Hello,

I own two adult WD's, a male and a female. I also have a Green Basilisk that's about 1 year old. My question is an I a bad owner because I don't handle them and they are all biters. I love to watch them and they are all in excellent health. I just don't want to handle them.

The male WD I bought as an adult and he could tolerate being handled when I got him but since I haven't been he will not tolerate it at all. I am sortof disappointed about this because he is so beautiful and his colors are so striking I would like to show him off.

What do you all think? I can post pictures to show how healthy they are so that isn't the issue it's simply a matter of choice not to handle them.

Chris

sounds like my X wanted a snake to throw food to and watch and that was it, i wouldn't sell him a cage or want any part of it, handle yours more get bitten it's your punishment

You are definitely not a bad owner for not handling your animals... as long as they are getting the proper care, it's up to you whether to handle them or not.
I consider all reptiles "wild animals" -- and although many tolerate our handling and cuddling, they are certainly not suffering without it!

Most zoos have beautiful exhibition enclosures and take wonderful care of their animals, but do not handle them unless absolutely necessary: ie. vet exams, etc.

I think it's great that you enjoy your animals enough just looking at them.... I see no problems with that AT ALL. I'd love to see pics! (Not because you have to prove anything to me about their state of health, but because WDs are so pretty!!!)

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Andrea

Chris, don't even worry about it.
We love handling our animals, but we do have a couple who would rather just be left alone. Odin, one of our Leopard geckos, nearly loses his tail (I'm not kidding) anytime we have to remove him from his enclosure for cleaning or anything. Consequently, he's (pretty easily, believe it or not) gotten used to hanging out in one corner while the shop-vac picks up dead crickets and poo! But at the same time, he's also one of our most active animals, and he's amazingly fun to watch.
As long as your animals are healthy and happy, don't worry about them -- if handling stresses them and you, it's better for all concerned to just let them be. And please post some pics, I'd love to see them!

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I give up! I've officially lost count of the critters...

no you are not a bad owner! i have 3 wds...2 juvenille and a baby..how big are yours? adults are usually easy to handle..im sure if youd just spend a few mins a day with em theyd get used to it...post pics!! please!! lol

I just sortof feel bad because it seems most of you handle your reptiles or even let them roam in the house! I really love to watch them, not just when they are eating, I mean all the time. They don't really "play" but they run around alot, jumping, climbing stuff like that. Of course when they eat they are fast and deadly. At least the Water Dragons are. LOL

I tried at one time to house the two WD's in the same enclosure but the female seemed to be very stressed as she turned a very dark brown. I have since seperated them but I wonder if I will ever be able to leave them together. Any suggestions about that would be appreciated.

Anyway here are some recent pics.

This is WideGlide


This is SuperGlide


and this is Kermit (my wife thinks she bares a striking resemblense to a certain puppet.


Well thanks for the input. This is one of the friendliest reptile sites around.

Chris

Wideglide is one handsome WD! As long as you give them the proper care, handling is just something extra. Most herps don't care whether you handle them or not, and unless you get them used to it at an early age, most would prefer you left them alone anyway. I rarely handle any of my herps.

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

Don't feel bad for not handling them, we try and our bassies STILL don't like it, I think they're just an animal that doesn't like to be handled.

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I have to agree with Matt,,,,a very nice WD.... and we rarely handle our herps.

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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "

BEAUTIFUL babies, Chris! Wideglide has such rich coloring, and they're all great-looking animals. I can see the resemblance in Kermit -- Frigga, one of our Leopard Geckos, has earned the nickname "Little Miss Muppet" for the exact same reason.

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I give up! I've officially lost count of the critters...