Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ill get better pics of my setup posted when after I move, my room is a bit crowded at the moment to take good pictures.

Anyway my monitor cage has a top door and a door on each side. Since getting him settled in I have not picked him up or touched him. I only open the cage when I put food in there (hoping he will associate the door opening with something good). Ill then sit there with one of the side doors and watch him. Im currently feeding a mix of frozen pinkeys and large crickets. Usually he will go about his business while I watch but when he sees me he will turn around a walk the other direction in his cage (calmly).

Yesterday again I put the pinkey on the side of the cage near me and he walked up and turned around about 10 time. Then to my suprise he" crossed his line" and came over and ate the pinkey!

My goals for him are:
Don't spaz when he sees me.
Comfortable with my hands being in his tank
Eating from tongs
Will apporach my hands
Will allow me to lift him up

That was the method I used with my bearded dragon and leo gecko and it worked well (the igs are rather stubborn). Thoughts? Am I right in not touching or picking him up until he descdes its ok?

Thanks for all of the help..and wow he's growing fast lol
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Green Igg 1.1.0
Beardie 1.0.0
Green Tree Frogs 0.0.2
Green Anole 1.0.0
Leopard Gecko 0.1.0
American Toad 0.0.1
Ball Python 0.0.1
Nile Monitor 0.0.1
Yellow Belly Slider 0.0.1
Tokay Gecko 0.0.1

Hi again medic8388, nice to hear from you, good that your monitor seems to be acclimating.
There really isn`t a time limit, at this age they are at their most vulnerable, and will behave accordingly (very nervous and wary).
Just keep doing as you are, don`t push things, do it at his/her pace.
I don`t worry about whether I can hold them (though it`s a bonus if that happens), just support the monitor in every way.
Pics will be nice whenever.... (It doesn`t matter what your room looks like, please take a few).
Thanks!