Re: What does it all mean?

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Posted by iZ's mom on August 14, 1999 at 13:55:31:

In Reply to: What does it all mean? posted by suzi on August 14, 1999 at 07:40:12:

hi + welcome!
i would guess that it's possible that your ig is younger than 4-5 years ... iZ was about 1.5-2 yrs old when he was 30" long (by my best guesstimate) ... as they get older, they get different colors ... an adult ig isn't usually anywhere near as green as the babies are!

(iZ is about 4yo now and is 5' long (20" of that is body) and weighed in at 9.5 pounds last week!)

from what HE has taught me ... "shudder bobs" (skaking head side to side) means "BACK AWAY I'M IN A BAAAAAD MOOD!!!" (if igs could shout, they would!) (up + down head bobs are ~usually~ not as BIG a warning as shudder bobs)

other ig-warnings that mean LEAVE ME ALONE!:
Hissing, ESPECIALLY ~open mouth hissing~
"Posturing" ... that's when they PUFF themselves up and suddenly look much bigger + extend their dewlap
"Posturing" AND Leaning towards you is even more emphatic a warning
Snout-smacking usually means "next time i'll smack you with my teeth!"

with all of these it means "STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING! i'm in a baaaad mood and i will take it out on you if i have to!"

when i walk into iZ's room and he greets me with a posturing, leaning open-mouthed HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ... i calmly tell him, "ok, i see you'd like to eat up in your room tonight ..." and i BACK away with my arm in front of my face ... and bring his dinner salad up to him, keeping my arm partially in front of my face ...

i do NOT mean to scare you! just want to translate some important ig-language messages is all ...

i don't use gloves with iZ ... but long sleeves aren't a bad idea! the one time he lunged at me, mouth open and clamping down, i was lucky enough to have 2 sweatshirts on (had just come home + it was cold fall) and all he got was a mouth of sweatshirt instread of my arm ... he'd never lunged at me before and i was totally UNprepared for it and HOW FAST that seemingly lazy lizard can move!!! (THAT's why i keep my arm up over my face when he's grouching at me!) ... they can just literally FLY off that perch when they want to!!!

oh~ it won't hurt him to rub the dry sheds but he might not appreciate it ... (iZ HATES it) ... a nice warm tub soak will help more and might be more appreciated ...

MOST igs calm down considerably when they're thru the mating season (AKA: "being ORANGE")

check out the Kingsnake Family ablum for pix of igs ~ they're not just green *grin*

hope this helps
:P + :)
iZ + mom

family pics

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http://start.at/iggylovers oops~ this is the RIGHT addy! 8/14/99 (0)

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: hi + welcome! : i would guess that it's possible that your ig is younger than 4-5 years ... iZ was about 1.5-2 yrs old when he was 30" long (by my best guesstimate) ... as they get older, they get different colors ... an adult ig isn't usually anywhere near as green as the babies are! : (iZ is about 4yo now and is 5' long (20" of that is body) and weighed in at 9.5 pounds last week!) : from what HE has taught me ... "shudder bobs" (skaking head side to side) means "BACK AWAY I'M IN A BAAAAAD MOOD!!!" (if igs could shout, they would!) (up + down head bobs are ~usually~ not as BIG a warning as shudder bobs) : other ig-warnings that mean LEAVE ME ALONE!: : Hissing, ESPECIALLY ~open mouth hissing~ : "Posturing" ... that's when they PUFF themselves up and suddenly look much bigger + extend their dewlap : "Posturing" AND Leaning towards you is even more emphatic a warning : Snout-smacking usually means "next time i'll smack you with my teeth!" : with all of these it means "STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING! i'm in a baaaad mood and i will take it out on you if i have to!" : when i walk into iZ's room and he greets me with a posturing, leaning open-mouthed HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ... i calmly tell him, "ok, i see you'd like to eat up in your room tonight ..." and i BACK away with my arm in front of my face ... and bring his dinner salad up to him, keeping my arm partially in front of my face ... : i do NOT mean to scare you! just want to translate some important ig-language messages is all ... : i don't use gloves with iZ ... but long sleeves aren't a bad idea! the one time he lunged at me, mouth open and clamping down, i was lucky enough to have 2 sweatshirts on (had just come home + it was cold fall) and all he got was a mouth of sweatshirt instread of my arm ... he'd never lunged at me before and i was totally UNprepared for it and HOW FAST that seemingly lazy lizard can move!!! (THAT's why i keep my arm up over my face when he's grouching at me!) ... they can just literally FLY off that perch when they want to!!! : oh~ it won't hurt him to rub the dry sheds but he might not appreciate it ... (iZ HATES it) ... a nice warm tub soak will help more and might be more appreciated ... : MOST igs calm down considerably when they're thru the mating season (AKA: "being ORANGE") : check out the Kingsnake Family ablum for pix of igs ~ they're not just green *grin* : hope this helps : :P + :) : iZ + mom

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