Our Bluey will get into an "exploring" mood, when even if it not hungry, will seek out novel environments to explore. He obviously has an excellent memory for spatial layout because he'll home in anything new or different (e.g., a new piece of furniture) that needs exploration.
When he's decided enough is enough and he wants to be out and about he lets us know... in extreme situations he will be literally climbing the walls! On other days he's quite content to snooze under his tile and makes it clear he's not in a sociable mood.
The variability in his moods combined with an innate curiosity that is separate from mere food foraging indicates quite highly developed cognitive functions. I think this means that they probably do need a certain amount of variety and intellectual stimulation to be healthy.
If you think this is far-fetched, consider that caged birds such as parrots can start showing self-destructive behaviours when subjected to very cramped and unstimulating caged environments. And of course, birds and reptiles are close cousins in terms of evolution -- birds are essentially the modern descendents of dinosaurs. And just as intelligence varies considerably among bird species, I think it is reasonable to expect the same amongst reptiles.
In short, we think our Bluey has brains as well as personality and looks!
Now, where did my quantum mechanics text disappear to?
. Sue
