I can give you some tips on handling. Hopefully you have a cage that opens from the front and not from the top. The best way to pick up a basilisk is from underneath. For most lizards their number one preditor, is a bird of prey, so swooping down from above to grab him is just going to set off all kinds of instincts to flee, hide and fight. Its best to gently restrain him, but if he fights, do not let him go or allow him to thrash. Turning him upside down will help to relax him. If you let him go he will learn that he can escape you and fight even worse next time. If he's an aggressive eater, try to get him to take food from your hand and coax him to climb on your hand or arm with food, do this when you are not taking him out so that he gets used to it. Another thing you can do is shut off the lights and heat for awhile prior to handling, this will cool him off and relax him for handling.

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