Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So today I go in to pet my Tegu, he's up later than normal (he's usually burrowed in by 12PM) and he jumps up and tail whips me and goes to bit me...I tell him now and reach my hand in again, and he bit me...he's onlya bout 18" long so its not a big deal, i have four small holes in my thumb(although it's rather itchy)...the only other time he every went to bite me was on the second day i got him...i reached in and removed the log he was hiding under, and he jumped up to bite me(i moved away in time though). Usually when i reach in to pet him, he just "puffs up" to look tough(i think its adorable) and makes a puffing noise, and walks away. Today, he went to whole 9 yards and connected with a bite.

Any idea as to why he did this? I woke him up later today and he was fine, he just wanted to be put down after a few minutes, he doesn't like to be held long..he just squirmed..didnt bite or anything.

Any ideas? :/

Thanks for your time,
Ralph

-----
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu
0.0.1 Baby Aru Green Tree Python R.I.P. 01/26/04
2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.4 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

Is it possible that reaching in you did something to scare him? Reached in too fast or were speaking at a different than normal octave? I know that that sounds silly, but with some lizards a difference in the sounds they hear will spook them very easily. I have a nile monitor that is as friendly as can be as long as my husband does not open his mouth and speak. As soon as the nile hears his voice, he goes off.
-----
JS

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

I'm not sure if I talked in a different tone than normal, it's possible. I'm going to turn his timer up so that he wakes up at a later time, because I haven't been able to handle him much. His heat lamp comes on at 7 in the morning and goes off at 7 at night, but he is usually up about an hour before it comes on, and then he burrows back in for the night at about 10-11AM, he's usually only up a few hours, so I haven't been handling him much.

-Ralph
-----
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu
0.0.1 Baby Aru Green Tree Python R.I.P. 01/26/04
2.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.4 Hatchling Bearded Dragons
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Florida Brooksi Kingsnake
1.0 Blood Red Cornsnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff