So, a couple of weeks ago, I wrote to this community, asking for some advice about our new blue tongue’s eating. And the advice I got really helped us start to understand the lizard brain a little better.

It’s been nearly three weeks since we brought him home, and we’ve figured out he really likes tinned dog food, strawberries and raspberries. No luck with veggies just yet, but we’re still trying new things. The important thing is he’s not going hungry, and gets his calcium supplement with the dog food.

But he’s still very reclusive, and quite cranky with us. Most of the time, he’ll hide under his basking log, or bury himself under some substrate. When we’ve reached in to try and pat him, he jerks suddenly and hisses.

My daughter’s been afraid to try patting him again herself so, the past week, we’ve just been getting her to hand feed him a small piece of fruit each day, to try and build some trust between them. It’s gone well, and he’s eaten out of her hand a few times now.

My biggest concerns are that either his behaviour isn’t that normal and we’ve not done something right, or that we’re running the risk of letting this behaviour become his new “normal”, and my daughter won’t get to have a relationship with her pet.

So I guess my question, without trying to sound too anxious or impatient, is if his behaviour at this stage would still be considered normal? Should we be doing anything different?

Once again, thanks in advance for any knowledge and experience you can share.