General Care Discussion :: Biting at his own legs

[Cleverking]

My RES is currently basking and he seems to be occasionally stroking his head and biting at his own legs and nails?

Is this normal?

I've only seen him doing it from this morning..

[marisa]

When they've been basking for a while and are getting a will warm, they will twitch, flail their legs around and do other sorts of gyrations. Does this sound like what your RES is doing? If so, it's not a problem---he's just reacting to the temp and thermoregulating. When my RES has done that for a while, he'll eventually go into the water to cool off.

[Cleverking]

I've seen the twitching but was initially worried about him looking like he's about to chomp off his own leg with his mouth wide open but doesn't really get a full chomp..

[marisa]

Is he shedding skin? (You see it hanging off him in the water)? If so, perhaps he's biting at it when the skin is dry. Unless he's starting to take chunks out of himself, I wouldn't worry.

[Cleverking]

yes he is shedding

I'll keep an eye on him anyway. thanks for your help

[marisa]

You're welcome. It sounds like he's got warm, itchy skin.