Grumpy old man

[Barrett Chopelas]

I have a black-and-white male about two and a half to 3 years old. was a rescue but trying to socialise hem and work with hem but just won't drop the wild attitude. Need some help. he is healthy looks great just hard to hold and handle. My female Which is a rescue too, She's a big puppy dog I can hold her giver bath Walker and done the same socialisation just hit the hard spot. Thanks for all advice in advance.

 

[Josh]

They're beautiful.
Are you housing them together or separate? Can you tell us a bit more about what you have tried so we're not just stabbing in the dark?

 

[Barrett Chopelas]

Thanks for the inquiry. Yes they share a habitat I custom built 8' by 3 and a 1/2 by 3, Rocks, Dirt for burning and a pool.
I try to hold him, caress him for 30-45min ever to ever other day. Trying to get trust and show him I'm not going to hurt him. Feeding is no problem used a long tong, feed one on one side and the other on the other side. I hope that helps

 

[Roadkill]

Contrary to most keepers, I've never worried about "taming" my tegus (I would say I don't think we actually really "tame" them, I think at best we get them habitualised to us and seen as "friends" as opposed to "threats", but that's another issue...), particularly as for most of my studies, I wanted them in as natural a state as possible. This being said, on more than one occasion I've had some of my "wild" tegus adjust very well to me that when they were found in urban areas where I was doing research, they were brought into my lab by the locals saying "this must be one of your escaped tegus as wild ones aren't this friendly". With mine, I literally just try to spend as much time in their presence as possible, I don't believe in physical negative reinforcement (ie. smacking them on the nose for doing something bad is likely only going to register with them you are a threat) and I try to establish interaction with them on their terms. Like I have said, this has worked on some wild tegus, but not all. With captive ones you have a bit more means of interaction that can be for more positive outcomes (such as feeding, grooming, etc.). If all you do is spend an hour or so every other day...I wouldn't expect much progress.

 

[Barrett Chopelas]

Thank you for your response.

 

[Debita]

Tegus vary A LOT from one to another. My male took 10 months to calm....my female was a breeze from the moment I got her. Lucky for me, cause I was pretty exhausted by the males' antics. I like the patience path, and letting them lead when you first get them. If they're hiding, and trying to "settle" into their new digs, let them come to you when they're ready.

I try to mention my adult male (almost 3 now) because he really is the extreme as far as I've heard. He hated me for so long, I thought he would never ever accept his situation. Today, and for a full year now he's been a buddy that brightens up when I come in (practically ignoring my husband). I can do what I need to do, and he shows zero aggression. -But, there's no question that he was difficult, strong minded and persistent in his anxiety for quite awhile. So - moral of the story is, don't give up on them. If they are giving you a bad time, just hold on through it and have patience.

 

[Barrett Chopelas]

Tegus vary A LOT from one to another. My male took 10 months to calm....my female was a breeze from the moment I got her. Lucky for me, cause I was pretty exhausted by the males' antics. I like the patience path, and letting them lead when you first get them. If they're hiding, and trying to "settle" into their new digs, let them come to you when they're ready.

I try to mention my adult male (almost 3 now) because he really is the extreme as far as I've heard. He hated me for so long, I thought he would never ever accept his situation. Today, and for a full year now he's been a buddy that brightens up when I come in (practically ignoring my husband). I can do what I need to do, and he shows zero aggression. -But, there's no question that he was difficult, strong minded and persistent in his anxiety for quite awhile. So - moral of the story is, don't give up on them. If they are giving you a bad time, just hold on through it and have patience.

Thank you very much for your advice, I appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful New Year

 

[Debita]

You too! Good health!!

 

[Mich lady]

My two and a half year old three and a half foot male is like an aloof cat. He is a free roam but has his own enclosure. He comes and goes at will. He recently just started climbing up onto my bed at night because he wants me to scratch his back. He still chuffs at me but that's the tegu nature. Lol