to roam.

Thanks for the replies everyone! Even though they don't move much during the day, I love my leos anyway! They look so funny when they're sprawled out sleeping in the tank, and they all come out a few hours before I go to bed, which is enough observation time for me.

Also, I heard Day geckos are called day gecko cuz they're up during the day. Does anyone know how active these are? I've never seen one in person.

Martin

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Krok, your mom has a tiger!? Does it wander around in her house? I love em but I'm not brave enough to own one as a pet, unless it's behind a cage Plus, I'd probably need a bigger back yard for the tiger to roam.

..It use to wonder the housewhen it was a small creature but now he'd knock everything over and probably try to eat my kitten.. He's now living with a hybrid dog in a 4oo sq. foot enclosure that is 10' high.

Also, I heard Day geckos are called day gecko cuz they're up during the day. Does anyone know how active these are? I've never seen one in person

..I heard that they were called day geckos because they are one of few Diurnal species as well. I use to keep a Madagascar giant day, and moved when I wasnt around but eveytime I was in the same room he'd stay right where he is until I left..


Xain

[Night_Crawler]

I like reptiles myself mammals are no fun, I used to keep the general; rabbits, rats, guinea pigs ,ferrets, hamsters, gerbils chinchillas, so on then I got a iguana [which I now hate] but I still love reptiles in general now more and gave away most my mammals so in my personal opnion repts are better but its definately the whole coldblooded thing that makes them not move around as much as mammals.