Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking for different methods people use to calm their narly beasts down. I have few that I use that have worked with varying results. Here's a couple that I use: 1)partially filled tub with warm water - I use this not only to clean the animal but, it gives them a time to relax and enables me to practice picking them up and strengthens a level of trust. 2)after the tub I dry them off and wrap them in a towel and lay them in my lap for about a 1/2 hour or until they get squirmy and want to go.

Any other ideas would be great- especially if you have advice for the larger monitor species.

Other animals really seem to stimulate mine, the smells or even line of sight gets them acting more naturally and they tend to act more curious and less caged. I keep two waters together, the male was destructive to his cage before being with the female, the female was violent and aggressive before being with the male. Now both animals are happy, curious, and quite calm when handled. Seems company breeds complacency.

And of course, I always use the glove trick. No, I don't mean wearing gloves when I handle them (I do that too) but putting a scented glove in with the animal so they are more used to my scent.