Short version: He carved up my chin pretty good and didn't want to let go. Only other time he's ever bitten me is when he thought my hand was food and his teeth barely connected before he realized his error and let go.
Long version: Amaru is a tad overweight and my vet suggested modifying his diet. Previously, he would get one juvenile size rat every other day and something else (fish, eggs, etc) on his off day. She suggested I cut it back to the rat every third day and something light on the off day and to often skip feeding on an off day. He had his juvenile size rat yesterday and I actually gave him a baby rat this morning since one died (we breed rats). I had him on the floor with me and he was walking around very active tongue flicking everywhere. He walks up to me and starts licking my face like mad and I realized something was about to go very badly. I immediately rose up and he just jumped and bit onto my bearded chin and would not let go for several seconds. In retrospect, I think I should have allowed him to continue licking at me so he could determine that my beard was not food. Instead he saw his possible meal rapidly departing and he went for it.
Anyway, I've noticed that he does get extremely active and aggressive on his off days. I rarely even hold him to my vet's recommended diet because of this. I'd prefer not to get bitten again, especially because he is the most tame and chill lizard when he's not in hunt-mode. What do you guys recommend for diet that will keep him from becoming this aggressive, but at the same time not cause him to become even more overweight?
He's in a 6x3x3 that will eventually be upgraded to an 8x4x4 and he gets an hour or two out every day. Basking spot is in the 120's just under the light, 75 on the cool end. I mist his cage multiple times a day. UVB supplied by overhead mercury vapor bulb replaced every few months. Substrate is mixed peat moss, eco earth, and mulch. He is between 1 and 1.5 years, but big for his size since he never hibernated and has a veracious appetite. If you need any other info, let me know.
Long version: Amaru is a tad overweight and my vet suggested modifying his diet. Previously, he would get one juvenile size rat every other day and something else (fish, eggs, etc) on his off day. She suggested I cut it back to the rat every third day and something light on the off day and to often skip feeding on an off day. He had his juvenile size rat yesterday and I actually gave him a baby rat this morning since one died (we breed rats). I had him on the floor with me and he was walking around very active tongue flicking everywhere. He walks up to me and starts licking my face like mad and I realized something was about to go very badly. I immediately rose up and he just jumped and bit onto my bearded chin and would not let go for several seconds. In retrospect, I think I should have allowed him to continue licking at me so he could determine that my beard was not food. Instead he saw his possible meal rapidly departing and he went for it.
Anyway, I've noticed that he does get extremely active and aggressive on his off days. I rarely even hold him to my vet's recommended diet because of this. I'd prefer not to get bitten again, especially because he is the most tame and chill lizard when he's not in hunt-mode. What do you guys recommend for diet that will keep him from becoming this aggressive, but at the same time not cause him to become even more overweight?
He's in a 6x3x3 that will eventually be upgraded to an 8x4x4 and he gets an hour or two out every day. Basking spot is in the 120's just under the light, 75 on the cool end. I mist his cage multiple times a day. UVB supplied by overhead mercury vapor bulb replaced every few months. Substrate is mixed peat moss, eco earth, and mulch. He is between 1 and 1.5 years, but big for his size since he never hibernated and has a veracious appetite. If you need any other info, let me know.
