One step forward, two back ...

Razaiel · #1 (**permalink**) 03-17-2006, 08:48 AM

I thought the handling was going really well but now think I did it all wrong

He's now got his viv redecorated with lots of nice topsoil - I left his warm hide in the same place under his basking lamp. We added a half log and since we've added it he's hardly come out except to eat and saunter around - he heads back to the hides when he sees us! Before the log he would often hide out at the back of his viv amongst the plastic plant leaves (we felt as he was much more visible there he was "fair game" for the handling routine). Well he's always in one of his hides now so figure we can't grab him out of there as its his personal space. Maybe we shouldn't even have got him out from his leafy area :S We haven't handled him now for a week.

The viv itself is in our main room with the TV and everyone going in and out - I figured it would be a good place for him to get used to seeing people - but maybe he would prefer a quieter room - in the dining room with the parrot or even upstairs in my daughter's bedroom - which is where he'll have to go eventually due to enclosure size.

Am I hoping for too much too soon? Should I be attempting handling already? I really want him handleable and tolerant of handling before he gets too big.

Dachande · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2006, 11:34 PM

if you want to coninue handling it you'll just have to lift the log and snatch 'em up. or you can give it time and see if it begins to be more tolerant. they do calm some with age. but can end up always being flighty. it takes time. and if it was me, i would let him relax in a side room for now and set aside handling time. doesn't have to be everyday. but if the main room has a constant flow of movement in there, it doesn't necessarily mean it will help.
i've noticed in some savannahs that they would only come out if i watched tv and stayed on the couch for a good while. but others (mainly the ackies and argus) will come out whenever they want. no fear of people.
i'm at work most of the day and so is my wife. so everything in the house gets a quiet time during the day. if this is not the case with your home and main room, it may help to move it to an adjacent room or one where there is less traffic.

JuliusSqueezer · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2006, 11:51 PM

Are we supposed to know what "he" is? A monitor I suspect from the forum this is posted in..but...that's still pretty vague.

Razaiel · #4 (**permalink**) 03-21-2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuliusSqueezer

Are we supposed to know what "he" is? A monitor I suspect from the forum this is posted in..but...that's still pretty vague.

Not really - in my list of critters in my sig it says what Tiny is

MTB Mamba · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razaiel

Not really - in my list of critters in my sig it says what Tiny is

You expect us to do that much work and look ALLLLL the way down there in your signature? (Plus you never mentioned Tiny by name in the original post!)

Razaiel · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2006, 01:57 PM

Dachande (good to see you back

)- I'm really pleased to read your comment on grabbing them out but I thought we weren't supposed to snatch them from their hides? I must admit since I've stopped the grabbing he's been hiding more than when I used to grab him out

I think that as you have two of them and if it's worked for both of yours and they're fine it can't be wrong.

Actually he'll be moving soon - we're getting him a 4 x 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 viv in a couple of weeks and it will have to go in the next room as there won't be room for it where it is now.

Dachande · #7 (**permalink**) 03-22-2006, 11:14 PM

i've done rescues and when you have to move a fussy monitor you do what ya gotta do. hesitation is their gain.

now i'm also saying do it properly. for a defense monitor you need to grab base of tail and shoulders.claws are generally what you wanna get past. and my argus has claws that go through 200lbs of soil in a day. once you are good from claws you worry about the head. tail whipping is taken care of once you get that hand on the base of it's tail. keep your eyes of on the head. if it bites and won't let go, get a bottle of rubbing alcohol and hold it to it's nose. a good whiff can get them to turn loose. never pour it on them.

for less aggressive (say my ackies) i cradle them like babies and let my males occassionally on my shoulders. but h3ll, you can pick them up like a leopard gecko.

and yeah, it's been a minute and i'm working 60 hrs/week, taking care of a 0.1 human 35 weeks gravid (she loves when i talk like that), and 40 sum dragon eggs. got home and power had been out for an hour yesterday. incubators were cooling down, but i was hot! till now every egg perfect.
just my luck..............

Razaiel · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuenteK25

You expect us to do that much work and look ALLLLL the way down there in your signature? (Plus you never mentioned Tiny by name in the original post!)

Ooops - sorry - you're right - I never mentioned him by name at all did I ...

I guess I was used to just talking to Jake and Dachande on the Monitors forum and they know who he is. I'll make sure I do it right next time

Razaiel · #9 (**permalink**) 03-23-2006, 10:52 AM

I guess an old fashioned bottle of smelling salts (like granma had) might work too? Or would that be too powerful for them?

Congrats on all your eggs - I hope they all hatch out well - and your human who is currently gravid

Tell your partner I feel for her - I have had 0.3 and the first one hurt like #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& LOL!! (but the last was like shelling a pea

)

Dachande · #10 (**permalink**) 03-25-2006, 04:11 PM

thanx for the condolences. i have used liquor as well. anything that has a good strong smell. many animals use musks to escape predators, and this includes monitors. you are basically doing the same thing.

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