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#233749
Vamppire
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Help with new scared Mali 
Quick note to Uro_Fan: I never received a response to my message from 1/16, asking about how they would react when the tank is uncovered, if I covered it up for awhile... so if you responded, I never got it :(Anyway, the scoop for others: I got two new babies on January 15th - a mali and nigerian. The nigerian is a little smaller than the mali and is cautious and will run if approached closely (like if I have my hand in there to feed or clean) but the mali is absolutely terrified of any movement in the room and will sprint to her hide. I covered the tank sides, because I want her to come out and eat, but if she sees me when I check in on them from above (and she usually does) ZOOOOOM off she goes to hide for another hour. :( I’m not used to this - my baby ornates weren’t scared of a thing. I received these two on store credit since my other 3 passed on way too soon after receiving them, so I am not expecting a better health record on these guys, but this is new to me and I don’t know what to do. Having the tank covered is really unpleasant and I fear that it is not accomplishing anything because the mali is still just as scared of movement as before, so how will I ever be able to take the cover off and have her act relatively normally? If she isn’t exposed to movement, won’t she be just as scared if I left the cover on for months and suddenly took it down then? Some days the food seems partially eaten, other days, no. I have no way of knowing who is eating because I can’t see in the tank regularly and I can’t weigh them because I can’t get my hands on them. I can’t imagine what this mali went through beforehand to make her so terrified of everything. :( Any ideas, suggestions? Leave the tank covered? How will they react when its off? Take off the cover now and force them to get used to movement in the room? etc.... Thank you!
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01/27/05 10:04am
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#233758
Vamppire
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Message To: Vamppire In reference to Message Id: 233749
Help with new scared Mali
PS - I’ve thought about taking the cover off gradually, you know, like an inch every few days, but the amount of movement doesn’t seem to matter with her... that is, she will run just as fast if she sees a bit of me walking by through an opening in the cover, as she would if she saw the whole me, lol.
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01/27/05 10:19am
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#233855
Piscean6
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Message To: Vamppire In reference to Message Id: 233758
 Help with new scared Mali
Poor baby! I dont know much about lizards, but I know animlas in general. Id put her in a room where there isnt much traffic. If you are interested in watching her, but not scaring her, have you thought about a web cam? Also have you tried just sitting infront of her cage and not moving much? I did that to get my gerbils used to me. You can sit and read and maybe she will be less likely on running off everytime. If she realizes you are not loud or going to hurt her she might come around. I wouldnt cover her. She needs to get used to enviroment. If she is covered she cant see it. Thats why a room with less traffic would be good. Anyways like I said dont know much about lizards, but if you give her time and respect her, Im sure she will come around. Good Luck!
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01/27/05 12:44pm
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#233873
Pogos grandma
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Message To: Vamppire In reference to Message Id: 233758
Help with new scared Mali
Just a thought, or two........ Have you considered the fact that maybe this time around you got yourself a couple of very healthy uros? The 3 you had before may have been too sick to behave like healthy, run from the predator(you) lizards? I’ve been told not to interact with brand new uros for at least a few weeks until they acclimate. Except for feeding and scooping time, you should tape up the sides of the enclosure and leave them alone. They were probably not in the pet store all that long so they had quite a few changes/moves in a very short time. I know and understand why you’re eager to interact and watch them but do give them time to settle. As for the question to Uro_fan, I can’t answer for her nor do I know how they would react since I never had to do it to Pogo. I would assume you would want to start removing the cover one side at a time over a period of time if they’re that skittish. It all depends on the personality of the uros though.
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01/27/05 01:21pm
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#233959
Vamppire
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Message To: Pogos In reference to Message Id: 233873
Help with new scared Mali
Thanks guys! They are in my bedroom right now, which is not exactly a high traffic area like a living room, but I do my work in here on my computer and I am in and out quite a bit during the day. I’m the only one passing by though. Its the only place they can be housed.I’m not looking or trying to interact with them, I just want them to not run whenever I enter the room or swirl my chair. If they are always running, they will not be out to bask and eat. I have considered that the others did not run because they were ill (though one showed no other signs of illness for a month) but that doesn’t change the fact that this is new to me and I don’t know what to do.
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01/27/05 04:11pm
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#234261
Gromph baenre
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Message To: Vamppire In reference to Message Id: 233959
Help with new scared Mali
Vamppire,
Every uro has it’s own personality. Some are very outgoing creatures and tame down with minimal interaction. Others require a little more time, and some, just are skittish no matter how hard you try to acclimate them. You have had these two for less than two weeks. Alot of postings on forums will always state a minimum two week acclimation period. Minimum. I understand your questions, as you stated your ornates were pretty much use to you in no time. I would be willing to wager a shiny new quarter that those ornates were captive born and bred, as ornates and moroccans were some of the first uromastyx introduced and established in captive breeding programs. Malis and Saharans are relative new comers to the uromastyx market. They are not as established in captive breeding programs like ornates tend to be. With that said, do you know if your latest acquistions were cbb or wild caught? If wild caught it will take a significant amount of time, and patience before they are not startled by your presence. For example, my oldest Mali is very tame. Knows what times I arrive home from work, and on most days is active and pays no mind to me , my family or our numerous feline owners(cats really view us as the pet, or do they view us as the servants....the jury is still out on that question I imagine). We have had him for well over 3 years now. Year before last, right after Xmas, my brother brought to me an extremely skittish, under nourished, adult yellow nigerian(geyri) with some horrible stuck on shed on his torso and his tail. He has been in our possession ever since, and to this day will scuttle to his hide if any of the humans in this house approach his enclosure. But he will at least stay out with us in the room, will eat when we are around. That has took well over a year to get to this point.
My apologies for rambling on, but I guess the best advice I can offer is that it may take a little while before your latest acquistions calm down and feel secure enough in their new environment. This may sound kinda flippant, but if there is one thing you will learn from uromastyx keeping, its definitely going to be how to develop patience. Otherwise, there might be a padded room with a straight jacket in your immediate future. (just kidding) Keep us posted, and monitor their intake of food and how they interact with each other. They will come around and settle down before you know it.
Best regards,
Carson
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01/27/05 09:11pm
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#234300
Vamppire
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Message To: Gromph In reference to Message Id: 234261
Help with new scared Mali
Thanks for the reply :) Unfortunately I can’t properly monitor their food intake or interactions... that’s really what my problem is about. The mali won’t come out of hiding if it sees any movement in the room. I cannot even peer from above (when the sides are covered) without her noticing me and running (except when her head is under something, in which case I only see her rump and tail, lol). Its not a case of a shy uro that hides when you press your face to the glass LOL, this is a really terrified little thing that is scared of everything except the other smaller uro, it seems (the mali does come out while the other one is out), although the other one doesn’t move much either. I’m not ranting that I can’t enjoy my new uros because they won’t "come out and play" so to speak (having the tank covered in paper really is unpleasant, but thats not the main concern here!)... I’m concerned because I cannot see who is eating, and I have no idea what to do to have her used to outside movement. I really am afraid she will not come out at all if I uncover the tank, and that would mean she will not eat or bask. However, I am concerned that shielding them now is just postponing the inevitable time when they will just need to deal with it.
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01/27/05 09:30pm
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#234305
Vamppire
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Message To: Vamppire In reference to Message Id: 234300
Help with new scared Mali
Oh - and yes, I actually have considering a webcam LOL, I have a dusty one on my desk here that I was considering putting to use, although it would mean running a tightly pulled cord across the room. I’ll experiment tomorrow!
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01/27/05 09:34pm
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#236064
Vamppire
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Message To: Vamppire In reference to Message Id: 234305
Help with new scared Mali
Update - I uncovered the tank a couple days ago. The Mali still runs when I move around, but thankfully I’ve been out of the room enough that she has come out a few times. I snuck up and saw her eating yesterday and I think I saw the little nigerian take a bite too. The nigerian doesn’t run at sight (just if my hand is close to him while doing maintenance) but I didnt see him eating and he is very thin, so I am more worried about him than the terrified mali.Today I was out a few hours and one or both of them devoured their plate of food. :D So I am very happy about that. They need it. Hopefully the mali will eventually accept that there is something walking around out there that has no interest in hurting her. If anyone has any other suggestions to offer, I’m still open. Thanks!
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01/30/05 03:05pm
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#236112
Vamppire
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Message To: Vamppire In reference to Message Id: 236064
Help with new scared Mali
Oh, and today Anubis (the nigerian) is trotting around the enclosure, which is making me really happy because he’s barely moved for 2 weeks. So things are looking a little brighter at the moment. :)
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01/30/05 03:53pm
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