Re: Started Taming

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Posted by iZ's mom on June 09, 2000 at 11:39:14:

In Reply to: Started Taming posted by Mike on June 09, 2000 at 10:36:18:

couple things to help you understand ...
1st, igs do *not* tame the way cat/dogs do cuz they are a wild animal, not a domesticated one ...
2nd, (or maybe this one should be 1st?) igs are *Food* to just about everyone they meet in the wild! it is deeply imbedded in their instincts to be Very Afraid of Everything Bigger than them! this makes *You* a very scary thing, even more so if you have a little iglet!!! he's pretty darn sure that you're gonna pick him up and munch on him!!!

so what this all means is, it's gonna take a loooooong time and LOTS of patience to convince this little guy that you are his friend! weeks or months are not uncommon ... this isn't anything you are doing wrong, it's just how little igs are ok? it can seem like alot of work and it can seem totally hopeless sometimes, but it's not hopeless and it IS worth it! there's nothing like a 5' ig snuggling up to ya! *grin* ... on the other hand ... there's nothing like a 5' ig being terrifed and attacking you either ...

what's your enclousre set up like??? remember, igs like to be high up as possible ... that will help calm him in general ... when you approach him/his enclosure, it helps *alot* if HE is higher than you, if he can look *down* to see you, he feels a bit safer + less like prey ...

does he start to spaz as soon as you approach his enclosure??? if yes, try just sitting next to the enclosure on a regular basis ... at first, don't even talk to him, just let him get used to seeing you and realize that when he does see you, absolutely nothing happens (*except* he gets food from you of course!)

once he doesn't get scared as soon as he sees you by his house + you can talk to him ok, try putting your hand in the enclosure ... hmmm ... if you have an aquarium set up for now, that could be a problem cuz you'll be looming over him like a preditor ... well anyway ... slowly put your hand in there and that's all ... again, we want him to learn that you're not gonna hurt him, you're just kinda there ...

when he gets to be ok with that, hold a piece of treat food in your hand and do the same thing ... don't move your hand if/when he comes to investigate ... just let him see that nothing bad is gonna happen ...

try very hard to do everything at the same time every day! this makes it very predictable for the ig, he knows What to expect and When and life isn't so scary then!

lots of people have used the t-shirt trick ... take a t-shirt that you've worn + has your scent on it and set it in the iglet's enclosure so he can get used to your scent and again, associate it with nothing bad happening, it's just kinda there ...

it's gonna take a while + it can be frustrating sometimes, but hang in there and have lots of patience + perserverence! remember that he's really really afraid of you is all ... and remember that one day *soon* this little guy's gonna be 5-6' long and when *that* happens, you really want him to know you're his *friend*!!!!! (so don't give up! *grin*)

hope this helps alittle bit ... (+ yeah, i agree, the people here are great!!! they taught me ALOT when i 1st got here ... 3 yrs ago!)

best wishes!
iZ's mom

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: couple things to help you understand ... : 1st, igs do *not* tame the way cat/dogs do cuz they are a wild animal, not a domesticated one ... : 2nd, (or maybe this one should be 1st?) igs are *Food* to just about everyone they meet in the wild! <b>it is deeply imbedded in their instincts to be Very Afraid of Everything Bigger than them!</b> this makes *You* a very scary thing, even more so if you have a little iglet!!! he's pretty darn sure that you're gonna pick him up and munch on him!!! : so what this all means is, it's gonna take a loooooong time and LOTS of patience to convince this little guy that you are his friend! weeks or months are not uncommon ... this isn't anything you are doing wrong, it's just how little igs are ok? it can seem like alot of work and it can seem totally hopeless sometimes, but it's not hopeless and it IS worth it! there's nothing like a 5' ig snuggling up to ya! *grin* ... on the other hand ... there's nothing like a 5' ig being terrifed and attacking you either ... : what's your enclousre set up like??? remember, igs like to be high up as possible ... that will help calm him in general ... when you approach him/his enclosure, it helps *alot* if HE is higher than you, if he can look *down* to see you, he feels a bit safer + less like prey ... : does he start to spaz as soon as you approach his enclosure??? if yes, try just sitting next to the enclosure on a regular basis ... at first, don't even talk to him, just let him get used to seeing you and realize that when he does see you, absolutely nothing happens (*except* he gets food from you of course!) : once he doesn't get scared as soon as he sees you by his house + you can talk to him ok, try putting your hand in the enclosure ... hmmm ... if you have an aquarium set up for now, that could be a problem cuz you'll be looming over him like a preditor ... well anyway ... slowly put your hand in there and that's all ... again, we want him to learn that you're not gonna hurt him, you're just kinda there ... : when he gets to be ok with that, hold a piece of treat food in your hand and do the same thing ... don't move your hand if/when he comes to investigate ... just let him see that nothing bad is gonna happen ... : try very hard to do everything at the same time every day! this makes it very predictable for the ig, he knows What to expect and When and life isn't so scary then! : lots of people have used the t-shirt trick ... take a t-shirt that you've worn + has your scent on it and set it in the iglet's enclosure so he can get used to your scent and again, associate it with nothing bad happening, it's just kinda there ... : it's gonna take a while + it can be frustrating sometimes, but hang in there and have lots of patience + perserverence! remember that he's really really afraid of you is all ... and remember that one day *soon* this little guy's gonna be 5-6' long and when *that* happens, you really want him to know you're his *friend*!!!!! (so don't give up! *grin*) : hope this helps alittle bit ... (+ yeah, i agree, the people here are great!!! they taught me ALOT when i 1st got here ... 3 yrs ago!) : best wishes! : iZ's mom

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