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My N. BTS keeps trying to bite me!

rich_123 Mar 18, 2004 02:09 PM

The problem is that one of my BTS associates my hand with food. Consequently, he keeps trying to bite my hands whenever I try to handle him, clean his enclosure, and, of course, feed him. I keep him in a large plastic container with a top. When I feed him with a bowl of mixed foods I have to lift the top off and place the bowl in the enclosure. The BTS always sees me do this, so now he's always trying to bite me as a result. He's also my most aggressive feeder. How can I break his habit and avoid it in the future?

Replies (4)

Edward Mar 18, 2004 04:11 PM

How long have you had the skink?
How long have you been feeding him in this way?
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Edward
Carpe diem

rich_123 Mar 18, 2004 04:45 PM

I've had him for about a year and a half. I've been feeding him this way since I've had him. I've had him in his new enclosure for about 3 months now, but he's only started behaving this way about two weeks ago.

Edward Mar 19, 2004 12:10 AM

n/p
-----
Edward
Carpe diem

jess b Mar 19, 2004 07:07 PM

You may just have an unusually aggressive skink if it is going after you when you clean or feed- and he is showing his personality as he matures. He also may be acting more aggressive right now because of the season- he may settle later (BTS breeders can probably shed more light on this).
-If you simply want to avoid being bitten when you put the food in, you can use a piece of flat cardboard or wood to block him.
-You can move him into a larger enclosure so you have more room to work around him.
-With aggressive feeding snakes, feeding them in different container/enclosure from the one they normally live in is very helpful- so they don't associate the living cage with eating. Don't know if this would help with a BTS, but worth a thought.
good luck- Jess b

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