Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to start to tame my new baby sumatran water monitor. When I reached in he was very agressive he tried to bite, he hissed and when I got him in my hand he tried to whip me with his tail. Which is understandable because he is a baby. But do you have any useful approaches, or ways to handle him to make him to make him less stressed? Or to make the process easier? Hes been left alone except for the daily change of water, feeding temp checks. He has had 2 weeks to adjust. I heard that it was enough time. He has a great setup. Also to day I put in a bug hunk of ground turkey with supplements and later that day I saw this big finger length and width pink, and white thing. Im guessing that his stomach didnt take the turkey or some weird thing came out of him. It kind of looked like the turkey but a little bright pink, not as dark reddish pink. So any tips on handling or an answer to that weird thing in the cage would be very helpful. thank you!

You need to win him over before you jump into picking him up. To be scooped up to them is very un-natural. First let your little one get used to you, seeing you, hearing you, etc. Once they realize your not a threat thats when you can try handling.

Atleast this is the method I use. Some prefer to just grab them let them walk and and hand etc. until they are submissive.

Stop feeding the ground turkey, start feeding pinkies or fuzzies. Whichever size is appropriate. Feed your salvator from tongs. This will help him no longer see you as a threat. Get him to think of you positively not negatively. Such as oh great here he comes to grab me again. Sit by the cage maybe even reach in and pet him in the cage. Let him come to you more then you to him. That way he doesnt feel your pushing yourself onto him.

Also please realize not all of them become tame/handable/calm however you see to call it. It may decide it doesn't ever want any contact with you.

What I've done (past and present) is use that two week settling in period to talk to them and maybe touch them. Then the first few times I picked him up he still struggled to get away or slap me with their tail. However, I stayed calm and waited for him to stop flailing about in my hand. At the same time I'd talk to him in a really soft and calm voice. After a while it seemed like he realized that spazzing out would not make me release him so he calmed down and things just smoothed out. Then I went through a period of holding him, talking to him and giving him meal worms from my hand as a treat. He then assoiciated being held with food and a calm voice. It takes time and consistancy though.