Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A few Questions I just wanted to throw out there. For the past week I been trying to pet and pick up my sav Lynx. Each time he hisses, and now all of a sudden he bites. He is shedding now, and is on a heathy diet
(approx. 2-3 pinkies weekly, supplemented with 10-12 crickets daily and readily eats off the tongs. He is fine when i clean his cage. It's just when I try to pick him up, pet him or put my hand next to him. Is the biting normal? I had Lynx for a little over a month now he is about approx. 10 inches nose to end of tail. After he tries all of his tactics once I pick him up he is fine. Is this normal, and will the biting ever stop. Is the shedding causing this?

My savanna monitor acts the same way. He doesn't bite very often, but hisses, tail whips and gapes his mouth. Have you tried stroking the side of his neck with the middle joint in your finger? (this is a bigger object than the tip of your finger so it will be harder for him to bite) When I do this to micky (my sav) he leans his head over toward my finger like a dog being scratched behind the ears and almost goes into a trance-he seems to like it! This calms him down, then I just slide my fingers under him and pick him up. I dunno if all monitors, or even if all savs are like this, but its worth a try! Good luck!

THANKS I'LL GIVE IT A TRY N/P

After playing dead didnt work, so the next thing he tried was biting and it worked so you taught him something new, to bite when something you dislike or distrust reaches for you. The animal doesnt like or trust you and it may never but it may with patience, a few injuries, and time. Every animal has a different personality.