Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a baby savannah that is less than 6 months old. He is very healthy with nice colors and eats well. Only problem is he is quite pissy. if he even sees me walk near the cage he starts hissing and whipping his tail in my direction. I've tried leaving him alone for a period of time and i've tried handling him regularly to calm him down. Once i hold him for a minute he calms down and is manageable. Nothing seems to be taming him and i'm worried that once he is big enough to inflict real pain I will have an evil monster on my hands. Does anyone know what to do or is he born this way and un-tameable? please help, I don't want to give up on him yet.

Well, it is all up to the monitor. If he doesn't like to be messed with, then don't mess with him. Perhaps at this stage in life he doesn't want to tolerate being handled. He probably feels you as a threat. Think of it this way, you are probably taller then 5'5, and he is what about 1/2 a foot, maybe a tad bit bigger, and everytime he sees you he thinks about what you have done to him in the past, you've reached into the cage to pick him up, and try handling him, trying to restrain him from escaping into safety. He remembers these kind of things. Reptiles are very smart, like dogs. You can't FORCE a monitor of any type to tolerate handling. Try going a few months without handling him, and just doing cage maintenance, and feeding. Perhaps he will start to trust you, and come to investigate. Don't push the little guy, you have years to come of gaining his trust and being able to handle him. Your relationship will be much happier if he trusts you, other then him seeing you as a threat because you insist on taming him. Good luck, hope everything makes sense - as it IS alittle late where I am, and I'm tired from work.

-Stephanie
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Mouse - It's what's for dinner!