Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so I've had my juvie mali for about a month now...

I've been attempting to get him a little more tolerant of me by just putting my hand where he can see it and get used to it. Also I've been offering him food by hand (usually a cricket or a tender sprout of some veggie I'm growing) and he doesn't seem to mind (he'll eat his favorite treats redily by hand).

Now should I actually pick him up to help get him used to me or is there something else I should do?
Should I just wait longer?

If you've been doing this for a month now and she is darting out of the hide spots for peas or other food...then she has developed her scense of smell to YOU!..... so yes begin to handle her, never scold your animal.....(it can be easy to do if they dart on you.) but try not too, speaking in a non aggressive voice also will ease the animal into being comfortable while handled. My uro's all love the queen size bed we have, and they're more prone to relaxing or wiggling into the pillows/sheets for a nap If they're is scared, they tend to do the same thing. move your bed into a corner of the room so, you have 2 sides covered by wall. Then stuff the "edge" of the bed (next to the wall) with pillows so the uro can't slip down the crack...and then you have some what of a pen for it to run around on/in. she'll associate the smell of your bed with your hand also, and will realize that when she smells "that smell" (you) she's in no danger. My uro's will even turn and run to me when i give them to someone else.....I've noticed their smell seems to be a keen scense of their's. use this to your advantage also. keep up the good work. gradually increase the frequency and duration of your little "visits" together, and soon you'll be able to take a nap with your uro, fall asleep and it'll still be there....think of it this way, if you're a uro and a human is a huge giant, and you finally realize that this giant feeds, cares, and ... soon you will realize it also protects you, and i find progess is expodential once the uro realizes all of this.

hope this helps some more
~Chris~
1.2 Uromastyx maliensis: Magnum, Sable, Corona (Flippy Skittles)

Well actually he (I think its a he) wont come out for me at all. Unfortunately I tried holding him twice (basically just holding him in an open hand inside the cage so he'll still feel secure and could run away if he felt he needed to) in the last couple weeks and he didn't like it and since then he's been a little more timid.

I usually offer the pea sprouts when he's basking and usually he'll eat them. If not, I leave the plant there in front of him and leave. They are ALWAYS gone when I come bake 10-20 minutes later.

Yup, I talk gentle...even when he tried to dart (and he will from time to time...especially when he hears something loud).

I was thinking of this. Unfortunately my bed is a king size nautilus when weighs a TON. Not to mention the bookshelves and bed stands on either side....

Maybe I'll try to rig something so he can't dive down one side.

Wow! Thats pretty cool.

Yup, again what I had in mind. Short quiet handlings slowly increased in times...
Unfortunately he's hard to catch. He's got three hides to work with and will hide mostly in the biggest one i got (a cement reptile cave).

I'll have to think of something to do with the bed to keep escape routes minimal.
This sounds wierd, but would putting a shirt or something I've worn in with him help? I once tamed a "wild" gerbil to me this way.

Oh and by the way...do they like belly rubs? I did this and he really seemed to calm down at one point.

Hi...
You sound like you are doing everything right. It is hard to be patient, but necessary if you want to develop a good relationship with your uro. Uros are like people, all have different temperments. I have some who love to be held and then I have some who love to be scratched in their cages but really don't like to be held. I have some who are so nuts about me that they pace the front of the cage waiting for me and if I put my hand in the cage they jump on my hand. (I have 12, five different species) The Ornates are the sweetest. Keep up what you are doing and hopefully in time you will be able to have the relationship you want, but it also depends on your particular uros personality as to the kind of relationship it will be. Good Luck!

Pam

my uro is the most skiddish thing ever! He'll bolt when you just walk by his cage! I want to get him tame as well, so I think I will follow the advice here.
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-Jeff
Webmaster of Leo Land
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