My New 6 month Tegu - Twister

[Nytes_Haven]

Hi everyone, I wanted some advice regarding a Tegu my fiance got for me from Repticon/Orlando. Twister is approx 6 months old (according to Suncoast Reptile Company where my fiance got him from) and seemed calm when I first saw him. Was able to hold/handle which I though was interesting. However when I got home and set him up in his new home, he turned opposite and is now scared and shows sign of some aggression. Every time he sees anyone he runs into his hide and stays there until no one is around. He only comes out when no one is in the room. I know it will take time for him to settle in, but I am concerned about handling him so he can eat (Juv's need to eat daily if not more from what I understand). As I don't want him to eat in his enclosure (to avoid food aggression problems), I will need to handle him at some point so he can eat.

I know its been just a few days and I want to make sure that he adjusts well, I am just concerned about him eating and hopefully calming down. Any comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

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[slideaboot]

Give him some time...work with him every day (there's about 50 threads on here about letting tegus acclimate).

As far as feeding in the cage, I feed in both my tegu cages every day and have ZERO problems with food aggression. For right now, you can either get some gloves so you don't have to worry about getting bit, or you can feed inside the cage until he starts getting used to you (which you can read about in a bunch of different threads, like I mentioned).

Either way, it's ALL about patience and consistency. The second you try and rush your interactions, you're going to set your progress back considerably. Slow and steady will win this race...there is no magic involved.

 

[Nytes_Haven]

Many thanks for your reply. I have been reviewing the posts since I joined. My main concern was feeding, as I have read multiple posts about not feeding the tegu in its enclosure. Also with him being young I want to make sure that he eats correctly as well. I know time and patience is important factor and I am all for that, as I also have snakes and a bearded dragon in which I worked with them to be calm and well adjusted.

I will continue to read up on the posts here as well as other forms of information as well.....

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As I was reading more on the posts, I came across two videos that Bobby posted with regards to handling/removing your tegu's from enclosure to feeding bin. The right way and the wrong way. These were very helpful as I see what "not" to do when handling my tegu. I appreciate all the info posted here for all of us new parents.

Read on I must!!!

 

[james.w]

As far as his temperament changing, it is common for an animal to be calm at a show due to low temps and stress. Once you get them home and their temps right they come alive.

I also feed in the enclosure for the most part.

 

[TheTeguGurl]

if you are worried about him eating in his enclosure and getting substance in his mouth, try this till you can get him out and eating somewhere else. get some flat tile rock like and place it where you want his food dish to go and place his food on it, take it out when he is done eating, and replace it every time he eats.. do this till you can get him out of his enclosure and when you do put his food back on the tile thing so that ways he knows to eat there.. i did this with my tegus and they learned that every time i put the tile down and put there plate on it it was time to eat...So that way he is eating on something in his enclosure and wont get anything but food in his mouth..

 

[slideaboot]

if you are worried about him eating in his enclosure and getting substance in his mouth, try this till you can get him out and eating somewhere else. get some flat tile rock like and place it where you want his food dish to go and place his food on it, take it out when he is done eating, and replace it every time he eats.. do this till you can get him out of his enclosure and when you do put his food back on the tile thing so that ways he knows to eat there.. i did this with my tegus and they learned that every time i put the tile down and put there plate on it it was time to eat...So that way he is eating on something in his enclosure and wont get anything but food in his mouth..

Ditto.

 

[Toby_H]

I have fed on a raised, flat, substrateless platform for a couple of years now and it's worked great for me...

I would not only put the platform in when feeding though, as this gives the Tegu a "feeding trigger". So when he sees you putting the platform in he will begin getting excited to eat and may display 'food aggression'.

I feel that taking the Tegu out to eat every single meal creates more work than it's worth. There are much much simpler ways to remove the risks...


As mentioned, cool temps, improper conditions and stress will cause most reptiles to "go dormant" to some degree. When they get to their new home it's very natural for them to perk up and defend their new territory. I don't think your experience is abnormal.

Read through the previous threads about taming your Tegu. There are a lot of us here with very very well manored Tegus who have shared what we have learned along the way.