Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ive been handling my savy daily since the day i got him. when hes basking and he sees me he hides. i didnt give him time to acclimate to his enclosure. should i keep handling him or should i leave him alone for a few weeks until he seems less scared of me? thanks! and yes... i feel like an idiot.
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1 Blue Tongue Skink
1 Savannah Monitor

You already answered your own question.
Give the poor critter time to get used to it's new home.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

yes i understand that now... but ive had him for about 2-3 weeks and been handling him every day. so your saying i theres still time to start over and let him acclimate?
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1 Blue Tongue Skink
1 Savannah Monitor

If he's eatting I'm sure he's already acclimated. He may just think your a big scary monster trying to eat him. He'll come around.
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John Light
JL Exotics
Contact Me
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I wouldn't even force handle him, just stick your hand hear him and remain still and see if he approaches and invistigates. He may not do it the first time,the next, or following 20 times, but eventually a monitors curiousity will get the better of him and he will see what this strange looking flower is in his domain. When you allow them to come to you and not vice versa, they grow to know you are not a threat and in return can interact with them much better.

With my first monitor, a Sav, i did exactly what you did my friend and everytime I stuck my hand near the monitor he hissed and tailwhipped. I never let him get used to me on his terms. Now with my Juvi WhiteThroat, I have not force handled him at all and have allowed him to sniff my hand and he now will crawl up on my hand and up my arm allowing me to lift him out and let him know I'm not a threat. I've had him since Nov 2 and the results have been very rewarding.

Someone on here many moons ago gave a great example using a wild Squrriel. You don't go and grab a wild squirrel expecting it to tame down. If you grab it, it will fight and try to bite the crap outta you. Now if you allow it to come to you on it's own terms, it will get more curious to you and approach closer and closer til eventually it makes contact with you. Over time, it may even allow you to touch it back.

Just be patient with it and remind yourself that your many times it's size and reaching in to grab and pick it up only reinforces it's fear of you. Savs by nature are elusive and avoid humans anyways so it will take time.
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The thing you have to understand is you are a large, ugly beast that might cause harm to the critter. This is how it probally sees you.
Another thing is, it is a reptile and a wild one at that.
Sure, your buddy down the road might have a monitor that will cuddle on the couch with him.
But that is his lizard. Yours might be different.
Yours might be skittish and decide to defend itself, be it running away, tail whipping or biting.
I have seen all three with animals I have kept over the years.
You have to do your best to build a trust with your critter.
Myself? I don't believe in force handling anything.
There are exceptions, ie. escapes, vet visits, digging up eggs ect. ect.
Learn your lizard and let it learn you.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

i just wanna thank everyone for their insight on handling sasvannah monitors. you were all very helpful and have tought me the importance of patients with my new monitor friend. thanks again!
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1 Blue Tongue Skink
1 Savannah Monitor

Handling a monitor does not equate to taming. In most cases its stressful to the monitor. Then the monitor learns its not harmful over time. But that does nothing towards forming a bond(taming) with the monitor.

As far as I know the best professional way to tame animals is to form a bond. This is most commonly done with food. The whales, the dolphins, the seals at all the sea worlds are trained using food. The dog shows(dogs are already tame?) the cat shows, the bird shows all tame and train their animals with food. Raptors are trained using food.

I imagine you are getting the point. If you want your monitor to like you, then give it a GOOD reason to like you, not a bad reason. Offer it something it wants, not something its afraid of.

I imagine you could google up all the animal training tips you need. Cheers