Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi.
I have a 9 month old ornate uro. I try to handle him regularly but not everyday. Anyway I went to pick him up today and he bite me. It didn't hurt but it scared me. I looked and I was bleeding, so he got me pretty good. So after I put him back in his cage.

Now everytime I hold him or take him out is he going to try to bite me? Is there anyway to stop him from doing it? I notice lately he has been doing that "S" dance. He is sheding right now does that have something to do with it? Should I hold him more often to get him use to it?

Please Help I want a friendly URO ! ! ! !
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~*~ Nikki ~*~

Huntington (Long Island), New York

Will he bite you again? You'll have to just try again and see. Part of owning reptiles is knowing that you may have to get bit a few times. What you need to do, is make sure that your uro (or any reptile for that matter) doesn't get its way. When it bites you, don't back down and put it away. I you just keep putting your uro away everytime it bites you it will assume that as long as it bites you, you won't bother it too much.

I'm not sure about uros, but I know that bearded dragons tend to get a little moody during certain stages of their life (like when they start to hit puberty). Maybe this is what's going on? I'm not too keen on uro growth rate. Anyways, continue to try to handle your uro as long as it isn't stressing it to the point of not eating or hiding all of the time. Remember, health comes first.

My initial thought would be to back off the handling. First of all, they're not feeling their best while they're shedding, and second, obviously if he's been "dancing" and now biting, something about the whole activity is making him very uneasy and unhappy. Continuing it or even increasing the frequency isn't going to help. I'd back off the handling, at least until shed is complete, and meanwhile, build confidence. During my move all three of mine went back to square one as far as trust in me. I used mealworms and flowers over a bit of time to show them that I'm still not here to harm them. They're coming around again. Point is, if you know a real "treat" that they like, use it to hand feed but don't try and pick him up for a while. Show him you're not a threat that way. JMHO

-Jim

>>hi.
>>I have a 9 month old ornate uro. I try to handle him regularly but not everyday. Anyway I went to pick him up today and he bite me. It didn't hurt but it scared me. I looked and I was bleeding, so he got me pretty good. So after I put him back in his cage.
>>
>>Now everytime I hold him or take him out is he going to try to bite me? Is there anyway to stop him from doing it? I notice lately he has been doing that "S" dance. He is sheding right now does that have something to do with it? Should I hold him more often to get him use to it?
>>
>>Please Help I want a friendly URO ! ! ! !
>>-----
>>~*~ Nikki ~*~
>>
>>Huntington (Long Island), New York
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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII

I'm sorry to hear about your dilema.

Remember that this is a wild creature and they are not easily socialized. Give it time. The other suggestions posted are very good.

Try to be gentle and keep your body parts away from the mouth of the lizard. My guy was bitey during his first 8 or 9 months with me but has become more social with time. Grasp behind the front legs and try to keep your fingers well under its belly.

Good luck! Don't be upset with your critter this is just its natural defense mechanism.

Big Mac
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BigMac
1.0 Mali Uro - Tank
1.0 Leo - Doobie
0.1 Chacoan Monkey Frog - Pilar
1.0 Corn Snake - Muka
0.0.1 Ball Python - Monty
0.0.1 Calif. Kingsnake - Asgar

Mine get super cranky when they're shedding - that's probably all it is. Leave off the handling until it's over (like Jimbo said) and maybe just offer treats and goodies by hand - without picking him up - until you can go back to regular handling. He'll get used to you being the bringer of yummies and maybe won't mind you messing with him so much.
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Torey
Salem, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
1.0.1 Uromastyx Maliensis (Tank and Turtle)
1.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser and Leeloo)
1.1.1 African Dwarf Frogs (Bruce and Sheila)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

I was feeding my Mali Uro and he bit me, it does hurt but I didn't bleed.

That must have hurt a ton! But I kept on picking him up after that and giving him kisses. I hope yours will calm down and become normal again.

Good Luck!

Ra got a little too excited about the food in my hand and took a bigger bite than he should have. He got me pretty good, it felt like a really hard pinch. The first layer of skin was damaged and bruised but that's it. He was still a juvi then. Don't take it personally, sometimes they get a little overexcited.
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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)

True they do. That's when I got bit by Ares he was just getting food. Luckily though it didn't do any damage.

But these animals are worth getting bit for. I love mine and wouldn't know what I would do without them.