Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Nesting without mating?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Central FL
    Posts
    4,349

    Default Nesting without mating?

    Has anyone ever observed nesting behavior in females that were not gravid? My female and male were housed together during the cold part of winter, then separated last week when I noticed the male was "courting". I only saw that type of behavior one day and then moved him right away. Now my female is nest building in her hidebox and acting protective of that area. She's bringing water over there, too. She's also aggressive toward the other female, similar to last year after she laid. So, is this just spring behavior in the presence of a male or should I be thinking that they mated? I know dogs go through false pregnancies, but never heard of it with reptiles.
    Laura R (FL)
    1.0.0 Colombian Tegu
    1.4.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    1.2.0 Red Tegu
    1.2.0 B/WxRed Tegu
    1.0.0 Green Ameiva (yet another teiid)
    7 other lizards
    1 little gator
    3 FL box turtle
    1 Sulcata tortoise
    16 snakes
    5 fuzzy pets
    4 little frogs
    a bunch of creepy bugs
    and a partridge in a pear tree

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    1,210

    Default

    I can't think of other lizard species that guard their nests the way tegus do, and I don't know the answer in general.

    I do know of bird species that "practice" nest building and other rituals even though they are not mature enough to have bred. So it wouldn't surprise me if tegus do this. It could be that proximity to the interested male and the first signs of courtship alone are enough to trigger those behaviors. I'm just reasoning here, not speaking from direct knowledge.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Finger Lakes, NY
    Posts
    1,362

    Default

    i dont know, but the female i got from nordica has pushed all the hay into one corner and is very protective of it, but she isn't even a year old yet
    1.2.0 Argen Black & White
    1.1.0 Red Tegu
    0.0.1 Blue Tegu
    1.0.0 All American Tegu
    0.1.0 Hypo Red Tail Boa
    1.0.0 Lazik Tiger BP
    1.0.0 Normal Paradox BP
    1.0.0 Cuban Tree Frog
    2.3.0 America Toads
    1.0.0 Masked Ferret
    1.1.0 Children
    Rats & Roaches (Dubia)

    RIP-
    0.0.1 RedxB/W Tegu (Stevie Wonder)
    1.0.0 Croc Gecko (Waylan Jones I)

    & More to come

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Citrus Heights, CA
    Posts
    815

    Default

    Hahaha!!! Boz never did that over here.
    "Why do blessings always come in disguises? If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked."

    0.1.0 Bearded Dragon; Spaz (aka "Monkey")
    1.0.0 Bearded Dragon; Leonidas (aka "Jaba" aka "Fatty)
    0.0.1 Ball Pythons; Lil' Bit

    0.1.0 Argentine B/W Tegu; Bozski - *rehome*
    1.0.0 Argentine A/A Tegu; Oscar - *rehome*
    1.0.0 Ball Python; Moose - *rehome*

    0.1.0 Bearded Dragon; Knuckles (aka "Kitteh"), RIP
    0.0.1 Baby B/W Tegu; unnamed, RIP

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •