handeling your new baby

[Neeko]

Seems like a couple people are. Is this good if they come to you? Or should they just be left a lone for a week or two.

 

[Toby_H]

It is commonly suggested not to handle a newly acquired Tegu. The only reason for this is to minimize stress... Just keep in mind your goal is to maximize interaction while minimizing stress

It is important to minimize stress on your new Tegu so that he will quickly begin to feel "at home" in it's new environment. At any point where he feels comfortable enough to allow you to handle him, then doing so is not only okay, but it is beneficial.

If you have to 'chase' the Tegu to pick him up then this is causing stress, but if he is willing to walk into/onto your hand/arm then he is certainly ready to be handled. Just keep in mind your goal is to maximize interaction while minimizing stress

 

[teguboy77]

Again i agree 100% with toby h,you dont want to force yourself on your new tegu,it just stresses them out,well said.

 

[Neeko]

I haven't done anything but give food. I don't want to stress my guys.

 

[Piercedcub32]

Mine is definitely feeling better after a good nights rest! Darting around the cage like a mad man! I know with other types of lizards, its recommended to cover 3 sides of the tank for a while after bringing them home, has anyone done this with your tegus? Every time something moves in the house my little guy is freaking out. I don't want to stress him or have him hurt himself..

 

[Neeko]

The way my cage is set up, there is a divider in the middle natural wood, fake plant background, and then a white wall on each side since it fits pretty much plush inside the room. They are about 3.5 feet up from the ground and they only dark when i get really close to the cage. I've only seen them slowly explore and bask for the little amount of time I've had them.

 

[Toby_H]

When mine was a baby I would frequently sit with my hand/arm in the enclosure. Sometimes moving things around, leveling mulch, adjusting lights, etc. Much of this 'work' did not need to be done but frequently having my hands in the enclosure and not 'chasing' the Tegu helped him quickly realize I'm not a threat and helped him get used to me...

Another tip, do not move so quickly the speed scares him... but do not move so slow he feels like he's being stalked...

 

[herpgirl2510]

That is great advice and it works^^^^^

 

[Dereks-Dragons]

I rarely wait to hold a new reptile unless I know for a fact he is sick or stressed or doesn't aNy to me. My new tegu is mad chill lol. He comes to me just like my red does, and he's actually less squirmy than my red. I feel that as long as the reptile is ready that its best to start bonding right away. But as said above, only if you don't have to chase him. The first time I held my new baby he was eating eggs off the tongs and I went to pick him up and he ran, turned around and looked at me, I stuck the tongs back in and he slowly came back and startex eating again. I again went to pick him up but went slowly and from the front so he could see me coming and he let me without even flinching