Pygmy Male R.Brev Digging!

[Tazjunky]

Okay, so here is the thing!

I couldnt find my smallest male in the tank for ages and when i found him he was underneath a plant (Birdsnest Fern) and had dug a hole! whats that all about?

It really confused me as i havnt read anything anywhere about males digging! but then i got to thinking, could this dug hole (which isnt really that deep but deep enough i couldnt see him) be one that a female has dug and buried some eggs in? Would he know where to look?

the other strange thing were his eyes! they were completely black but with a thick gold outline around his pupil - it kinda freaked me out as he looked in a trance!

any ideas?

 

[bridgofaith]

First, are you sure it's a male? Second, what are your temps?

 

[Tazjunky]

First, are you sure it's a male? Second, what are your temps?

this is the little guy in question, the first pic was taken the other day and the other 2 are from when we first got him a few weeks ago.

the temps at the time of digging were 72F. at the most it rises to 80F and lowest 63F.

 

[Julirs]

That is a boy and 80 is too high. Low 70's is optimal.

 

[Tazjunky]

That is a boy and 80 is too high. Low 70's is optimal.

thanks Julirs, It is mostly in the low 70s but only pushes 80 in the extremes when we have the central heating on in the house.(thats towards the top of the tank) and in the high 60s to low 70s at the bottom of the tank.

 

[gary1621]

Maybe he is trying to show your gravid females what they should be doing?! Hehe

 

[Tazjunky]

Lol! Transgendered! Don't what he is up to! He is all colourful and stripey so don't think he is stressed! Funny little chap, he hasn't dug any more holes so think he was just being playful. I don't think my female is gravid, I think she is just a greedy, big, girl!

 

[Trace]

Double check your temperatures. I have not noticed the R. brevicaudatus doing this so much but some species of pygmy chameleons (the Rh. uluguruensis and Rh. nchisiensis for example) will bury themselves in the substrate to cool off if the temperatures get too hot.