Introducing my Colombian gold tegu

[brica]

Hey guys! New to the forum so I wanted to introduce Chandler, my Colombian gold tegu who is roughly 7 months old now and I have owned for almost 2 months. Don't know the sex but I feel like it might be a male, although I'm not sure when the jowls start to display themselves so it might be my imagination that they look bigger - and I haven't reached beneath him to feel the nubs (or lack thereof) indicating the sex. That being said chandler is on his second shed now under my supervision and otherwise seems to be content, eating every day and using the restroom accordingly. Chandler has never bitten me in the few times I have handled him, but I'm not afraid to admit we are both Skitterish of one another. I could blame it on him but I know part of the responsibility is on me since his speed makes me anxious of his ability to get loose, unrecoverable, and another piece to the growing media delusion that tegus are aggressive when I know in truth they need proper care and habitat from the beginning on to be healthy and safe in the home. That being said I am determined to build trust in our relationship, which is why I have refrained from pulling him out after a wild goose chase across his terrarium, as I was advised by the pet store. Although he is my first tegu, and I have been told in many cases to just "grab them" - I am also aware of how startling it would be to be grabbed by a giant, especially from the sky as oppose to actually choosing to go and explore your own curiosity on this giants hand. All I'm saying is I went through this method with my leopard gecko and she has never been anything but loving, trusting, and completely cooperative and I attribute it to the freedom I initially gave her. I know tegus are vastly different from leopard geckos, however I still feel as though trust should be built with my chandler, and I don't see forcing it into my grab while it's startled to be a good direction. Any ideas here? Thanks guys and feel free to ask me whatever info might be necessary to properly answer my questions

 

[brica]

I have already felt as though progress has been made though, especially in the last few days as he seems much more comfortable. I am beginning as well, heeding the advice of another user, to place my hand inside the terrarium each day until he comes up to me. After repeated daily tries of this, direction states you can calmly pickup the tegu after this.

This would all be in my attempts to build more trust and get a relationship of regular handling going. It has still not become a practice with us and I know the dangers of not taming tegus at the youngest age possible and definitely before adulthood. Thanks again guys!

 

[Aardbark]

Welcome to the site. Very cute tegu you have there, good luck with the tameing. Dont worry if it takes a while, but with love and care he will deffinilty come around and be a good friend.

 

[Josh]

Welcome to the community! Glad you've joined! That first photo is absolutely adorable. Nice shot!