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Sudden agression

Omnivorous Mar 26, 2009 06:12 AM

One of my leos is a male bell. He is the most docile leo I have. He is pretty lazy, kind of lays on you doesnt move much unless he is uncomfortable, preferrs to wait for crickets to come to him instead of chargeing out and hunting them all down. Today I reached into his tub to put in a refilled mealworm dish and he comes chargeing out of his humid hide and snaps at my hand. Well I was suprised and he is kind of looking at me. I go to adjust put the bowl back in its place and adjust his calcium dish and he snaps at me again.

What would cause this? I have recently hooked some flexwat up to a big board and put several MCBL tubs on it for extra enclosures because I am getting several new leos in a couple weeks. They are going to be nicer looking than him so I took him and put him in one of the tubs freeing up an actual tank for one of the newcomers. Now his tub is next to a females where before his tank was pretty much isolated from other leos but I put some cardboad between the tubs to make it not so open looking for them. Thats the only recent change. No bad temps. I dont think its was he thougth there was food because he came chargeing out and pretty much attacked my hand. He normaly wont go after food and it has to walk right in front of his face.

Replies (4)

Niki458 Mar 26, 2009 12:30 PM

It might be because it is breeding season and he smells the ladies. Other then that I have no idea. GL

TBL Mar 26, 2009 04:30 PM

I think it somewhat has to do with being put into a tank that he is unfamiliar with, and if he got to see the female you have next to him.

I would remove that cardboard between the two containers, so that he can see others of his kind, instead of being so isolated. Plus, form his tank, he can't tell whether it is a female or male, and if he thinks it's a male, he might thing he would have to be territorial.

Anyways, see anythere of his kind, has livened him up, and he like see another of his kind.

indictment Mar 26, 2009 10:05 PM

I have had other males bite me because they smelled another males scent on me..................they can tell even without the tail vibrations
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

Omnivorous Mar 27, 2009 12:05 AM

I reached into his tub again today to change the towels in the poop area and refill water bowl. I changed the towel and started filling the water and again he comes out of his hide and darted towards my hand and took a bite. First he peeks his head out of the hide, crawls slowly halfway out then BAM he darts towards my hand. I have recently ordered a couple more males but currently he is the only male in my collection. I will take away the cardboard blinders for the racks and mabie like the person above said he is confused as to if they are males or females. But he isnt smelling any other males because he is the only male in the house at the moment. This guy was my most docile leo, was a pleasure to handle and wouldnt become a handfull to controll, would basicaly chill on your hand or arm. He was a fairly inactive leo, so his quick movements are unusual for him. I am not sure what is causeing this behavior but its just not like him.

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