Tail Wiggling?

[artist&writer]

Does anyone else have reptiles that wiggle their tails when the are about to catch their food? Is there a reason they do this, or is it out of excitement?

My AFT geckos do this almost everytime I feed them, only they wiggle/vibrate their entire tail when they see a prey item.

Recently I have seen my Redtail boa and my pinstripe ball do this also, but only the last few inches of their tail. They kind of wiggle it similar to what a rattlesnake would. This is only when there is food in their tubs and when the seem to get excited/ready to strike.

[thewesterngate]

I noticed this when I had a leopard gecko, it's the cutest thing.

[Skiploder]

Caudal

Luring

[lasweetswan]

I have only seen this once with my BP. Almost like a slow dog wag, back and forth, back and forth. I definitely got a giggle out of it.

[scalrtn]

My bp did this last night - I blew gently on him through the cage top when it happened. I don't know if it was a threat response, or if he was anticipating being fed - I always scent the room with a blow dryer on the prey prior to feeding, so a light breeze is one of the cues that it's feeding time...I don't usually see the tail at these times, because he's invariably in one of hides.

[Commandokev]

My BP girl does it when I put my male in her cage. Apparently she thinks its very enticing to him!

[bcr229]

My BP girl does it when I put my male in her cage. Apparently she thinks its very enticing to him!

I've caught several of my females doing that. It's a sign that they're receptive to being bred.

I have a male king that will "buzz" his tail when he's excited, especially when he's about to be fed.