Lizard Demands To Go Out

Do you need to know how to get a lizard to poo, or have a lizard in your family? Ya know, it can be fatal if our scaly friends get “plugged up.” Do you want to see just how stubborn these cute individuals can be? We can share links, but instead we’re going to share experience. Read on, you may save a life one unexpected day.

Reptiles, and specifically lizards have preferences all over the place – from most loved people, to favorite blankies and perches, to knowing where they want to poo (if given options)!!

Watch Lil’ Murph being very serious about this:

That’s Murph!! His picky pooper-ness began when I placed him at the window as I washed dishes. It didn’t take many window sittings before he observed AND REALIZED that whatever went down the drain went away.

“Ah-hah!!” 🤔He thought.

So he leaned over to slide into the empty side of the sink to position himself such that when he made a poo, it all just went away!! I then had to bathe him with mild soap under warm, running water, place him aside in his bath towel, scoop out what didn’t go down, bleach the sink & surrounding area, then bring him back and finish the dishes (there is salmonella in reptile and amphibian feces, but nowhere else, provided they, their enclosures, and dishes are kept clean. This is how to keep everything sanitary).

What came next?

Murph began pooing outside when we walked his dog brother. We were a sight out of the ordinary (you’re welcome strangers). Some found it awesome that Murph went on walks too, and would strike up a conversation. One day, three teenagers offered to buy Murph. HE ABSOLUTELY IS NOT FOR SALE. “You can have the dog though if you give him a good life.” – Just kidding.

Murph was an angel when we walked – my Zen lizard friend resting partly on my left shoulder until he’d scramble to get down – for two reasons. The first during every walk was when he had to potty, the second was when we turned down the alley, heading north. See, this meant we’re heading home and he knew this. 

Well, Lil’ Murph didn’t want the walk to end, so he’d just let go of me to free fall. Luckily, he’s never hit the ground after pulling that stunt because I know exactly when he’s about to do it. Then he’d squirm with admirable rebellion to wiggle from my embrace. And, with his knowing I couldn’t hold him, the leash, and the poo bag with his squirming, he knew he was prolonging his time outside!! Lizards are smart, you guys.

…Now put this on a loop: He squirms down. I wait a moment. I pick him up and take a few steps. He squirms down. I pick him up and take a few steps. He squirms down again. Lo and behold, from about 35 yards towards 15 yards from the back door, Murph has given himself another 15 minutes outside!! If I saw a lizard fight every time his mom picked him up and saw his whole plan unfold, I think I’d laugh my a** off.

What came next?

After we moved and Murph acclimated to his new surroundings and wildlife (he was depressed for 2 or 3 weeks), he’d still potty when Bandit got walked around the large yard (we’ve no sidewalks here), but chose to sometimes walk down the hall and into the office to do his business privately – on the carpet (I’d like to take a moment to thank the isopropyl alcohol and paper towel makers and distributors).

And then…

when Bandit began having organ failure and used potty pads, Murph used a potty pad as well. Now that his brother is no longer with us, he won’t use a potty pad.

Well, anyway, to potty outside has been Murph’s ideal circumstance. This is tricky when the weather is very cold. Murph knows what he wants & I think he sometimes holds it in until he gets his way.]\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  ← Murph walked onto the keyboard, & I’m leaving it.

I love that strong will of his, but when we begin approaching a week with no poo, I begin to stress. At this point, he gets tummy rubs and a soaking every day or nearly. Occasionally, I give him a bit of water and olive oil in a syringe. I also wet a bit of food with water for added hydration (He still demands to be hand-fed or he won’t eat, but that’s another story).

When I feel I can, despite the weather, I’ll take him out for only a few minutes. A few minutes at say, 30°F or around -1°C is not going to hurt reptiles. It does offer a burst of fresh air and mental stimuli. Don’t believe us? We’ve done this occasionally for years. But if they don’t potty within a few minutes, get them inside and warm. You saw the video above of Murphy wanting out? As soon as he went out, like he told me he needed to do, he took ten paces into the yard and did a poo.

Then he had a bath under warm running water (slightly warmer than his skin at the time) with a soapy rub down and praise, of course, because this time, we were approaching 2 weeks with no poo & that means a vet visit, where they may suggest an enema or other course of action. If a lizard approaches a week, or even a few days without pooing, begin extra hydration. Mark “Poo” on the calendar when they go and you’ll always know how long it’s been. No poo can be leading to impaction. When we learn our reptiles, we know when to worry and act.

Lizards often do not prefer to potty where they spend the most time. For example, large lizards that roam the house with ease, may go in their own room or pen to potty, as they consider the remainder of the home their primary dwelling space. Sometimes lizards will frantically try to get out of their cages. Maybe they just want out. Maybe they want held. Maybe they have to poo. They are needing something.

💩

Notice the way Murph has positioned his body in the photo above. Lizards want to be clean. They also scoot themselves to wipe. I told Murph I wasn’t going to show the world his actually ‘doing the icky,’ but that is the “poo position” which, with success keeps the rest of their bodies clean.

Some lizards poo every day, others once or twice a week. Getting Copper to swim in the bath tub was the only way to get her unplugged. If you may have pieced together by now, swimming and walking motions help to get things moving. Reptiles need exercise for health as well as mental well-being.

If you do place your reptile in water deep enough to swim in, don’t walk out of that room. People get side-tracked by kids, a call, anything, and an innocent being can drown. Plus, if you leave, they may become worried for their own well-being or feel left behind. They may not “think” in the general sense of the word, but they have emotions as humans and other animals, this simply isn’t as obvious sometimes.

Let me tell you what Murph did.

We have only one bathroom (hopefully not forever) containing a shower with a built in seat. So one day, I filled a large tote with warm water. I placed Murph in it to swim and poo, but he sank like a rock!! Up came the bubbles!! I said, “Murph, you know you can swim, right, Babe?!” But he wasn’t having it. He went into “shut down mode.” Oh yes, yes he pouts.

If he doesn’t want to swim, he’ll pout at the bottom because he has me figured out. He knows I’ll get him and in time he’ll potty where he desires. You guys (and gals), the bubbles stopped and he wasn’t opening his eyes… how long was he going to do that?! I didn’t want him breathing water. I caved! Tote soaks work to get some lizards to potty, but not Murph. Sometimes Murph will potty during “spa time” in the kitchen sink, but not with a simple soak or tote swim.

There’s no other quite like Murph, but if you know someone with similar stubbornness, be patient, try these things, and enjoy that determined, little character who happens to have poo preferences.

We’re suspecting you learned some things you didn’t expect today. Thanks for hanging out with us until the end.

“Give me Lizardry or give me Death!”

❤️Murph & Dawn