He actually bit me! Why might he be getting extra cranky?

[saisaac]

Chewy has been extra cranky lately. He has also been dropping sperm plugs. Could the two be linked? I know I have heard of them getting crankier during breeding season, but it is a bit early here for that. Seems to have been going on since I switched his substrate and re-arranged his enclosure. Perhaps he is somewhat stressed or is defending his turf? He was near the same cork bark round both times.

He opened his mouth and reached back as if he wanted to bite me a few days ago. Then last night he bit me on the finger (not very hard though), and when I put my hand right back in he reached for it again. I got him out later without incident and worked on positive association by giving him some treats while he was in contact with me. He's not usually this crabby. He gets pretty huffy at times though. He is around 18 months old.

[Susann]

My guess would be that he is sensing breeding season coming on.

[Richard.C]

X2

Being of tropical origin,this is there natural time of breeding,well reverse season for usa,so right now hes full of testosterone,which probably explains his fiestier than normal,though they can behave like that anyhow,one of my big males grabbed my thumb recently,possably thought it was food and i wasnt overly concentrating on him whilst with hand in cage,theres 2 females in there as well

[donkeybuff]

January-March is around when I see my indo male start getting very restless for breeding season. He drops tons more sperm plugs, and is much more squirmy/huffy. He will probably calm down in a few days-weeks.

[saisaac]

Yeah, I was kind of assuming that but it seems odd that he would be coming into that cycle given that it was below zero here most of the week. I suppose his enclosure has fairly stable temps though so it wouldn't have made as much of a difference.

[Richard.C]

With northerns,if they pick up cooling outdoors/cage ambient temp drops,thats enough for them to cycle,its hot year round during the day where they are from,winter is there dry season and nights get a bit cooler ,they dont brumate as such,but estiviate during the dry season when foods not as abundant

[saisaac]

Thanks for the information!

He also just started shedding yesterday, so he might have been uncomfortable on top of being hormonal.