Question on monitor taming:

Have a 1 year old male varanus salvator macromaculatus. Captive bred - 3rd generation - New Hampshire product. HET albino FWIW. Growing & eating very well.

Following the 'never grab, let him come to you' school of thought w/r/t taming. He has become exceptionally inquisitive and seems to seek interaction - approaching me anytime I'm inside his enclosure. When my hands are open & outstretched at the entrance of his enclosure - he has learned to reliably climb up & out - after which he remains quite calm..for 20 seconds or so. The he wants down.

His enclosure is in a large dedicated room where he can safely run about. Once you let him down, he becomes flighty, twitchy and independent. Since I do not attempt to grab him - I can't comment on whether or not he becomes aggressive. A bit of throat puffing, a his or two perhaps, that's it. Yet - if I leave him alone for 45 mins or so - he's simmered down - and can be safely scooped up & returned to his enclosure w/ no drama - perfectly calm & compliant again - at least as far as monitors are concerned.

Ambient temp in this room stays at 75F. It has a large window where he basks.

Should I avoid giving him the run of the room to avoid this reaction? Or is this just a healthy monitor show of independence? If so - why does he revert to a calm state upon my return?

Thanks -

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