Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a black throat monitor that's about 18 inches or so and I was wondering if anyone else has ever had theirs wag their tails while you hold them. He just moves it from side to side continuously when he's being held. Let me know if you've heard of this before and maybe know why they do this...

probably preparing to tail whip you XP lol
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2.2.0 RES (Bowser, Angela, Leo, April)
1.0.0 V. Albigularis (Godzilla)
1.0.0 Z. Quadrilineatus (Yago)
1.0.0 Python Regius (Kaa)
1.0.0 Cat (Garfield)

or if he doesn't feel well supported, he is trying to balance himself.
-jake

This is a normal monitor behavior.

I interpret it as anticipation , nervousness , anxiety.

I would not interpret it as happy.

Anytime my monitors have tail wagged it seemed to be at a time when they were anxious. When they are content I have not seen this behavior. Except in rare occasions, when I see what I interpret as content behavior is when they do not realize I am around. Well, unless they are eating.
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Greetings,

Ed

I agree with the post above. My large male usually wags his tail when he sees something out of the ordinary or if he sees me doing something he doesnt like. PS is usually followed by a tail whipping, luckily I have learned his warning and am not there for him to connect.

My most nervous rudi does this--a sort of tail writhing. I agree with JP--it's most likely anxiety/anticipation.
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I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.

- Jack Handey