A little encouragment please!

[RoxyO]

I have had my new youngster since April 24th (my birthday), My hubby got him from a local reptile pet store. They did not know his birthday or much more for that matter.
He is doing very well, is eating all of his food every day, shed a few days ago and has gotten bigger already! You guys estimated his age at 3-4 months from my previous post.
The thing I need encouragment about is he is not tame AT ALL. He hisses if I even run my finger down his back. I can pick him up quickly and smoothly with minimal hissing. I feel like he hates being held, I wonder if he will always be wild. He always wants to crawl up to my shoulder (to get away from me I assume)and he doesn't like being grabbed at when he is trying to get away! I know they have individual personalities and it seems I have a challenging one on my hands.
Have any of you tames a hissy wild youngster? What did you do? How long did it take to convince them you aren't going to harm them? Do some never come around?
Any and all input is greatly appreciated!
Roxy and hissy Flint

[Geoff Gates]

Roxy,

I've owned many blueys. They all have differing personalities. Just like humans.

If he is hissing he is scared. That's all. At least he is not attempting to bite.

All blueys like to crawl up to the shoulders. I don't know why. As a boy in primary school one of my blueys would stay on my shoulder for much of the day at school until the teachers requested I put him back in my school bag.

All blueys are concerned about something approaching them from above their head. Try sliding your hand underneath him when you pick him up.

He will settle down in his own time. They generally come around once they associate you as the one providing their food.

[Fatal_S]

First, look for a previous thread: "He's not taming much". It has lots of tips and advice for working with a bluey. Work slowly and gently, eventually ur baby will come around.

[KyleWeiss]

I wouldn't fret too much.

It's really all about timing, patience and really paying attention to what the animal's habits and likes/dislikes are.

KW

[Lisa]

He will calm down. He might always have a hissy fit when you go to get him, but once out and about he'll get used to you.

Start by letting him come to you, not the other way around. Put him down on the lounge while you're watching telly (chuck a couple of old shirts or blankeys for him to play in), you sit down next to him, and just wait for him to explore you and around you. Don't make sudden movements, talk to him yes, if he comes up next to you or behind you just give him a rub on the back.

Patience, persistence & time! You've got 20 years for him to get to like you!

I have one that is an absolute bear about being picked up and held, but once out he is very playful and cheeky.

[mouseinamilkbottle]

I can pick him up quickly and smoothly with minimal hissing.

I'd try to pick him up slowly rather than quickly. Lifting him quickly may be frightening and disorienting to him.

He always wants to crawl up to my shoulder (to get away from me I assume) and he doesn't like being grabbed at when he is trying to get away!

As far as I'm concerned, both these behaviours are pretty normal. My two love climbing on my shoulders, hiding in my hair, and onto my head. If being on your shoulder is where he wants to be, maybe you should go with it.

My guys are pretty tame, but they also dislike being "chased around" the tank if they don't want to be picked up.

I have a question. How much of this attitude is really hissing? There is hissing - which is mouth open, super aggressive cranky, squaring off with an "I'm gonna bite your fingers off" attitude. Then here is huffing, a long, loud, breathing that sounds like a steam train starting up, which is more "I was asleep and comfortable, and now you've woken me up, and you've brought me no coffee" attitude.

Huffing is pretty normal too. My guys are tame, but one in particular always huffs when he's disturbed from his substrate. He has never bitten me, or shown any other sign of aggression. He just doesn't like "mornings" (regardless of the time of day!). Huffing is just his vocal way of letting me know this!

I'd handle Flint for short periods of time, once or twice a day. Try coming at him from the side or front, slowly, rather than from above. Handle him wrapped in a towel or small blanket, or have something like that next to him so that he can retreat to it if he wants to. Handle him while you're sitting down, and let him explore you a bit. Don't assume handling just means holding him and "stroking" him like a cat, though it can be part of it. Handling is the time when you and your skink get to know and get used to each other.

If the shoulder is where he wants to be, let him sit there. Leave him there for a while, then maybe put your hand near him, within his sight. Let him get used to you doing that, then maybe experiment with gently touching him. Progress like that, and you should gradually see results.

[Leigh]

I think they feel safe on your shoulder, they are out of sight of your teeth for a start, and it's a good vantage point to survey the surroundings from, don't know about you, but I've got quite muscular shoulders so they serve as a comfy rounded warm spot to view from, I will point out however that they can and will scrabble about from left to right which can be painfull if only wearing a thin T shirt . My daughter put a wriggling Bluey on me and he did some wheelspins on my neck,it looked like a group of kittens had been trying to strangle me , explanations in work were met with some funny looks mind

[RoxyO]

This is all good info for me, I have learned some good helpful tips, thank you!!!
One more question about the shoulder thing...I guess the only reason I am reluctant to let him go there is if I am standing he will jump from my shoulder and fall! I am not tall but I worry he could get hurt! Do they realize they shouldn't jump that distance? If I know he will be ok I am actually just fine with him crawling up there.
Thanks again everyone, I willl read the other thread too...your advise here is great though!

[Leigh]

As far as I know they don't do Superman impressions or act like sugar gliders, so you should be ok, he/she is more likely to slide down you like a luige{on belly on ice} they use the back legs for brakes, which can cause scratches, just enjoy it and be aware of their movements, hope this helps

[KyleWeiss]

Skinks can pull some ballsy moves when on tables, couches and other surfaces, I'm not sure shoulders would be any different. I wouldn't trust Rollie on my shoulders.

KW

[Jenn]

My wild caught indo, Izzy loves to sit on my shoulders. I've had her just over a year and we are only now really reaching a point where she'll let me take her out without any huffing, running or displaying. When I do have her out I normaly hold her in a small towel or blanket because she doesn't seem to like the feel of my bare hands. I have her in a sliding glass front cage so I can pick her up from the side. This has helped because picking her up from above use to freak her out. She has tons of fake plant and hides in her cage because that helped her feel more secure and that made her more active and more willing to stay out when I'm around her cage. When I have her out, I don't pet her like I do some of my others. I can't remember what kind you have but some types are calmer then others. Keep giving her time and patience.

[Nature's Gift]

Hey, I've owned German Shepherd Dogs - what a menagerie of personalities and problems that has brought to me!!!!!. There is always an "ideal" but each individual person and animal has it's own surprises. Don't let it get you down - put it down to more experience for each one.

It's not your failure, it's your challenge and ultimate achievement!

Never expect an animal to act just like every-one else's - isn't it a miracle of life that we all have our odd behaviours? And wouldn't life be boring is we were all so predictable and the same?

OK I sound like a preacher, but it's true and sometimes the most difficult little individuals are sent to us for a reason (please god - cause I've copped a lot of them )

[KyleWeiss]

Don't put German Shepherds on your shoulders either. Especially with skinks too.

KW

[mouseinamilkbottle]

[RoxyO]

You guys are so helpful, and have a good sense of humor too!
I just appreciate his beauty and I did hold him for a while yesterday and it went really well (except for the part where he peed all over me)...holding him with a towel sounds like a good idea for more reasons than one! I thought about buying a soft purse/pouch for him to hang out in while I wear it.
I just love him so much, even if he doesn't trust me yet!
I just aquired 2 western hognose snakes lastnight, they are so wonderful, one is a pretty blond color.
NO MORE REPTILES FOR A WHILE NOW!!!

[mouseinamilkbottle]

Yup. Pretty much everyone gets peed on. Here's what I said to someone a little while ago about that. From "hes not taming much" :

Just a tip - if he goes to the toilet on you, don't put him away immediately, or he'll learn to do it to get away from you. Try holding him with a towel on your lap just in case, then he won't mess up your clothes. If he's gone once, he shouldn't need to again for a while, so you can put the soiled towel aside, continue skink quality time, and launder the towel once he's back in his tank afterwards. If he just wees on the towel, I'd leave it there though, just in case he decides to poo later.

Skinks often go to the loo when you start handling them because they've gone from being inactive to active. If you let him walk around on the towel for a while, he's likely to go pretty quickly if he hasn't earlier in the day. Then it'll be safer for cuddles.