Hi all!

[Jessica128]

Hi all! This is my first time posting. I’ve had my tegu, hootie for about 8 months now! He’s eating like crazy & growing like a weed! We just upgraded him to a bigger enclosure and since doing so he is so flighty and mean! I can’t even reach my hand in his enclosure without being tail whipped. Has anyone else experienced this? He has one of my worn t shirts in there and before we switched him to a bigger enclosure I would take him out daily and hang out with him in a room now I can’t even pet him.

 

[Walter1]

Welcome. Keep your shirt in his hide. Make sure other familiar things are in his new enclosure, and give him time to settle in. He's frightened by the chanhe. Helps to talk to them even if you're not hamdling him.

 

[AlphaAlpha]

make sure he sees and hears you before you go in the enclosure..... try not to go grabbing him straight away try sitting for a week or so just with your hand in the enclosure, I'm sure curiosity will get the better of him especially if you had a bond before the move.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!

 

[Debita]

I can tell you, Alpha, and Walter1 got me through 8-10 months of a mean crabby Tegu. They have good info, it works, and it was worth it. I hope yours doesn't take as long! He'll come back around I think - they def get a sassy attitude when they get more space. What's great is that he's eating like a monster. Also - the timing of this is interesting. He's a sub-adult - and they think they own the world. So, it could just be puberty.....(jk)