is this wierd?

[matt s]

Ok my awesome colored male patternless (not to brag) is a bright green/yellow but lately he sits at the corner of the tank and stares at me and his colors get very dull almost a dark brown. As soon a I pick him up his color goes back to normal/beautiful! Why is he doing this? Also when I pick him up and stoke him down his spine he raises his back high does this mean he likes it? To me it shows that he likes it but I dont know.
thanks

 

[supperl]

Hi Matt if you mena with raising his back up what I mean than it is an defensive reaction to look bigger as he is scared. You can see this on many many hatchlings^^. And if I´m not wrong than this dakrening maybe is caused by streß. But I´m not 100% sure I hope some of the others here will say something too^^.

 

[LeopardGeckoMom52688]

Matt almost all my geckos raise their back when I pet them. I have been told that means they like it. My african fat tailed geckos really likes it when I pet her when she is about to shed. And as far as the color. I couldn't tell you. I have a few that do that. but they are only dull because they cool down but when they are nicce and warm they are just some of the most stunning geckos I have ever seen!

 

[Stitch]

When I had chameleons it was a BIG no, no to touch their spine. They saw it as a threatening gesture. So when I see a Leo arch it's back when you touch the spine I get the feeling that it's not a good sign. Some will even run when I touch their spine. I only pet on the head, my geckos will close their eyes and push their head up. This is from my experience.

As for the color change it can be: mood, temperature or surroundings. All or any one of these things can cause them to lighten or brighten their colors.

 

[matt s]

When i do stroke his back he just lays there and he does seem to like it but thats just from my view. He doesn't run and about the stress i know my temps are almost perfect in the hot cave its about 90-91.5 and cool side is about 78-80.

 

[MichaelJ]

color change isn't something to worry about unless it's a bad color or lasts an unusual amount of time..

I have some that seem to brighten just before we ship them and have me questioning whether I should of sold them in the first place. Mood, temp, time of year can all be factors. Just think of them as a mood ring!

as far as spines - most reptiles are very protective of their spines because that is where they are most vulnerable. That said, being a mammal your natural instinct is to stroke their spine like you would a cat or dog..

Captive bred geckos may have lost that fear instinct over years of captive breeding. But I'd still be mindful. Like Thorsten said, raising up is a defensive posture to make them look bigger to an attacker. It's not like a cat that raises it's back to make you pet farther down.

I think it's really a matter of the individual animal and what they like, will tolerate, or simply won't allow.

I wish we could read their minds sometimes to see what they really think

I think most of mine are probably talking smack behind my back.. "yeah he cleaned my tub fed me but if he tries to stick that male back in here with me again; were going to have a rumble!"

 

[matt s]

By the way michael i have my eye on christina!

 

[MichaelJ]

By the way michael i have my eye on christina!

She's waiting for you !!

Let me know, depending on where you are in FL you could pick her up and save on shipping..

let me know!

 

[matt s]

Are you gonna be at Ft. myers reptile show?