Alligator Lizards and Water Dishes

[The Ranger]

Is there something special about alligator lizards (Elgaria
multicarinata (Gerrhonotus multicarinatus)) and water dishes that
creates an irresistible urge to defecate in said water?

I have set two separate water dishes in the terrarium to
facilitate easy access to water and each day I find that one or
both have lizard feces in them. This _usually_ occurs after one of
them "bathes."

Is there something I'm missing? Too much traffic (kids walking
past the terrarium), changing said water dishes daily because of
this fouling of it, the overhead light going on and off via a
timer (off at 5pm, on at 7am), general noise from the HVAC blower
unit (across the room)?

I've known of one lizard (a skink) that super-stressed whenever
one of the kids would handle him and thus relieve himself in their
hands. That was his "last-stand" option but we're not handling
either of these.

Thanks for any leads.

The Ranger

[Chris McMartin]

Is there something special about alligator lizards (Elgaria multicarinata
(Gerrhonotus multicarinatus)) and water dishes that creates an
irresistible urge to defecate in said water?

Maybe the water helps them relax. Would you have us believe you yourself
haven't pooped in your bathtub? :)

Lots of reptiles do this. My box turtles do it. Iguanas do it. Monitors
do it. I don't know if many, or any, desert reptiles do though--probably
because they don't normally have access to standing water in the first
place.

[The Ranger]

Post by Chris McMartin

Post by The Ranger
Is there something special about alligator lizards
(Elgaria multicarinata (Gerrhonotus multicarinatus))
and water dishes that creates an irresistible urge
to defecate in said water?

Maybe the water helps them relax. Would you have
us believe you yourself haven't pooped in your bathtub? :)

I would hope to have you believe I don't poop to begin with. ;)

Post by Chris McMartin
Lots of reptiles do this. My box turtles do it. Iguanas do it.
Monitors do it. I don't know if many, or any, desert reptiles
do though--probably because they don't normally have access
to standing water in the first place.

Now that you mention it, my box turtles did have that nasty habit
which explains why I'd buried those memories deep within my
subconscious. My recent experiences with a garter snakes, two
leopard geckos, and a clutch of chameleons simply didn't prepare
me well enough for larger reptilian habits about standing water --
especially that which they would drink from. /shudder

Thanks, Chris.

The Ranger