Taming Techniques

[BubblesTheSkink]

Hello all, I'm currently in the process of getting my BTS tame. I take her out every day, usually in a pillowcase (where she's most comfortable) and on the grass. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body, but she does get fearful and thrashes around at times. Does it just take time for her to get used to being held, or are there certain techniques you've used to get them used to handling? Thanks!

[alichamp]

Hi! Check out this thread on Building trust. It also contains links to the FAQs on taming and handling.

Something I would add given your post above is that perhaps having her outside on the grass is leaving her too exposed for now and thus making her more fearful and less secure (even if an adult). She is kept indoors right? If you haven't had her long perhaps give her more time to get used to her new home and you (inside) before the added change of environment outside. Otherwise might be too much too soon.

But, yes, time helps too.

[Susann]

I second what alichamp said. It is very common for skinks to get a bit more stressed outside, whether they actually show it (which they usually do) or not.
I'd stick with staying indoors until you get a bit more used to each other.

Maybe read through all the threads in the FAQ section, if you haven't already?

[BubblesTheSkink]

When I take her outside, I put her in the pillowcase and she always crawls right out and seems to enjoy herself. I got her in September, but didn't do much handling for a few months and now that I'm handling her everyday she's getting better, just didn't know if anyone had more suggestions. Thank you for the responses, I appreciate it.

[BubblesTheSkink]

I took her outside again today and she did very well. She was crawling all over me, seemed to enjoy herself and didn't hiss at all. Progress!

[TPceebee]

As the weather here is rarely warm enough, I have never taken my skink outside until this month. He is visibly less comfortable that he usually is when he roams the house, and he usually is never afraid of anything. When I first got him I started by making a pen for him to roam in indoor, in a silent room. I would sit in the pen with him and let him come up and explore me without touching him. I would do this daily. At the same time I would add more sound into the room. I'd turn on the TV quietly in the room while he was in his cage and watch to see if he would run and hide. I got him to the point where I could vaccuum the room and he wouldn't be bothered by it. I would also pick him up then set him down to get him used to being held.

I found that no one method worked. I combined a few tips from people and even worked out my own methods. I now have a lizard that wants out to sleep on me. Whatever way yout tame your skink, i'd say always try to make each interaction a positive one from beginning to end. It took a lot of time for my skink to stop peeing on the carpet when he was out.

[BubblesTheSkink]

I recently finished high school, and today I brought Bubbles into my school because people had been asking to see her. She was very calm and was touched by lots of people without a problem. Very proud of my girl!

[Janella]

Awe, that is awesome. Way to go.