Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 1 1/2 year old is acting terrified of me again. I have
had him a year and he has just finished his first season.
During that time I was the love of his life, hounding me, wanting
me to cuddle and pet him. I had to literally fight him off
of me when I opened his habitat door.

Now, he runs like a madman and turns so dark when I hold him.
He doesn't attempt to bite or tailwhip, just runs like crazy.
I feel that every interaction has been very positive and
he does love to watch me. He especially checks out my shoes
all the time ???? Even though it can take me 5-10 minutes
to catch him I never give up. He is really getting too big
to catch with one hand but he is really hard to catch with
both.

Any ideas of something I could be doing wrong?? Once I have
him in hand he generally will enjoy a rub but will run if I
don't have a good hold on him.

Linda

Hi Linda,

Could it be the color of your clothes spooking him? or somehow a shadow spooked him and now he associates any shadow with that fear? just a couple thoughts...good luck...Lyn

I am not sure how acurate this information is, but i have heard that red seems to really scare some reptiles...
-----
1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

Are you wearing a new fragrence??? new laundry detergent??? i have read that smell can cause them to go crazy also...

-----
Healthy and fat Igg(Tiny)

Mali Uro(Buddy)

last night when I went up to see them. I have done this
EVERY night at the SAME time for a year. It was if he
was afraid I was going to take him out of his enclosure.

It seems that we have really taken a few steps and I
cannot figure out for the life of me.

Linda

nv
-----
Spinys are just children with scales and long tails.

as my iguanas got older they seemed to go through a period when they were a little less friendly but now that back at being great pets. it may just be a stage. another thing is lighting and temperature. if mine have a full dose of uv ligting or have been warming themselves for a while they act much wilder than they do normally. i have other lizards besides iguanas and they all act like this. also later in the day they always seem more aggressive. the best time for me to play with my lizards seems to be early in the morning a little after i turn their lights on before i feed them. something i like to do with my lizards is if i visit them during the day i try to give them a couple pets when ever i can. even still sometimes my iguanas which run free in the reptile room will sometimes run from me though this is rare.