Reptile Behavior

At first glance, the abstract world of reptile ethology may seem remote to clinicians dealing with the health and disease of captive animals. By delving a little deeper, however, vets can learn to appreciate the reasons for certain behaviors and actually use these behaviors as indicators of various biologic states. Close scrutiny of subtle changes in behavior can further help assess reptile well-being and judge captive welfare. In the future, it is hoped that improved ethologic understanding will result in behavioral enrichment for reptiles, as is already promoted for many nondomestic mammals and birds.

What goes on in a reptile’s typical day has a lot to do with thousands of years of adaptation and genetic molding. While you may not recognize the patterns at first, you can be sure that they are laid deep in reptiles’ genes, so it’s best then not to crimp their style. When a reptile needs belly heat, usually after a meal of some type, you’ll notice that it finds an appropriately warm spot within the terrarium and hunkers right down on it, remaining absolutely still while its metabolism generates internal energy and sets to work digesting dinner.

The reptile will also climb up on objects to seek a feeling of security and bask in the warmth of an incandescent light bulb or a ceramic heating element. Reptile’s can’t talk, but their behavior will tell you plenty: if your reptile spends a disproportionate amount of time under the lighting system or heating element, it may be a sign that the ground temperature is not warm enough to provide the necessary amount of digestive heat. This may also be true if the reptile attempts to make physical contact with an overhead heat/light source.

It’s not likely that you’ll hear any barking when you get home from work, but some reptiles actually can generate sound. In nature, the sounds are usually for the purposes of mating or self-defense. Some reptiles exhibit a head-bobbing action, which is also indicative of a mating ritual, a defense mechanism or an affinity for reggae music. If your reptile gives you the head-bobbing treatment, it could be considered a sign of recognition