How To Tame Your Reptile | The Do's And Don'ts
How to tame your reptile! There are a few great methods to bonding with your scaly friend and a few bad methods you should never do! Remember, reptiles do not like to be handled in general, but will accept being handled if a mutual respect is established.
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★About Professor Herp★
I started getting into the reptile hobby in February of 2018. My first reptile was my Bearded Dragon - Maxine Pegasus (creator of duel monsters btw). Since then, I have added five Yellow Ackie Monitors (Asus, Dell, LG, and two unnamed babies), a Chacoan Black and White Tegu (Frappuccino), a Crested Gecko (Destin), and a Russian Tortoise (Tortellini). I also have a dog named Thrall (yes, from World of Warcraft) who is a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix - aka a Chiweenie.
My goal with this channel is to share my knowledge, experience and journey with other reptile/animal enthusiasts and become a better caretaker because of it. Hopefully I can learn a lot from the community through these videos.
"Always be open to new idea's, no matter your expertise, nor the expertise of the individual expressing the new idea."
#ackiemonitor #howtotamealizard #ackiemonitorhandling #tegu #tegulizard #teguhandling #tegulizardhandling #handlingreptiles #reptiles #professorherp
Пікірлер: 133
I hate when my Johnson and Johnson shampoo doesn't want anything to do with me.
@BurnedNoodle
4 жыл бұрын
Charm Chi lmao
@RaysOfSunshine24
3 жыл бұрын
My dad caught 2 tree lizzards and i'm trying to work on getting them use to me, I took one out of the cage and it was calm for a little while but than it started trying to get away from me and it almost succeeded the lizard managed to get on the wall but I caught it and put it back in the cage. Can you give me some advice?
@taiitea
Жыл бұрын
@@RaysOfSunshine24 put the lizards back in the wild where they came from. Catching wild animals and keeping them is a bad idea- not only is it cruel but they are likely to die due to not being used to captivity. If you want a pet lizard do your research and buy one that was born in captivity- it will be much healthier and happier, and easier to tame.
Thanks! My shampoo is now tame. This was a great help!
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Shampoo is definitely the hardest to tame!
I just got my first reptile ever, a fire skink, and I'm glad people like you exist to educate the newbies so well. I got him to climb on me for the first time since i got him 4 days ago.
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
awesome Riley! Glad you found the channel! Hope he is everything you wanted! I have always wanted one!
I watched this while trying to bond with my 2 year old Tegu and it totally worked as I was watching it he crawled in my lap for 5 seconds and went back in his enclosure but much closer.
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Awesome!
This is very important information and a lot of specifics I’ve never heard before! Thank you so much, you’re very helpful :)
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Glad the video helped! Make sure to subscribe for more!
nothing ever wants to climb up me smh
These are great tips, thanks for sharing!
@ProfessorHerp
5 жыл бұрын
Of course!
There's a house gecko(not a pet) that stays in my room. I managed to earn her trust in a week :D
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
nice!
Just got an ackie yesterday and I was scared that I would never be able to interact
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
You will! Takes time. They get to curious for their own good anyway.
I wouldn't use the word "tolerate" bcuz some reptiles do like being held and cuddled my beardie LOVES to cuddle but maybe that just her
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
When I say tolerate I am referring to monitors if I remember correctly. Beardie's are much more personable. We do not know if they exactly LOVE any handling but research suggests its plausible.
@NoNo-nj5un
4 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp ok I thought you just meant reptiles I general lol!
Thx
Great tips!
What I did for my roughneck monitor is the first week all I would do is just maintenance. After the initial week I started feeding him with tongs instead of just putting food in. Then after about a week of that I began just setting my hand in there with no food or anything. After he would approach me I began light touching, tail rubs and light back rubbing but never would over do it, if he seems uncomfortable I’d leave him alone for a while. Once he was comfortable with all that I began sliding my hand underneath him. It’s worked so far for me we’re still working on it. We shall see
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
I think the common theme we can extract from both of our experiences is that a mutual respect and patience is key to forming a good relationship with your reptile. Nice approach!
@brettrock4870
4 жыл бұрын
Professor Herp exactly
@evann1136
Жыл бұрын
How’s it going
Been thinking about getting a tegu and so I've been doing alot of research, and happened upon this video. I appreciate the information. Thank you for the video.
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Hope the video helped! Tegu's are great reptiles to care for, just be prepared!
This was refreshing to see. I use many of these same techniques with snakes; however, trying to get snake keepers to exercise patience and use them is challenging to say the least.
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Patience is so important!
Pretty informative video man the only problem is when I let my Nile come up to me and be curious it hurts LOL great video
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
No pain no gain!
How do you do the"approach them differently when you give them food than when otherwise"? Can someone give me an example please? Ty
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
I guess a good example would be how I approach my Tegu. When feeding, I usually give him his food in a red ceramic bowl. He now associates that bowl with food and if he does not see that bowl, he knows its not time to eat. For my Ackies, I usually have a Tupperware cup with insects. When they see that they know its time to eat.
@Kvs-vf9nt
3 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp So it's like with snakes! If my Cal King sees the feeding tongues he gets really exiting. That's the thing he associates with food.
my hypo-pigmy bearded dragon loves me now thx
Adam from WWR send me here. So I have a bunch off cool videos to watch!👍
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
Welcome! Make sure to sub if you havent!
@Kvs-vf9nt
3 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp I subbed.👍
Does this work with African fire skinks
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Wish I could tell you! Never tried
My ackie monitor once Heard a loud bang of thunder once while i was handling her (she hadn't even gotten used to it yet) and she ran up my arm, ultimately ending up losing her, out of her cage for at least 2 days. Unfortunately in order to get her back in her cage, i had to grab her by the tail and pick her up. Since then its been a little hard to get her to trust me at all. Is there any way i can try to reverse this? Or will she be scared of me for the rest of her life? lmao
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
I would let the ackie re-adjust for a few weeks (minimal interaction) then start the bonding process over again. Should be able to earn back the trust and respect.
@mohammedferoz3866
3 жыл бұрын
Yo I had a similar problem today and my nile monitor escaped his terreariun and I hard to pull hist tail by force in order to get him back.How’s your ackie doing? Can I still get my nile to trust me?
Btw..love your video, neat to see how others tame their lizards. I have had my share of crazy ones and easy ones to tame down but now all I got is velcro scaly babies. LOL Sad though, many came home like this...its great but I need some lizard carriers now!
Yeah I used food my hand is now food should have watched this earlier
I haven’t decided on which one I want, but I’ve been researching. I had a question is it a good idea to kill the scent on your hand before feeding your reptile so it doesn’t associate your hand with food?
hey Profesor Herp, Do you use glass or acrylic in the windows of your ackie monitor? Greetings from holland!
@ProfessorHerp
5 жыл бұрын
Plexi-glass! Should be able to get from a local hardware store!
My husband shows me affection from afar. Hmmm wonder if he's a lizard! I'll try these tricks with him! (grins). Thanks Professor, this still great info here from 2021.
@ProfessorHerp
2 жыл бұрын
hahaha
My Leaf loves meeee thanks so muchh :D
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
whose Leaf!
@kleiod6489
3 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp My Lizard of course!
"certainly will show affection from afar.".....are you talking about one of my cats??
@ProfessorHerp
2 жыл бұрын
probably could be applied there as well :)
I recently got an alligator lizard, at first he was wounded and I carefully put antibiotic ointment on his wound. Idk how to get him to trust me
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
what have you been doing to earn his trust?
i feel like food is the ONLY WAY im gonna get my baja blue rock lizard to even slightly like me lol
I’m gonna be honest, Emerald tree skinks seem to be one of like 2 reptiles I know of that seem to actually enjoy handling slightly
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
Never cared for one!
@Fox_grove
Жыл бұрын
Do you have any tips for caring for a garden skink I caught him in my garden
@Fox_grove
Жыл бұрын
I have been feeding it freeze dried btw
I got a Nile monitor as my first reptile not to long ago and it's only been 4 days but I've got him to not care about me picking him up and touching but sometimes he runs from my hand I haven't seem him try to whip or bite me except accidentally while feeding he does fine hand feeding I hope his behavior doesn't change while he matures but I think him an I will be fine and Ive got him in a really large fish tank that I've decorated now I am In the process of making a way bigger enclosure for him
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
yea you need a big enclosure! Make sure to get on that! A nile monitor is a rough reptile to have in general let alone as your first!
@justaguy1179
3 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp yeah I was going for something cheap but I'm already into it now but I might sell him and get a ackie if I can get someone to buy him for over 100 but if not I'll stick with him
@bryangunz7779
2 жыл бұрын
@@justaguy1179 ackies are 500 where I at , I was in the process of getting one until I did more info on them
Doses it work with the common garden skink? Because I have a really friendly common garden skink Her name is Jupiter
@ProfessorHerp
2 жыл бұрын
Never worked with that species. Give it a shot!
I’ve blown it already with my hatchling Hermann’s tortoise. He’s now 1 1/2 years old and avoids me. I heard he’d be personable because of his species, but he isn’t. He sees me coming and hides. I hope I can still tame him.
@ProfessorHerp
2 жыл бұрын
You put in the work necessary to form a bond, you will be able to tame him just fine :)
@quix66hiya22
2 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp thank you for the encouragement. I am/was getting ready to send him back to his breeder for that and family reasons. I left him alone to avoid stressing him, but what a mistake. I might try taming first if I’ve got time with the Lacey Act. :-/
@ProfessorHerp
2 жыл бұрын
@@quix66hiya22 don't give up on him!
@quix66hiya22
2 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp thank you! I’m wavering, but that’s good advice that might make the difference. 😀
do you know how to tame a conditioner bottle? mine gets really aggressive at times and it doesn’t like me :(
@ProfessorHerp
2 жыл бұрын
they can be a real b word to tame!
i just found a gliding lizard...wanna make it my friend but i dont have an enclosure for it
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
like wild caught? Should probably not get a reptile unless you have a proper setup ready :)
Learning everything I can before I buy my first lizard
I have a ackie monotor there adorable
I have a Texas spiny lizard he dosnt not like me but he dose know what food is
Is a wild common skink tamable? There has been a garden skink visiting my backyard for a while now
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
probably be difficult but anything is possible. Could probably get the skink use to your presence if you keep spending time with it when he/she visits you :) I would not capture it though.
@Fox_grove
Жыл бұрын
I also caught a garden skink have any tips for caring for him
Are babies supposed to be so skiddish? My Ackie is only a couple months old but is very skiddish. I've gotten him to the point where I can be in the tank without him freaking out but if I want to pick him up it's usually a chase
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Yes! Very skittish! They will be like that until around 8-12 months when they are more confident. Just keep working with him and, in time, he will come around!
@speedwagon4146
4 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp I've started non contact taming for about a week now, I'm really glad you've responded because I'm not very confident about my ability to tame my Ackie. He seems to tense up if my hand gets to close but he lets me touch him. Sometimes he crawls up on my hand out of what seems to be looking for food, is this good?
Should I remove some hiding spots so my ackies don't hide all the time.
@ProfessorHerp
2 жыл бұрын
no! They need a space they feel comfortable in. If you want to see them more, try upping the air humidity. 70-80%
would a 7x3x3 enclosure be big enough for a full grown ackie
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
yep. Try another foot in height though
@e9cw196
3 жыл бұрын
definitely large enough, however they can still be in even bigger enclosures because they will always like extra space. But if i am being honest an ackie could probably get on well in a 4x2x2 enclosure but that would be relatively small so 7x3x3 is definitely good
My Sudan plated lizard always runs and hides so I leave him alone thxs for this
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
happy to help!
Hey, great videos on ackies. Question, I just got an ackie from a reptile show ( not such a great vendor now that I think about things) I’m not sure of his age he’s quite big. I need to get him a bigger setup what do you think about a zen habitat 4x2x4 also I currently have him on cypress mulch which according to him is fine but I don’t think it is do you think being that I just got him a few days ago and just today he’s looking more comfy to now take him out change his cage and bedding is a good idea? I have him in a 40 gallon breeder which I know he must be in a bigger enclosure. Thanks for your time,
@ProfessorHerp
2 жыл бұрын
Not to much of a zen habitat fan tbh. I received my enclosures from APcages and Dragonhaus. AP is cheapest but has long lead times. Dragonhaus is still not that bad price wise with much better lead times. Organic top soil and play sand is the way to go substrate wise. I do 2 parts top soil to 1 part sand.
Any tips for making a snapper cuddly?
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Prayers
Does this work with uromastyx??
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
never tried! Not much experience with them either
Hi can I still get my nile monitor to trust me? Because today He escaped his terrarium and in order to get him back I had to pull his tail by force and he bit me. So im wondering if I can still get my nile to trust me
@ProfessorHerp
2 жыл бұрын
if you work with him enough you could. Niles are known to be difficult to work with.
@mohammedferoz3866
2 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp Hi my Nile is more relaxed now he allows me to pet him and rub his neck , he also climbs on my hand.He seems relaxed as for now.Anyways thank you.
With the tegu I sat in there and I’m the favorite perch
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
awesome! Sounds like its working
@PraetorianMan
4 жыл бұрын
Yeah I always picked up my tegu as a baby in order to bring him to food. He pretty quickly associated "Human coming over here and picking me up = good things will happen". Those first few days were the most delicate and required the most restraint, but he quickly learned that I wasn't there to eat him. EDIT: To clarify, I was doing the bin feeding method.
Any tips on getting my baby Ackie to eat something other than just crickets? I’ve got tons of roaches and worms, but I have to drive over an hour round trip just for crickets lol
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
This: kzread.info/dash/bejne/fmmNtpqPdMy1mps.html Ackie's especially will not hold out long on meals. Just keep offering only roaches or whatever until they come around. :)
Do you think it would be ok to start taking a ackie out arfter like a wheek or 2 or is that to early ?
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
2 weeks of leaving the ackie alone? That should be enough time to start the taming process. As long as the ackie is eating and basking. Stuff like that. Don't immediately start grabbing him/her though.
I have had my phelsuma madagascariensis grandis for three years now and it's trying to bite me when I get in his enclosure. How do I get him calm, or is it just his temper? He is also always going away from me.
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Hmm it is hard for me to speak on Gecko's. Have you tried just being present in the enclosure? Just getting him use to your presence? Doubt he'd come and check you out but may be a good first step to calm his stress before attempting to handle.
And they want you to respect them too
I got a baby lizard and now it’s mad at me.
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
haha what did you do?
I tried the bathtub method with my texas spiny lizard and he wwnt to the bathroom asweel
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Happens to the best of us!
Does it work with bearded dragons?
@ProfessorHerp
3 жыл бұрын
should!
How many gallons could u keep 1 ackie in through out its whole life
@ProfessorHerp
5 жыл бұрын
Well, not sure. I only know the enclosure I built through its dimensions, but if you are trying to find a tank of some sorts, you will probably not find one big enough. Ackie's like a lot of space so I stand by going a minimum of 5/6'x3'x3'. Check my Ackie Monitor care guide for more info!
@MC-wb7cp
5 жыл бұрын
@@ProfessorHerp do you have any specific tips for Ackie monitor? I'm afraid it's never getting used to me and is always skittish when I even go near the tank
@ProfessorHerp
5 жыл бұрын
@@MC-wb7cp Have you seen my taming video? That is a great place to start! If you have not then give the vid a watch and follow back up with me if problems persist or you have any additional questions! kzread.info/dash/bejne/Y2x3y8uEqLLHXag.html
Uhhhhh what if it’s a tropical gecko?...
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Then chaos! haha what type of gecko?
@vivianfernandez9330
4 жыл бұрын
Fat tailed gecko
O
My tegu hates me. At this moment I'm lying against his enclosure watching KZread so he gets use to my presence. I had a shirt in his enclosure took it out an he turned into a demon that week. So another shirt will be going in and back to taming him again. Some of the vids you see on here obviously those people don't work at all and just sit with there tegu all day or something. Either that or there just lucky
@ProfessorHerp
4 жыл бұрын
Just like humans, you will find Tegu's with difficult personalities. While I worked a lot with mine, I do think I got lucky. Just keep at it and don't give up. Sometimes Tegu's get moody too. May just be the day.
Hi lordminion777 😂😂😂