Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've handled Isis for the first time since I've bought her in order to check on her shed skin. She's quick to anger and hisses like crazy. She straightened her back legs and curved her tail while doing the S-dance (side-to-side slithering motion). This bothers me a great deal since I still have to bring her to the vet (which I am now thinking that my current vet may not be able to handle her so I'll have to take her to a specialty vet a lot further away).
She is just so aggressive, I don't know what I can do to calm her down. Ra was kind of like this when we first got him but he hardly ever hissed. Isis hisses every 10 seconds (it's a wide-mouth hiss too). In order to put her back into her tank, I put a towel on her and held her in it. It worked for minimizing stress and she didn't really struggle at all.
I need help badly in trying to tame her. I have absolutely no idea how to tame a fully grown adult uro.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks all

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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)

so, you can get her out of her cage? If so, once out, just let her sit on the floor so you're not touching her. Then, maybe offer a nice treat. Just give her time. i would say it might be a good idea to start slowly, but still maintaining interaction everyday. It's hard to imagine an aggressive uromastyx since mine seems to be such a sweet heart. Well, if she doesn't see who you are (or know who you are) when you go to take her out of her tank, she sometimes opens her mouth, but never hisses. Also, if you touch her head she is very quick to snap at you. She has bitten me once, but that was a mistake when I was hand feeding her. She let go before she could even scratch me.

Just treat her like any other untame animal. Try it for a month or so, just letting her know you're there at first, or maybe taking her out and setting her down (which ever one both you and her are more comfortable with). Offer food. Food is a great way for owners to bond with their pets. it sort of sets their mind at ease and lets them know that you're just their care taker. Start out only with a couple of minutes of interaction, and then move up to a little longer when she starts to warm up to you. Or, if she remains wild, you'll just have to understand that she'll be like that forever and you just have to work a little more when you need to handle her. I personally like to get my reptiles completely tame though, that way it's not a struggle when I need to take them out for something.

ive never had to tame my uros. they were both nice when i got them. but im in the process of taming an iguana. it can be hard. try getting her fav treet. and take her out and feed her this treet only when you have her out. do it everyday and she will learn that the only way she is getting the goods is if she lets you handle her. good luck!
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brandy

Luck you guys, with such tame uros!

My two young geyri are not at all what I would call tame. They both s-dance and tail lash when I reach into their tanks. What I'm doing it simply trying to get a few minutes every day or so to reach in and take them out, handle them for a couple of minutes, and then put them back.

The idea is to get them used to being handled, until they realize that I'm not a threat to them. They are only now starting to not run and hide as soon as they see me in the room, and I've had them since about February.

But I left them totally alone for about 3 months, without touching them unless I had to, and only going in the tanks to feed and clean. This I think has helped them feel safe in their homes and they are fattening up nicely. (They were quite underweight when I got them.)

So now it's time to begin the taming for me. Dragon WILL bite if I let my hand get in the way of his mouth while I'm holding him, and Belle has tried also, so I still pick them up, but keep my hands away from their mouths, although I rub under their chins and on their heads anyways.

Hope this helps,
Nicki

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Nicki
I care for 4 Uromastyx, 1 Girdled Lizard, 5 Snakes, 2 Toads, Mice, and I help with about 50 newts and salamanders
Member of OARA (Ottawa Amphibian and Reptile Association)

Yes, the first goal before all else is getting your reptiles healthy and maintaining good health. If (or when) your uros do bite, don't let it phase you. If possible don't even flinch or show any other feelings of the sort. Let them know that no matter how much they bite, it's not going to make a difference. Then, offering treats to them will help them realize that not only are you not a threat to them, you're a friend.

My juvenile ornate isn't defensive but he is flighty. I just to calm, gentle handling daily. I have gotten him from running like crazy whenever I walk in the roo down to running like crazy when I open his door. Hahaha, I like him, he's got spunk!!!

I never had trouble with taming my mali. He's really laid back and is cool with everything around him. He even loves me taking him up to my bros fully grown beardeds cage. He loves looking at Draco (the bearded) and licking at him through the glass. Draco also loves him. I'd suggest the treat thing, maybe she's just not comfortable or is going through a phase.