How should I start the bonding process?

[KayHerp]

Hello everyone,

I just got my little one month old northern on Friday and have him settling in. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on how long I should wait till I begin trying to bond. Also if anyone had any good technics on how to bond and get them comfortable with you that would be super appreciated.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Give it a week or so to get acclimated.
Then you can start the "bonding" with something similar to this but on a much smaller scale, you can use perhaps small bugs, pieces of meat, or fruit. Do not force handle it rather let it come to you.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scYP51O ... OjqZGw-70Q
Edit: Forgot to add the video.

[jdheff1982]

Hand feeding treats worked for me. Once they quit seeing you as a threat, then back off the treats some. I used blueberries. At first, my guy would include my fingers/thumb as part of his food; but I just let him chew a bit until he realized they weren't food. He did this a few times before quitting. Not once have I had an aggressive bite from Rosco; it's always been an investigative bite. Now that he's over a year old, I can stick my hand in his enclosure and stroke his back and head and he tolerates it mostly. He even anticipates getting pet on the head by closing his eyes. When he's done, he'll scamper off.

Something else that prolly helped as well is Rosco being in the same room where I am active most: at my computer. He could watch me from a distance and become accustomed to me. I've even had him roaming my computer table. I put out one of my worn t-shirts as a hide, which he used.

I don't believe their is any specific technique in taming these guys. I would say about 50% of the taming is based on their personality. Some are feisty, others are laid back. At one month old, it will be hard to tell which your skink may be. But, if you have let him acclimate to his new home for about 2 weeks and he/she is doing fine, then start the taming. The sooner you get going, the easier it will be for both of you. Being a little guy, the bites shouldn't be bad and you should be able to tolerate them (if it bites at all). Stay confident, these guys can read us and know when we are or aren't confident during the process.

Here's a few things to keep in mind:
* Keep the taming sessions short at first. Only spend a few minutes a day handling it. Gradually increase handling time.
* Offer treats at the end of each session. They will perceive this as a positive reinforcement.
* Don't be shocked or scared of finger-feeding bites. Most of the time, they are either investigating the "thing" offering food; or, simply not done devouring what you offered. As long as the skink is not huffing or displaying tongue, you can assume the bite is investigative.
* Taming time frame is solely dependent on the skink's personality, how receptive they have been, and your efforts. Just like dogs and cats, some are easy trainers while others are not.
* Lastly, what I've written here is based on the experiences with my Northern. It will not be the same with you and your skink.

Good Luck!

[Scotts1au]

Just place the bluey somewhere that it can see people, or people walking past quite often. It will get the idea. Also don't be concerned if it is skittish when little this is natural, some of the most agro babies grow to be quiet adults. Some never change, doesn't matter how much attention you pile on it. Blueys adapt to their environment to a degree. Being handled is simply part of their environment. They can learn to identify a person, i.e with food, but don't expect them to be like a cat or dog.

[Noah H.]

Check out this post: http://www.bluetongueskinks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=20375

I like to bring Obi out in a converted plastic storage tub and set him by my computer. I usually try to hand feed the fruit portion of his diet (berries or a cherry tomato); sometimes he takes a bite, and sometimes he doesn't. I've been at this routine for a week now, and I've noticed some improvement already. At first, Obi was very resistant to me picking him up. Now, his attitude has started to improve; he will usually stay calm, if somewhat wary, while I hold him. Basically, just try to follow your skinks lead. If you keep offering your skinks favorite treat, handle him/her gently but firmly, and provide interesting things to explore, then your skink will come to equate being handled with fun, and not being eaten. Good luck!

[Carnivale]

Personally, as far as captive bred babies go, and my own, I started handling every day from day one. I also have her enclosure in the livingroom, where I spend the majority of my time (I work from home), so she gets used to me always being around, as well as human voices coming from me, and the TV.

It's normal for babies to run from you or get huffy when you go to get them out, because from what I've been told, babies are naturally more shy/evasive until they get up to maybe a year old, and then, with regular handling and so on, they chill out a lot.

I feel that, unless your bluey is wild caught, you don't need to wait 1-2 weeks. If anything, I think that might prolong the bonding process, but it's really up to what you feel most comfortable with. There's not a wrong way so long as you're actively trying to do what's best for your bluey, and handling it regularly, whenever it is you decide to begin handling.

[Richard.C]

Handling blueys isnt a requirement of bluey care,i certainly wouldnt put it up there as one of the things that is best for them,they are just one of the more tolerant reptiles to handling,they dont long to be handled ,the majority are just very tolerant

Even wild caughts can be very tolerant of handling,some u pick up and they act just like longterm captives,others carry on a bit,lol

Your job is to get it to trust you,see you as no threat,me personally i just leave them be and allow them to learn im no threat,they soon see you as the bringer of food and come to front of cage in anticipation of food when they see you

Others do the tough love thing and just pick them up and they eventually learn your no theeat that way as well but my way of thinking is,if there a tad scared to begin with,chasing them around the cage trying to grab them,flinching if they swing around at you,ect ect can just stress them,make them feel less safe,especially if your getting out of there hide,as that makes hide spot not feel safe,all that can prolong the time a youngster takes to learn trust,but still works to,main thing is be patient and rry not to stress it to much