C HA P T E R 11
Conditioning and Behavioral
Training in Reptiles
Reptiles historically have carried the stigma of being unin-
telligent, uncharismatic, and easy to care for, with minimal
husbandry needs. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Animal caretakers now recognize a need for all animals to be
able to perform biologically appropriate behaviors in captive
environments, including reptiles. The environment provided
should be determined by the animals’ natural and individual
histories. Training and enrichment are great ways to provide
reptiles with the opportunity to display their natural behaviors
and allow for people who keep reptiles to interact with these
animals and observe their behavior close at hand.
Animal enrichment and training have become a normal
routine in most zoological and aquarium facilities and can
also be implemented in private homes. The concepts of train-
ing and enrichment are interrelated. In recent years, many
professional animal-care facilities have seen improvements in
the health and well-being of captive reptiles by providing an
environment where reptiles can make choices. For example,
natural behaviors such as foraging, climbing, digging, or swim-
ming cannot take place if animals are housed in a plastic box.
With a small amount of effort, private owners can successfully
encourage these same behaviors and choices in their captive
reptiles.
ENRICHMENT
Enrichment is more than just placing a new branch or a plant
in a reptile’s environment. Although there are many differ-
ent definitions of enrichment, for the sake of consistency, we
will follow the definition used by the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (AZA):
“Enrichment is a process for improving or enhancing an-
imal environments and care within the context of their
inhabitants’ behavioral biology and natural history. It is
a dynamic process in which changes to structures and
husbandry practices are made with the goal of increas-
ing behavioral choices available to animals and draw-
ing out their species-appropriate behaviors and abilities,
thus enhancing animal welfare.”
AZA/Behavior Scientific Advisory Group, 1999
In practice, enrichment means encouraging species-appro-
priate behaviors and providing the animal with choices in
every aspect of reptile husbandry, from food presentation to
† Deceased.
128
Gregory J. Fleming† and
Michelle L. Skurski
housing. The diversity of reptile habitats, microhabitats, and
ecosystems, as well as the range and complexity of their behav-
iors, can actually increase the opportunities for enrichment to
enhance the animals’ lives.
Based on the aforementioned definition, there are three
main goals for enrichment:
1. To promote species-appropriate behaviors
2. To provide behavioral opportunities
3. To provide animals with control over their environment
All three of these goals require a clear understanding of the
animals’ natural history. This information is critical to mak-
ing the enrichment successful. Based on the natural history,
each enrichment initiative should have a behavioral goal. One
benefit of setting behavioral goals for enrichment is that it
offers a way to measure our success. For example, a client may
want to encourage an overweight arboreal snake to climb and
utilize more of the enclosure. The question the client would
ask is, “Did the addition of branches into the snake enclosure
encourage the snake to climb and utilize the enclosure?” If the
answer is yes, the behavioral goal was achieved. If the answer
is no, then other options such as platforms, heat sources, or
even different types of branches may be explored to encourage
the snake to climb (Figure 11-1).
Another behavioral goal may be to encourage an animal to
forage. For instance, natural scents can be provided by drag-
ging a prey item through the enclosure to leave a scent trail
that can stimulate the reptile to forage. Sometimes the scent
just needs to be novel to engage the reptile. Keepers have suc-
cessfully utilized a cinnamon scent trail scattered throughout
an enclosure to encourage foraging in a Komodo Dragon.
Choice of housing, enclosure furnishings, and behavioral
opportunity depend on whether the reptile is arboreal, terres-
trial, aquatic, or semiaquatic. Something as simple as provid-
ing different levels in an enclosure can encourage exploration
and foraging. Many species of monitor lizard are known to
stand bipedal to forage in the wild. This behavior can be recre-
ated through minor alterations of an enclosure and delivery of
food to the animal (Figure 11-2). Although animals in the wild
seem to exhibit this behavior without much effort, a monitor
lizard in captivity may need to be encouraged to stand through
small and successive approximation. Captive lizards are likely
novices at standing and will need to develop the skills and
physical ability to accomplish some behavioral goals.
The way in which food is presented can also provide behav-
ioral opportunity. Multiple behaviors can be encouraged by
 CHAPTER 11   •  Conditioning and Behavioral Training in Reptiles
FIGURE 11-1 Cornsnakes (Pantherophis guttatus) utilizing
natural climbing materials.
varying the size of the food item, the placement or location of
the food, and the time of day of the feeding. For example, tree
pythons are nocturnal; as such, their activity level typically
increases at night. During the more active periods, foraging
and hunting behaviors will be displayed. Therefore feeding
during these periods could encourage active behaviors that
stimulate and exercise the snake.
Providing complexity and choices to an environment can
be achieved through addition of or changes to rocks, branches,
plants, light, and substrate within an enclosure. Providing
choices for and control over thermoregulation opportunities
is vital for the reptiles. Opportunities for thermoregulation
can be provided with the use of lights, undercage heat pads,
water of different or variable temperatures, and heat-emitting
ceramic bulbs. Recently, improvements in technology allow
changes in the temperature and humidity of captive enclosures
by the minute. Environmental temperature and humidity may
be altered on a daily basis, which allows for natural changes in
the animal’s environment that mimic a natural sunrise or an
afternoon rainstorm.
Offering different levels in an enclosure provides reptiles an
opportunity to utilize heat and light sources to varying degrees.
Understanding the general environment for the reptile in the
wild is not enough; a reptile caretaker must dig a bit deeper to
meet the animal’s needs. For instance, the animal could come
from the desert but spend the majority of its day burrowed
underground escaping from the sun and heat. In this case, the
assumption that the animal would need a very warm, barren
environment would take into account only a part of its natural
history. Providing a way to escape the heat would also be vital
to this animal’s well-being. Appropriate lighting is essential
not only for health but also for enriching a reptile’s life.
Encouraging your clients to study the natural history of the
species they care for will be the first step in the creation of a
successful enrichment program for their reptiles. Enrichment
129
FIGURE 11-2 A Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) standing
bipedal to acquire a food item.
done appropriately will improve the health and well-being of
the animal, enhance their welfare, and assist in facilitating
their care. To find some additional examples of enrichment
ideas, see Disney’s Animal Programs’ enrichment Web site at
www.animalenrichment.org.1
TRAINING
Since the early 1990s, there has been a dramatic increase in the
use of operant conditioning techniques to train exotic animals
for husbandry purposes. These animal training techniques
can assist in facilitating day-to-day care, routine medical
procedures, and management of reptiles. The act of training
becomes enrichment for both the animal and the keepers as
they interact. Any reptile brought into clinics, such as dendro-
batid frogs, Bearded Dragons, Green Iguanas, monitor lizards,
boas and pythons, and turtles and tortoises, can be trained to
calmly and voluntarily enter a crate instead of being physically
restrained for crating. Reptiles can also be trained to accept
various veterinary procedures such as ultrasounds, nail clip-
ping, blood draws, or even being medicated. Reptiles with
chronic conditions requiring regular visits and or treatments
can be trained to cooperate for many types of procedures. This
kind of training allows for treatment with little to no stress to
the animals and client.
To create a well-thought-out behavioral plan for a reptile,
many facilities use the “SPIDER” framework2 taught in several
courses given by the AZA. The SPIDER framework includes
setting goals, planning, implementing, documenting, evaluat-
ing, and readjusting (Table 11-1). More information on this
process can be found at www.animaltraining.org.3
The first step (S) in the SPIDER process is setting goals. It is
beneficial to start a training program by determining the over-
all behavioral goals (i.e., detailing the specific behaviors to be
trained). During this goal-development process, it is important
130 SECTION I   •  ADVANCES IN REPTILE MEDICINE
TA B LE 1 1-1
SPIDER Framework
Step SPIDER Framework Details
Setting Goals Detail the specific behaviors to be trained.
Planning Create a series of steps for shaping the
behavior. Plan who will be training the
animal, when the animal will be trained,
and any equipment or tool needed to
achieve the training plan.
Implementing Train the behavior over many sessions,
advancing only when the animal is
ready. Ensure clear communication
among participants regarding training
steps and timelines.
Documenting Create a historical document that tracks
the progress of the animal and shows
trends in behavior.
Evaluating Review the documentation and training
plan.
Readjusting Make any changes necessary to achieve
the behavioral goals.
to include all parties involved with the management of the ani-
mals. Goals should be based on the joint needs of owners, vet-
erinary staff, and the reptile. For example, if the monitor lizard
can shift into a crate for transport to the veterinarian, the lizard
is more easily crated and less distressed when in the crate. This
outcome facilitates a better veterinary evaluation. The goals
in this case would then be to train the monitor lizard to enter
a crate voluntarily and be calm and comfortable in the crate.
The next step (P) is planning. This is where a training
plan is created for the behavior. The training plan is a series
of steps for shaping the behavior. The plan is meant to be a
guide or a way for the trainer to think through the process
before beginning to training an animal. If crate training
is used as the example, the first step is to reinforce being
comfortable with the crate itself. This process starts with
providing positive reinforcement when the animal merely
approaches the crate, which could occur randomly, and then
slowly encouraging the animal to enter the crate. The rein-
forcer or reward for learning to tolerate and enter the crate
could be small bits of a highly desirable food that are deliv-
ered as soon as the reptile approaches and/or moves closer to
the entry of the crate.
The third step (I) is implementing. The behavior should be
trained over a period of many sessions, and training should
advance only when the animal is ready. If more than one
trainer is involved, having clearly laid out plans, assignments,
and timelines helps to facilitate a smooth process. Defining
roles and creating clear avenues of communication among all
participants is also important.
Before the training is implemented, a decision should be
made regarding how the training sessions will be documented
(D). Videotaping sessions is an easy way to document and track
progress of training. Taking notes, including session ratings and
comments, is another useful way to document and track training
Example
Train the monitor lizard to enter a crate voluntarily and be calm
and comfortable in the crate.
Wait for the lizard to move toward the crate; use crickets to
reinforce. Continue to reinforce movements toward the crate
until the lizard enters the crate. Reinforce calm behavior inside
the crate by continuing to provide crickets. Close the door to the
crate and continue to provide crickets for calm behavior.
The lizard’s two owners will each train crating for two sessions per
week. They will review each other’s notes before each session.
The crate will not be lifted with the lizard inside until the lizard
has successfully entered the crate and remained inside calmly
with the door closed for 10 minutes.
Each of the owners will take notes on their training sessions,
including a rating of the session and comments on the lizard’s
progress.
After 3 weeks, the lizard has not yet completely entered the crate.
The owners decide to adjust the plan and begin placing a few
crickets at the back of the crate to encourage the lizard to enter
completely. Once this occurs, they will continue to provide
crickets if the lizard remains calmly in the crate.
outcomes. The goals of documenting are to create a historical
document, track the progress of the animal, and look for trends
in behavior.
The last two steps of the SPIDER process, evaluating (E)
and readjusting (R), require reviewing the documentation and
training plan and making any changes necessary to achieve
the behavioral goals. For more information on how to apply
this process, visit Disney’s Animal Programs Web site or www.
animalenrichment.org1 or www.animaltraining.org.2
PRACTICAL EXAMPLES OF TRAINING
AND ENRICHMENT
Nile Monitor
Be creative when developing your training and enrichment
program. Creating unique and complex environments for rep-
tiles in the home is not only enriching for the owners because
they can see their animals perform natural behavior but also
beneficial physically and mentally to the animals. Training a
monitor to enter a crate on cue may be a safer alternative to
physically restraining the reptile. It is certainly less stressful
for both the caretaker and the lizard. A Nile Monitor (Vara-
nus niloticus) has been trained to enter a crate voluntarily for
transport (Figure 11-3). This trained behavior also allows the
keepers to clean the enclosure safely.
Amphibians
Conditioning and behavioral shaping techniques can also be
applied to amphibians. Dendrobatid frogs can be trained to
associate feeding with the sound of a clicker. Once the clicker
is sounded, the frogs will come out of hiding and look for
food. A small plastic box with fruit flies can be added to the
enclosure. Once the frog has moved into the box, the fruit flies
 CHAPTER 11   •  Conditioning and Behavioral Training in Reptiles
FIGURE 11-3  A Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) being cued
to move into a transport crate.
FIGURE 11-4  A Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates azureus)
shifting into a transport crate. Note the fruit flies behind the
shift door.
are released, reinforcing the frog’s behavior (Figure 11-4). This
allows for the owner to see each animal up close and remove the
animal from the enclosure for transport, weighing, or veterinary
examination.
Venomous Snakes
Training snakes to shift into a box is helpful, especially when
dealing with venomous reptiles (Figure 11-5). Once the snake is
safely in the holding box, a handling tube can be attached to the
box and the snake can enter the tube. The husbandry staff then
detaches the tube from the box with the snake gently restrained
by the tube. This technique allows safe and humane examina-
tion or treatment (Figure 11-6). The snake does not come into
direct contact with the handlers, making the entire procedure
safer and less stressful for both the snake and the handlers.
131
FIGURE 11-5  A Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) has
shifted from his enclosure to the holding box. A handling
tube is attached to the side of the box. Once this is attached,
the door will open and the snake will move into the tube.
(Photo courtesy Dr. Brad Lock, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.)
FIGURE 11-6  Once the snake is in the handling tube, the vet-
erinarian can remove the retained eye cap without sedation.
(Photo courtesy Dr. Brad Lock, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga.)
REVIEW
The key to creating a successful training and enrichment pro-
gram with a reptile is to develop the knowledge of the reptile’s
natural history. This is critical for understanding the needs
and capabilities of the reptile and, ultimately, improves the
reptile’s welfare. Useful natural history information includes
how the reptile thermoregulates, the preferred optimum body
temperature range for the species, normal activity levels for the
reptile, diel cycle (is the reptile diurnal or nocturnal?), natural
diet and foraging style, and whether the reptile is arboreal, ter-
restrial, aquatic or semiaquatic. This information will help to
prepare your clients to properly care for a reptile.
Consulting with a veterinarian can be helpful in deciding
on proper enrichment objectives and appropriate behaviors
to train for daily activity and medical procedures. In any case,
132 SECTION I   •  ADVANCES IN REPTILE MEDICINE
training and enrichment can only benefit both the owner
and the reptile by providing a closer relationship and a fuller
enriching life for both participants.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Special thanks to Dr. Karen Overall for reviewing this chapter.
REFERENCES
1. Disney’s Animal Programs: Enrichment Program Web site. Available at:
http://www.animalenrichment.org. Accessed Apr 18, 2012.
2. Mellen J, MacPhee MS. Philosophy of environmental enrichment:
past, present, and future. Zoo Biol 2001;20:211-226.
3. Disney’s Animal Programs: Training Program Web site. Available at:
http://www.animaltraining.org. Accessed Apr 18, 2012.