Even though you can bond with your animals very quickly, I’ve found that it takes years to really know them. You think you do, and then they do something so out of character you wonder if they’re sick.

I am usually very aware of where the boys are at pretty much any moment of the day (that I’m home). Usually I know if they’re inside or outside, and if inside, where inside.

The other day I couldn’t find Gizmo anywhere. This happens with both occasionally. Once or twice each has been locked into a room, and once or twice they’ve actually managed to escape the house altogether. This time I was pretty sure Gizmo was inside the house, but I couldn’t figure out where.

Until I spied him inside the doghouse. He never goes in there; occasionally Simba does, but even that’s pretty rare (they do lay in the basket on top of the dog house). He’d apparently been curled up in there for quite some time.

We also have what we call the space capsule, or bubble — sort of a vertical carrier. Simba occasionally likes to curl up in there, but Gizmo never does. Until later that day. It’s almost as though they’d exchanged brains for the day.

Last night Gizmo came in while we were eating dinner, closely followed by Simba. I was a little surprised, as I don’t feed them until we’re done, and at this time of year Simba generally stays outside until I call them in, although Gizmo will frequently come in earlier to check out if food is forthcoming.

I then realized that Gizmo had feet dangling from his mouth . . . another lizard. I put a glass under his mouth, and to my great astonishment he dropped it into the glass.

Then this morning Simba came in, but I didn’t actually see him, which meant that he hadn’t fully come into the room. Once again, unusual. I went to check on him, and he was happily munching away on something. I never did find out what it was. Another lizard, I suppose. At least so far he hasn’t thrown it up.

And that’s the bottom line: no one knows your animals better than you. If your intuition says something is wrong, even if nothing seems to be wrong, listen to it. You know when something isn’t quite right, even if you can’t quite put your finger on it.

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