Notice how he reacts when you reach over him as apposed to approaching him at his level. You will see a difference in his trust if you always approach submissive instead of coming down on him to pet his neck. I could see a difference just watching. You want to interact in a way that keeps that toungue flicking. Monitors will stop flicking if they are nervous or scared. Flicking means they are not nervous but are now exploring. Great looking lizard!
Walk your hand around like a monitor and start digging. This really can get his tongue flicking. I had monitors that would not socialize until I just started being a monitor. They would come over to see what I was doing and pretty soon treated my hand as a flat mate. Unfortunately, 25 years ago when I started my infatuation with monitors, I had no one but personal experience to teach me as I just kept learning. NERD nails it, when I first listened to his methods a few years ago - I was like yes! that is what I have been trying to tell people. Your monitor won't just tolerate you as you build trust.... as you said it won't be a dog, but he will recognize you and almost seem to enjoy your presence at time...almost. But I like to go away for 2 weeks on hunting trips and the best thing is, is that he just don't give a shiz and that's whats cool. LOL!
@@Hopewellmj The first time my ackie came to me without food was right after my honeymoon when I was goof for 2 weeks. Which I found weird because I thoufh that would mess up are bond. I had a pet sitter for him at the time.
I would love an Ackie! It’s also super nice to see such a well cared for happy and healthy animal and a guy who cares and knows what he’s doing! Awesome video!!
I just found out about these little guys. I have always been interested in monitors. Ever since I was a little kid watching The Rescuers Down Under like 35 years ago. I'm also a big fan of the Argentine Tegu. I don't really have the space for those. The Ackie is a great size. Now I know what I'm getting for Christmas! Great video, btw.
Thank you. I have another vid coming out today talking and cohabiting and there is a section on Ackies. It just put in perspective that what your getting into if you want to keep more than 1.
Scales13, regarding your comment on reptiles not having emotions, that's actually a myth perpetuated by an old scientific study that turned out to be inaccurate. New studies of the brains of reptiles indicate that lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodiles are indeed capable of expressing emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger and others. The best way to tell is by reading their eyes and body language. Look up Winston the Tegu if you want a first hand look at expressiveness in reptiles.
That's great news! I'll defently look into that study. It always seemed kinda depressing to think that they feel absolutely nothing. I've always wondered if the difference between Reptiles and creatures like humans, k 9s and apes is the muscles of the face that Express these emotions. Reptiles dont have those muscles around the facial area like other creatures. So my thought was maybe they feel emotions but it doesn't show the same way. Plus if you get to emotional on here with your reptiles or say your reptile even "likes you" people tend to crucify you just for the comment lol. If you ever work up a sleeping snake with a bad attitude its defently angry. But I'll defently read into this study. I was hope some info like this would come out soon.
My experience is with with green iguana’s and while I wouldn’t equate the behaviors to human emotion, I had one that loved human interaction and she loved being around anyone that came into the house. The mor positive interaction like you are doing I think you will definitely see appreciation and recognition. Handsome dude by the way.
Thank you thunder is defently an awesome animal to keep. And don't keep me wrong although I was speaking from a scientific perspective so the ..."trolls" don't start doing what they love to do. I love thunder alot and I like to think of him as a friend more than just a pet. I had an Iguana for 15 years shes passed away about 7 years ago. Miss her dearly.
I did this same procedure with my newest Savannah.. The guy I bought him from told me good luck taming him. That it wasn't gonna happen. I told him If I could tame my ex wife I could tame anything! lol anyway I had a Savannah Monitor before that had passed away after I owned him for nearly 10 years. He was pretty chill. This new one wasn't. But I worked with her literally everyday. Even If I wasn't feeding her I would try just sticking my head in and talking to her. When I was feeding her I would pet her while she was eating and it worked very well. Plus after a couple of months they think well this dude is feeding me so how bad could be be... Monitors are extremely smart. Now shes like my best friend. I will eventually be getting an Ackie in the future. Great video btw
Wonderful story my friend. And yes petting while feeding is a great way to get them to calm down. They can't bite of theyre mouth is full haha and of course they're getting rewarded. Ackies are alot of fun I highly recommend them.
I feed everday also. My Ackies were out of the tank from the gitgo. Both of my male and female breeding pair liked crawling up my pants legs and into my underwear and snuggling up to my junk. The only time I got bitten was because of hand feeding. I got bit twice on my hand. Sometimes during winter we take naps together while wearing a t-shirt and flannel shirt. To keep the claws of bate skin.
The claws on there little guys are pretty sharp. However they are so much fun to interact with. I usually keep a spar long-sleeved shirt near the enclosure when I want to do some Interaction.
I mist every 3 days in the quintet because it gets dry I'm the house during warmer months I mist once a week. Your enclosures has a screen top you need to mist daily. I would even try to find a safe solution on how block off the portion of the top of the enclosure that isn't covered with the lighting.
hello scales13. i have a question if you can give me more experienced feedback. i finally bought my ackie about 3 weeks ago and i do have him in a 40 breeder until my pvc one comes which should be tomorrow or the day after. he/she is probably only 6 months old. about 6 inches with tail. i keep the temps right and am trying to compensate for not having a pvc with misting and a hide box for humidity and another light. i know its not great, but i will have him in a better one a day or 2. i haven't witnessed them sneeze or anything like that. the day before yesterday i just cleaned the poop i saw and moved one of the hides maybe 6 inches, he went underground and haven't seen them out since. this is day 3 now so i am getting concerned. is that normal or should i go pull it apart to find it to see if its okay. love your content and thank you for all the helpful information. gave it 4 crickets the day before yesterday and i find it weird its not coming out to look for food?
I got him as a baby and hes not defensive atleast not now. The milestone in this video is he finally let me touch him without bolting but he was still nervous. Check out some new videos where he's mellowed out more.
No doubt. Now that I'm rewatching this vid. This is a pretty bad example on my part of his usual behavior. My most recent ackie video shows him at his best.
Dude take him out and stuff him in your shirt. Or put him im your pants. You wont get bitten. I have been biitten several times but always on the fingers or hand related to food. I usually have them puupy dog tame in 6 mo from the time I hatch them. A hard bite doesnt hurt at first. After a moment it starts to sting and bleed like hell. I am ptetty sure ackies have an anticoagulant in their saliva. NERD has the best taming vids. You get them to come out of the cage and on to your hand with food. Taming this way takes a few weeks. Not a year. Being bitten is part of taming most wild animals.
Look at the date. This video is nearly a year old my friend. Thunder is much more tame than this now. I was using NERDs methods since the beginning. Now I let him out a few times a week. Also keep in mind they are ALL individuals.
