Stopped coming out.

[creddjobs]

Hey guys!
I have a question. Koopa has not been out the cage for a couple of weeks now. He just recently turned 1 year. The funny thing is he used to come out all the time on his own. He would climb to the top and walk out onto the door of his cage and walk right out to my hand. I left the door to his cage open for about 30 minutes and he just sat there in the same spot looking at me as if he wanted privacy. I tried all this weekend with no luck. I have not "forced" him out but I did see if I could get him on my hand. He just sat there and started bobbing his head at me. Why would he bob his head at me? and should I "force" him out to make sure I can still handle him. I want him to stay used to me for cleaning/remodeling cage purposes but I dont want him to snap at me, which he has never done. Any info or similar stories would be appreceated.

 

[CarlyMK]

Sounds like he may be hitting his terrible teens ahah imo, maybe someone else will chime in.

 

[nightanole]

Congratulations, you went from a teenage panther that wanted to use Daddy to drive him to where he thought all the ladies were at, to an adult that just wants his own room.

He should start coming around once he realizes your are not going to be hanging out in "his" tree. Odds are hes starting to cut back on being a cricket vacuum too. Id try to win him over with hand fed treats and sunny window rides

As for "forcing" out. Odds are he is cage dominant right now. hes doesnt want anyone in "his" tree till he is comfortable defending it from more experienced males. If you take him out he will act just like he did 3 months ago. I try to take mine out for less than a minute a day when they are at this stage, just so they know whos boss and i am not a threat. If you can get him to grab/coax on your hand by putting your hand under his feet you can take him out, you can take him out. Dont try to peel him off the branch. Just keep him on your hand for about a min infront of his cage, and let him go back home. I also pet mine alittle aday once the goto bed, They normally just puff up alittle in protest, but dont hiss or lunge or try to run away

 

[creddjobs]

Thanks for the replys guys. I only experienced him puff up on me one time. And the wierd thing was i was putting him back IN his cage! lol, Usually you hear stories of them puffing when trying to get out and now back in LOL!