Taming not going very well :(

[nmcnick]

So I've had my skink for about a month and a half, and she is still mad at me and the world, and so scared. In the first month or so, I used mainly the tough love method. For the first two weeks she would get puffy a lot, but after that she most mostly just scared. I started resorting to the other method of taming about a week ago, and have left her alone for about a week, just placing my hand in her cage every now and then; but just today when I tried petting her, she got really huffy at me. The good thing is she seems less scared. I see her hiding MUCH less, and have seen her bask quite a bit. It seems she still wants nothing to do with me, however. Is there anything I can do? I've wondered if placing a worn shirt of mine in her hide would work (works with tegus) to associate me with a safe spot. Do you think that would work?

Thanks for any help.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Tough love normally isn't good. And if it's the first month you had him all you will be doing is scaring him. Have the skink come to you rather than you drag the skink over yourself. Try getting some pieces of sliced fruit or meat and lure the skink over.

[nmcnick]

Tough love normally isn't good. And if it's the first month you had him all you will be doing is scaring him. Have the skink come to you rather than you drag the skink over yourself. Try getting some pieces of sliced fruit or meat and lure the skink over.

Yeah, you are right. It was dumb to use tough love, obviously didn't work at all. I'll try that.

[Susann]

I think if you are looking for a BTS that won't huff and puff when you pet her, you may be looking for a long time. I consider all my skinks tame, but I can not reach in to get them, certainly not pet them, without almost every single one huffing up a storm.

If you started out your time with her using the tough love method, it will take MUCH longer than a week to win her confidence.

Remind me, what kind is she, how old is she, and what is her history?

[nmcnick]

I think if you are looking for a BTS that won't huff and puff when you pet her, you may be looking for a long time. I consider all my skinks tame, but I can not reach in to get them, certainly not pet them, without almost every single one huffing up a storm.

If you started out your time with her using the tough love method, it will take MUCH longer than a week to win her confidence.

Remind me, what kind is she, how old is she, and what is her history?

She is an Iran Jaya, 4-5 months old, and she was previously owned by Douglas Dix.
Man, it really scares me to think I stressed her out that bad. Kills me really :/
But hey, experience building.

[Susann]

I would suggest from now on only taking her out of her tank when something good will happen. Like when you will give her something edible. Start feeding her outside of her tank, but in the same spot each time. She may be too scared to eat right away, but she will start associating that spot with getting her food. Give it about a week or so. If she is just too petrified still after a week, maybe give in for now since you've already taken the tough love approach. It may take a bit for her to learn to relax.

Get the biggest box or tub you can find and fill it with things for her to explore, like baby or dog toys, small basket, empty fountain drink cup, empty paper bag, a towel, whatever else you can think of that is safe and different from what is in her tank. Put little treats treats here and there for her to find.
Make being out of her tank fun.

Stop petting her!
Whatever makes her huff--unless it is necessary, like picking her up from time to time--stop doing it.
Do not touch her just to touch her. If you pick her up or hold her, that is one thing. Do not just reach over to touch or pet her.

[nmcnick]

I would suggest from now on only taking her out of her tank when something good will happen. Like when you will give her something edible. Start feeding her outside of her tank, but in the same spot each time. She may be too scared to eat right away, but she will start associating that spot with getting her food. Give it about a week or so. If she is just too petrified still after a week, maybe give in for now since you've already taken the tough love approach. It may take a bit for her to learn to relax.

Get the biggest box or tub you can find and fill it with things for her to explore, like baby or dog toys, small basket, empty fountain drink cup, empty paper bag, a towel, whatever else you can think of that is safe and different from what is in her tank. Put little treats treats here and there for her to find.
Make being out of her tank fun.

Stop petting her!
Whatever makes her huff--unless it is necessary, like picking her up from time to time--stop doing it.
Do not touch her just to touch her. If you pick her up or hold her, that is one thing. Do not just reach over to touch or pet her.

Got it. Thanks, Ill see how this works out.

[xxmonitorlizardxx]

Like this but smaller for a skink:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-V1z8buji4

[nmcnick]

Like this but smaller for a skink:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-V1z8buji4

Great video. Thank you!

[nmcnick]

I gotta tell you guys, the taming I've done which is everything you have all listed, has worked PERFECTLY. Today I was going to feed her, so I decided to try to actually take her out with hands instead of luring her into my hands this time, and there was absolutely no hissing, no huffing, no nothing. I sat down to watch tv, put her on my shoulder and she sat there a good 15 minutes before wanting to hide under my shirt. WAYYY better than before. To me, results this quick seem insane. What do you all think?

Thanks so much.

[Susann]

No, I really think you have found something that works with your skink. Most of them don't care for the petting, the touching, the trying to approach with hands coming at them slowly.
If Fatal comes on and sees this, was it you who did the explanation of the knife? If it was, do you mind re-posting it, or do you mind if I do? It's really a perfect analogy.

I learned fairly quickly to just reach in and grab my skinks; it's a lot easier on them than a super slow approach. Don't scare them or anything, make sure they are awake, and see you coming. But when you know they see you, just confidently pick them up. Same thing when they are out of the tank. If you're not picking them up, don't touch them. You can have them on you, you can be down with them, you can talk to them (Sam does NOT like when I talk, if I have to carry him, I have to zip it--so some aren't calmed by you talking), but unless you have to move them, most skinks just don't like being "touched". Of course many do, but far from all, especially when they are young and/or getting to know you.

Something else I try to tell people: don't end a session on a bad note. You have to get a little more used to handling and know your skink better, but if they get scared, or flip out, or in any other way react badly when they are out, especially if it happens when you're holding them; if they get scared or start squirming really bad, just stop moving as much as you can and firmly hold them until they calm and quiet down. THEN, after they calm or quiet down, put them down or back in their tank. Try to teach them that, when they get scared, nothing bad ends up happening in your hands--it's a safe place. Not that I think that they really reason this way, but I also like to think that I don't want them to learn that squirming, huffing, or flipping out gets them put back where they want to be in the first place.

I don't think your results are insane, I think you've just gotten to know your skink a little bit better and learned something that works. It may not work this perfectly every single time, but now you have a little more confidence in handling her.

[Scotts1au]

It also helps to have their enclosure somewhere where they see people coming and going.

[nmcnick]

Thanks Susann, you've been a big help! All of your answers are really thought out and I really do appreciate them.

It also helps to have their enclosure somewhere where they see people coming and going.

Yep! She is downstairs in the living room right now.

[nmcnick]

Guys, you gotta know how great this has worked out.

Today, I went up to the cage and she started coming up to the cage, trying to dig herself out. I've NEVER seen her do that before. Then, when I took her out, instead of hiding, she just sat on me and after awhile started exploring. She has changed quite a bit, and for the better!

[ssr]

That's terrific news! Good job