Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I really need somehelp with this girl, for those who dont know I bought her as an import at the april 13 show in NY.
Ive been really trying to make her handleable but nothing!!1
I tyied putting my hands in the cage and playing with her, then after a week picking her up inside the tank and then taking her out, and she hates it when I pick her up although I scoop her from the front, once shes off the ground she goes berzerk. And then she poops right away.
And everytime I come in the room she right away runs into her hide!!
She eats fine and everthing is good healthwise, but Im really loosing patience I bought her first and foremost to be my #1 pet meaning I wanted to play with her more than my other herps.
Please help I dont know what to do anymore

Jack

Some uros never become that tame. There's different levels of tameness, and there's isn't any one specie that's garaunteed to be better than another. Nor, that all of the same specie going to be the same.
It seems you've tried the handling thing, so I'd suggest that you go through the acclimation process again, or in this case possibly "Still." This time, let her be. Change the food after she go to sleep or before she gets up, don't handle her except if absolutely needed. Put the tank in a low traffic area, cover the sides of the tank if needed. Give it time. If this approach doesn't do it, it is possible that the tameness you're looking for may not be possible with this particular uro. My female mali started off like yours, it took a good 6 months or more from running away when approaching the tank, to not resisting when I'd touch her to pick her up.

Good luck
Jim

>>I really need somehelp with this girl, for those who dont know I bought her as an import at the april 13 show in NY.
>>Ive been really trying to make her handleable but nothing!!1
>>I tyied putting my hands in the cage and playing with her, then after a week picking her up inside the tank and then taking her out, and she hates it when I pick her up although I scoop her from the front, once shes off the ground she goes berzerk. And then she poops right away.
>>And everytime I come in the room she right away runs into her hide!!
>>She eats fine and everthing is good healthwise, but Im really loosing patience I bought her first and foremost to be my #1 pet meaning I wanted to play with her more than my other herps.
>>Please help I dont know what to do anymore
>>
>>Jack

Jimbo is exactly right. There are different degrees of tameness. I have some that don't even move when I go in their cages and let me stroke their backs, but become wiggly if you pick them up. I have one that flips everytime she sees anyone or anything and I have had her a few months. Then I have some that were docile and sweet since I got them. They don't care if you pick them up and just lay in your hand for quite awhile before wanting to explore. The ornates and malis are supposed to be the most laid back of all the species. Patience and time hopefully will get you the pet you are looking for.

Pam

I have her in my room, and when Im in there while she's up, hardly ever because I go to work. She goes into her hide when she sees me and I have her in a glass tank, what do you think is better for her, leaving her in the glass tank so she can see me and get used to me or putting paper towel or something around the cage so she cant see

Thanks
Jack

Whats better to try and handle her in the day when shes warm and full of energy or at night/early morning when shes cold and has less energy to go crazy???

Thanks Again
Jack

I find that my uros now are much calmer with the recent change to non-transparent walls to their enclosure. Also try and handle her when she is cool at night. I tamed my uros quicky by doing several things. First, when I handled them it was only at night, and even then all I would do is place them on my lap and cover them with a pillow until they fell asleep. Then I began feeding them by hand by sticking the food in the cage, especially with their favorite insects or flowers. Later I fed them by hand while I was holding them. Soon I was petting and handling them even at their hottest part of the day. Eventually both became the sweetest uros ever. But keep in mind there will always be something new to freak them out. I took one of mine out for a bit to check the mail, and he jumped out of my hand and dived into the bushes because he saw a dog.
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida

You are still a predator to her and of course she isn't going to relax around you just yet. She was taken from her environment, away from other uros to be placed in a cage..she probably can't quite figure out what's going on. Give her time...you sound like you are doing things right. You just have to be patient and make sure she sees you as non-threatening.
I had a challenge like this...now he sleeps in the bed with me...go figure!
I hope everything works out for you!
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Julie Redmon
FSU!!!

Does it look like you finish with your name and a "FU"? You might want to changfe the font color of the "S"....or not.

Jim

>>Julie Redmon
>>FSU!!!

HAHAHA

That's FSU for you...

J/K
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida

I changed it so now you can REALLY see the "S"...
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Julie Redmon
FSU!!!

Jack,
All uro's have a sensitivity to changes in their environment. Being she is wild caught, it is going to take her a long time to fully adjust. You have to go at her pace, not yours. As long as she is eating, be happy because the majority of the time, newly acclimating uros stop eating and waste away. For now, I would stop trying to handle her. Just make sure that every time you come in the room something "good" happens (ie she gets a treat). Also, make sure you have plenty of things in the enclosure for her to hide behind, under to help her feel more secure. As long she is eating well, I don't think you need to cover the enclosure.
Go slowly with trying to tame her. Start with hand feeding. When she will eat from your hand with no problems, then try touching. When you do attempt to pick her up again, don't chase her around the cage to do it. Coax her onto your hand with a treat.

Our malis are pretty tame, but none of them are particularly fond of being held, particularly our big male. We've found that they seem to enjoy being taken out and just letting them crawl around. Our little girl likes to climb, and the male likes to see if he can squeeze himself into tight places (we let him try for a minute then pull him out and face him in another direction, no stuck uromastyx for us, thanks!). They had to live with my boyfriend's parents for a while when we were both in places that didn't allow pets. When we got them back they were both pretty not tame, especially the smaller girl. I decided to really devote time to chilling her out. So when I sat down to watch tv, I'd pull her out, lean back on the couch, and put her on my chest with myhand over her, occasionally i'd cover her eyes. After a while she's just fall asleep. I think they just really like to have something firm under their feet.

By the way, use a couple of be pollen granules, a thawed frozen sweet pea, a mallow/hibiscus/dandelion flower, or a superworm as examples of treats (although some of these should be a good part of their diet and not just fed on occasion, i.e., hibiscus)
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida