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my rhino is a monster!

herper1990 Apr 24, 2005 06:16 PM

My young rhino (under one year, but not a hatchling) is the most aggressive lizard I have ever cared for. He Opens his mouth and tries to bite when I clean the cage and offer food. Hes healthy and he eats but if I enter the room he head bobs and runs a muck when I enter the room. For now he lives in a 75 gallon. Im building a large outdoor enclosure for him. Im hoping for him to be tame enough to easily handle and maybe even free roam on occasion. Has anyone else had problems like this? What should I do? Please help.

Replies (7)

cycluracornuta Apr 25, 2005 02:31 PM

It sounds alot like a wild caught animal or a juvenile that was mishandled or maybe you got the most nervous one of a clutch. A fear pattern can take along time to break, most mellow out by age two, but your ig's description is more reckless than most.
People have disagreed with me on this, but I have observed more agressive behavior after feeding high protein foods such as insects -- Keep your monster on a green iguana diet.
When you do go to handle him, do not use force. Scooping him up is best. If you cannot do that, then gently trap him under a towel to put him in a luke warm bath tub with an inch or so of water -- not over his head. Let him soak until he calms down, then try scooping him up in the tub.
If after trying this a few times, he is still trying to bite you, it may be easier to cut your losses. Like people, some lizards are more nervous than others. Sell him off. Look for a new one -- explaining what happened with the last. Ask the seller about the disposition of the parents. All else being equal, offspring eventually settle into similar personalities as that of the parents. Good Luck.

tjsreptiles Apr 25, 2005 02:58 PM

try putting him in the room your in most, like your living room mine is dog tame and i think that played a small part being in the living room i don't have a 75gal but i used a 55gal also try holding him every day to help break this, and after you set him back in the cage also pet him like on his nose so his eye are closed and after a few stop peting and stand back so he don't spaze that way you don't return him back in his home all crazy also once you set his rocks,sticks,water, don't move them around every day ,clean them as needed and put back in the same spot, also you could just have the crazy one out of the group like the other guy said or w/c but i never really see any of those but there out there, i would play whith him every day and don't use a glove they scare them more if needed use only for getting out of the cage and then get a hold of him with bare hands,and you might only want to start out holding him once a day for 15 or 20min's and after 2 weeks hold him 2 times a day that way he don't just get more crazy, and if he flips when you walk past him then walk slow or don't just keep doing it cause he will just keep doing it,,,,,,,, this is just what i would try to do i hope some of this helps and good luck ,,,,,tjsreptiles

jf Apr 25, 2005 03:49 PM

.

tjsreptiles Apr 25, 2005 04:50 PM

hi jf
well mine get scard when you put a glove on, that why i say that,i got a big brown welding glove and for some reason they don't like it it freaks them out my rhino will run like crazy and my cuban will hold its ground and bite and when i don't have a glove on my cuban will just try to run the glove goes all the way up my arm mostly big and thick i use it for big lizards with nails and since he's got a baby really no need for a glove, i think, i would not where one, so i was trying to stear him away from waring one, some people my use them the whole time they hold there lizard but mine don't like it i guess the are to use to seeing bare hands if you use a glove a lot sure they will get use to it and it won't bother them but mine don't like it

jf how are your rhinos doing?
here a pic's of mine i got to take some new ones
thanks tjsreptiles

jf Apr 25, 2005 05:27 PM

My guys are doing great, thanks for asking. I cant keep enough food in the bowls. Now that mating season is done they have mellowed out to just disliking each other.
I just cant buy the scary glove thing. I just dont buy it. I know, I know, thats how yours react and I have read about it and been told about it other places. It just doesnt add up to me. What does a wild animal use as reference to be afraid of a glove. Its just not your welding glove either. I have read it about gardening, mechanic's to motercycle gloves. are they afraid of it if its not being worn? would your glove scare mine, doubt it. I think its the hand inside, the act of handling, and the difference in actions the confidence of a glove gives the keeper. Or maybe not.
please dont read any confrontation into my post. I mean none. I just have a different opinion when it comes to gloves, no gloves when trying to handle sharp claws and teeth.

jf

cycluracornuta Apr 25, 2005 06:16 PM

Hard to believe, but maybe color has something to do with it. My female golden retriever was ignored, and the female black lab was attacked.

hlogic May 18, 2005 08:59 PM

Mine realized that when the gloves were on they were going to be taken from the cage. Without the gloves they were going to be fed, sprayed or some other 'enjoyable' interaction.

That was months ago but they still remember the gloves. Bare hands get normal responses (varies by lizard). Gloved hands get psycho-lizard responses (except for those that would tolerate anything).

Just my $0.02

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