My male 95 gram hatchling is super aggressive and wants to eat me!
Temps, humidity, etc. are perfect. He eats a f/t rat fuzzy every 5th day.
I handle him every other day for about 5min. Upon opening his tub, he immediately comes out of his hide head coiled and looks like he is defending his turf. I just reach in and grab him and hold him. He had been tagging me and immediately letting go . . . a little blood no big deal.
Last night I pick him up and he doesn't strike. I hold him for awhile and things are going good. Then I notice his head start to shake a little and he nails the base of my thumb and constricts. He starts chewing on my thumb which is now bleeding on top and bottom. It still wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. He wouldn't let go for about 5 min. I just continued to clean the bin as my daughter watched in horror. Finally he let go and I put him back in his bin. I washed my thumb and you could hardly see any marks.
Why is he so aggressive? Why did he bite and constrict?. . . I didn't have any rat scent on my hand. I really want to work with him and get him calmed down before he gets big. Suggestions?
Thanks in advance.