Hope this is in the right place. Searched a bit but couldnt find a good answer to my specific situation.
Got a Chilean Rose hair almost 5 months ago and when I bought her the lady who handled her had no problems. Ive only handled her 3 times and every time she flicks and flinches in a way that makes me nervous. Lately she had been super aggressive so I stopped trying to handle her. I tried to nudge her with a paint brush to clean her cage but she wouldnt budge and then bit out of the blue. Needless to say I am a bit scared of her now. In the last few weeks she has been extra aggressive, she prowls her cage, chases crickets, rears and flicks at anything near her, and climbs a lot (I dont want her to get hurt!) She also has been eating a cricket EVERY DAY for over two weeks and she eats them whole! I started feeding her daily as an experiment but I think its time to cut back, since she has proved her point. She is not balding yet so I assume no molt.
I want to know:
1. Could she be pregnant? I hope to GOD that's a no.
2. Is it possible to over feed her? If so, what is a healthy amount?
3. Are these behaviors caused by a sickness or an owner's error, or are they just idiosyncrasies of a Rose Hair?
4. Should I try to handle her in the future when I clean her cage, or is there a better hands off method for an aggressive wanderer like her?
5. What can I do to prevent her from climbing and ripping off tarsal claws in the lid?
Thanks for the advice- the owner of the college bug zoo was baffled when I told him. I dont know who else to ask!
Got a Chilean Rose hair almost 5 months ago and when I bought her the lady who handled her had no problems. Ive only handled her 3 times and every time she flicks and flinches in a way that makes me nervous. Lately she had been super aggressive so I stopped trying to handle her. I tried to nudge her with a paint brush to clean her cage but she wouldnt budge and then bit out of the blue. Needless to say I am a bit scared of her now. In the last few weeks she has been extra aggressive, she prowls her cage, chases crickets, rears and flicks at anything near her, and climbs a lot (I dont want her to get hurt!) She also has been eating a cricket EVERY DAY for over two weeks and she eats them whole! I started feeding her daily as an experiment but I think its time to cut back, since she has proved her point. She is not balding yet so I assume no molt.
I want to know:
1. Could she be pregnant? I hope to GOD that's a no.
2. Is it possible to over feed her? If so, what is a healthy amount?
3. Are these behaviors caused by a sickness or an owner's error, or are they just idiosyncrasies of a Rose Hair?
4. Should I try to handle her in the future when I clean her cage, or is there a better hands off method for an aggressive wanderer like her?
5. What can I do to prevent her from climbing and ripping off tarsal claws in the lid?
Thanks for the advice- the owner of the college bug zoo was baffled when I told him. I dont know who else to ask!