Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My collared doesn't like me to take him out of his cage, when I put my hand in, he opens his mouth and runs away from my hand. He usually doesn't care if I take him out, why all of sudden does he not like it? And when he opens his mouth, will he bite me? He hasn't been like this since I got him, but he just recently doesnt like me to take him out. I will take him out, but I'm afraid he will bite me, will he?
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My Pets:
1.0 Golden Retriever
1.0 Blizzard Lizzard
1.0 Bearded Dragon

My male is usually more sleepy and less energetic than my female. I found that Collareds are less frightened if they know that your hand is there before grabbing them. I slowly wave my hand in front of them to show that I am picking them up, not some predator. Also, if you scare the collareds, especially when sleeping, the will take off and/or even bite.
Hopefully my theory helped,

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Collaredkeeper

well yeah, they always have the chance of biting you. as much as we love them they don't always understand what is going on. try picking him up from behind or stopping your hand when he opens his mouth and then slowly starting back up. also try putting your hand out with the palm up and scoop them. just try to think of it from their perspective. would you like a big hand coming at you?
as for why he started doing it all the sudden, there could be many reasons. some get cranky and want to be left alone right before they peel. or maybe he is growing and his hormones are kicking in. i mean teenagers get cranky then. couldn't a lizard do it also?
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vonnie
***One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries. - A. A. Milne***

My female sometimes feel like this.

One reason is When she's about to defecate... what a delicate attention
Second reason is when she just looking eleswhere then understand that an hand is grabbing, then she try to escape.
Third reason is that she just need hot spot heat and she knows that outdoors the cage is very cool.

BUT, she never tried to bite me.

MAYBE, make your lizard understand that it just can't eat you whole.
Lay your hand in front of the threatening lizard.
Just ask it to climb onto it, if it dont want to, just come back later.

As for me, I have some hot days that my Sara doesn't want to RETURN BACK in the vivarium and just live in the apartement like us.

Al
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Alex & Marie-Ève

You will seem as a preditor, this makes them defensive, and they will gape/ open mouth and threaten you, only becuase they are scared to death.
Always try and come from the front low, or side of them, so they can see you more at their level.

And I'm sure sometimes they don't really want to be disturbed, just like us at times,

In this case PROMISE HIM BIG CRICKETS ! Hhahahahahaha lol
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Eve

Just fatten him up until he is too lazy to move.
It works with my male everytime.
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Collaredkeeper