Let's call them nervous. I have been raising up my 2.4 and have spent most of the time socializing the males as they are friendly and when they retire my GF wants to keep them as pets. The females are a little bit wild.

What's the best way to get them to calm down without spending lots of time socializing with them? Feed them treats? Wait for them to grow out of it?

They really squirm and jump when I try to move them for cleaning, etc, and I'm worried they're going to escape every time. I know they don't like to be held by the tail and I am quite nervous about hurting them, but should I be picking them up by the base of the tail or holding them from below and over the top? When I try to scoop them from below they just jump or act like I'm murdering them. One squeals like it's about to die every time I pick it up and it makes me quite nervous. They get backed into the corner of the tub and that's when I feel like I'm going to get bit.

So how do you guys deal with your breeders to make them easy to work with? Any pro tips? Invest in a pair of leather gloves? Grab the base of the tail?