Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my skink for a little over a year (He's not older than a year and 4months) and I must admit for the past 5months I haven't been picking him up regularly, mainly because I couldn't afford a new enclosure and as he grew I was ashamed to look at him because of his substandard accomidations...Well now i've gotten him a new enclosure(4'x2 1/2'x18"} and when I go to pick him up he hisses and try to bite me/Run away from me. What should I do to slowly get him used to me again? Is there any website that has articles on how to pick him up and such? (I used to just grab him but now he REALLY doesn't like that)

Any tips at all would be usefull. I sincerly want to make up our lost time together

Thanks

Dan

I would say to put a pair of gloves (good thick ones) on and just pet him in his tank. Start out for a short amount of time and slowly build up to longer amounts of time. The trick is to desensitize him to your touch and after he gets used to that slowly work on picking him up. I know this approach works on abused dogs that I worked with in the past...and people with phobias.

You pet people with phobias?

Joking!

Thanks much!