Handling Your Pet. Holding and petting your animal is vital to taming it. Give your pet a few days to adjust to its new home before you start. Remember, until your pet is tame, it poses some risk. It should take about a week to tame your pet and you must handle it every day or it will revert back to its instinctive behavior.
All reptiles carry salmonella, a serious, but easily preventable illness.
Always wash your hands with soap after handling your pet or cleaning its aquarium. Keep your pet away from your face, especially your mouth. If allowed out of its aquarium, never let your pet in the kitchen. If you need to transport your pet, tie it up in a cloth bag or pillowcase and put it in a Styrofoam cooler. Darkness is calming to reptiles and the cooler will prevent rapid body temperature changes.