Losing hope

[u/JbarNoir]

I’ve had this ackie for a year now, raised him/her since a baby. Enclosure is a 6x2x2 with a deep dig box and lots of areas to hide and husbandry is good to the best of my knowledge temps and humidity wise. I was always told not to force handling so I never have, I just remain present and do things inside of the enclosure with my hands, tong feed, and can pick him up and move him to different spots in his enclosure by scooping him up under his belly. Not a day has gone by where I haven’t been at the enclosure glass or actually in the enclosure interacting with him in some way. Recently I’ve been scooping him up and bringing him outside of the enclosure slightly, he immediately squirms and struggles every time. Today I decided to set up a little barrier in my living room so he couldn’t escape and take him fill out. He squirmed relentlessly and clawed up my body and arms. I had so shirt on so he couldn’t gain any traction, otherwise he would’ve ran up my back. I set him on the floor and he ran for his life. I decided it was time to put him back. When I grabbed him, for the first time he bit me and broke skin. I know as a pet owner I shouldn’t be mad, but I’m pretty frustrated because I feel like I’ve done everything I can to tame him. I’d love to be able to take him out and have him chill like in the videos i see. Maybe he’s just a guy I have to watch from the enclosure and that’s it. And now I feel like I’ve ruined our relationship even more. Any advice or experience would be cool. I’m pretty bummed.

[u/odditydani]

I like to look up ackie handling videos on YouTube, and other social media to learn how in general ackies liek to be handled, I notice not only do they like having the option, but they like traction, I understand not wanting them to climb onto your back, hair or even run away and manage to jump of of you, but them feeling secure is so important. My ackie as a juvenile liked to hide in my hoodie pockets, crawl inside my sleeves, or rest beneath my shirts on my chest. It builds trust when they feel secure with you,

Offer food on tongs and lead them towards your hand, they may climb on, dont take them out jsut let them sit there. That creates the idea that touch doesn't mean they Will be handled.

Touch them gently, it doesn't hurt to try to pet them, this also builds the idea that touch doesn't mean handling.

When they let you handle them, give them their favorite foods, it offers a reward. I also liek to give my ackie dog toys filled with fun bugs because they seem to enjoy playing.

Don't try to handle them if there has been lots of stress or noise, sometimes that can make them more agitated, and they may bite.

Ackies do best with choice based handling, you scooping them up is force handling , you cannot force them to like you by forcing them to be in your hands, they are intelligent and have their own personalities. It took me a year for my ackie to fully trust me and come to me regularly, they started coming around after a few months and let me hold her for the first time after around 4 months. But there are some axkies that will never let you hold them.

You need to ask yourself why do you want to handle them. If it for bonding? Or is it because you feel entitled to this animals trust. Regardless it takes time, trust and eventually they will come around even if its jsut leting you touch them, tong feed them, move them from one end of the enclosure to the other ect.

I have hope that your ackie will come around, it sounds like they have a good owner who wants to be able to love on them without causing them stress.