Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, maybe everyone already does this, but I haven't seen any reference to it online so I thought I'd share. I just had a remarkable leap in the hand-taming of Basil by doing this. First, wear a long-sleeved shirt--preferably one that you don't care about very much. Then tuck a cardboard tube from a toilet paper roll into your sleeve so that the open end is right at your wrist. Basil loves climbing through these tubes and it motivated him to climb onto my hand and into the tube. He was already climbing into my hand, but with some hesitation and he jumped off if I moved too much. No longer! I think he appreciates that he has a "safe place" in the tube when I take him out to play on my lap. If anyone else tries this (or already does it), let me know how it works for you! Warning: gerbil may continue to climb up your sleeve, which tickles. )

ciao,
Megan

I use something like that for my duprasis but i set a tube down near me and then let them run around me. Whenever something scares them they run for the tube. Well they both used to but Kora got too fat to fit and now she just hides between me and the tube or sticks her head in and just sits there. Maybe she thinks noone will notice her bigger half sticking out. Kiri is a bit slimmer and fits but only one way... backing out ruffles her fur all up. My mongolian gerbils just run through the tube and take off on an adventure around my room. They run for their cages if something scares them. You can also feed sunflower seeds or various unsalted nuts to hand tame. Mine are just happy to be out and Amur ignores any treats while he's scrambling to get up my arm.