Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all. Don't know if you guys remember me, my other screen name was chikkensht(before kingsnake decided to ban my sn).
Anyways, I'm alive and figured I'd drop an update.

Edgar is physically well, however, he has for the past month, been expressing much discontent with me. I have since moved out of state, and working a full-time job. He and I live alone, and because of this, I feel stems his unhappiness.

He has neglected all commands he once obeyed, and has 'expressed' himself more recently on floors, blankets, and even broke into my studio and expressed himself on a watercolour painting in progress (he is a freeroamer). I have taken responsibility of him for almost 2 years, but his behaviour has not improved much since the day I got him. He was never aggressive with me, but he is extremely bull-headed and unwilling to trust. Lately, it has multiplied explicitly. I fear his past may have been much darker than I had estimated, and the conditions seem ripe to arouse such bad behaviour...

I'm really not sure what to do. I'm trying to give him full attention when I can, but my new schedule takes away 11:30 am to 9:30 pm, everyday. I do not have any roommates, and I think he is quite unhappy as a result of my absence, and the lack of any interaction. I thought of caging him to resolve his 'expression' problems, but I feel that will be more mentally destructive on his part. My last option is to find him a home where he has full-time interaction with his owner(s), as he seems to be more cooperative and satisfied around more than one person.
I don't think I can bring myself to that point just yet. I took him in as my sole responsibility, having my plans set even before I adopted him. I spent most of the first year working for his trust, and was able to settle him down a bit and teach him a few manners. Unfortunately, a change of fate, and my new career has engulfed most of my daily life, extinguishing any time I have to spend with him.
Any opinions, thoughts, comments....anything would be appreciated. I am really at a loss, and feel awful to know that I am now unable to dedicate myself to something I swore devotion. Please, any ideas...feel free to email me as well.
Thanks for reading and for any theories of resolution generated...
-A

I'm so sorry to hear he's turning on the attitude, I've had the same problem with Tempest as well. He was getting quite tame, but when he moved into a bigger and better enclosure he seems to have decided he's much tougher and doesn't want to be handled.

What I've found with my other pets (dogs, cat, assorted small fluffies) is that its not always the amount of time, but the quality of time that really matters. You have to work, and believe me if I could let my pets rule my life I would, but I can't. I make sure they all get some quality one on one time every day, doing their favorite things, especially if I have to work alot of overtime or am away more than usual. Honestly, I would just stick it out, consider confining him to a single room or area until he comes around a bit more, and work through it. At the very, very least, he is in a good and caring home where his needs are more than met, you are a good ig-papa!