Say hello to my little friend.

OK, so it was the thinnest of excuses - having to do an assignment on comparative anatomy and choosing the option of 'Snakes vs Lizards', just so I could go down my local reptile shop and play with my new camera.

In my defence, having owned a couple of snakes and various lizards in the past I knew more about them that the other choices of 'Bats vs Birds' or 'Horses vs Cows' (that most everyone else was doing - Equine Degree - go figure ).

So... aaaannnyway... with my tortoise being boring and hiding out in my fridge for three months hibernating, and what with me having a huge viv I haven't got round the moving out after my snake passed away of old age...


... and there were just all these cute little scaley things running around and chasing crickets...




... and these guys just plain being lazy and sunning themselves:





I kinda 'aquired' a new housemate. Meet Egg:


Spiney Tailed Monitor lizard, about 16" nose to tail (can possibly get to 28" total) and currently amusing both me and the dog by stalking locusts.

Well - it's something to keep my attention diverted away from real life anyway.

[mister c]

Some nice pics. Ex lady friend used to keep lizzards, never understood the craze, but each to thier own I say

[fizzwheel]

hello, little friend

An ex of mine had a snake must admit i still like the idea of having one as a pet.

lovely pics K is that first one a bearded dragon? I love those. We used to have a gecko a long time ago, gorgeous little thing he was!

[DarrenSV650S]

What does he/she get up to K? Does he fetch?
Or does he/she sit on your lap while you stroke it and look mischievous?

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

What does he/she get up to K? Does he fetch?
Or does he/she sit on your lap while you stroke it and look mischievous?

At the moment he (we're fairly certain it's a he) stalks insects, catches them, crushes their head on a handy rock so they stop wriggling and then eats them, comedy style, with the legs often sticking out of the corner of his mouth. (I really must try to get a photo of that next feed time.)

Or you can hold him and stroke his belly then he simply falls asleep whilst hugging your thumb!

[DarrenSV650S]

Originally Posted by K

comedy style

Originally Posted by K

(I really must try to get a photo of that next feed time.)

Yeah do

Originally Posted by K

Or you can hold him and stroke his belly then he simply falls asleep whilst hugging your thumb!

Awwww! Get a photo of that too

Originally Posted by K

Or you can hold him and stroke his belly then he simply falls asleep whilst hugging your thumb!

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

Awwww! Get a photo of that too

To be honest, it's a trick that you can do with most lizards. Hold them either uproght or slightly laid back (or even on thier back if they'll let you) and stroke down the center of their chest and belly - it puts slight repeating pressure on a main nerve that runs down there and puts them into a kind of stupour. they go all dozy and some completely fall asleep.

It was a trick the vet taught me when he had to try to give a calcium injection to my Iguana. Quite amusing seeing a five foot long reptile go from hissing at him to being all dozy and placid.