Received My 6 week old hatchling today and...

[Liz Herrera]

So, I received my chacoan hatchling today from tegu terra.
Right away I could tell that he was really freaked out and just to get him out the bag to his enclosure I had to really grip him cause he was being really squirmy and I put him down and he took off to go hide and has been hiding since then.

I only had him for about a hr so im just giving him his space right now.
Has anybody else had this issue before and how did you get your tegu to calm down??

 

[Tannaros]

So, I received my chacoan hatchling today from tegu terra.
Right away I could tell that he was really freaked out and just to get him out the bag to his enclosure I had to really grip him cause he was being really squirmy and I put him down and he took off to go hide and has been hiding since then.

You probably shouldn't have done that. More than likely would've been easier to just untie the bag and put it into the cage.

Not that the briefest of negative handling will really have any effect, but many times it's good to associate yourself and handling with positive experiences!

Has anybody else had this issue before and how did you get your tegu to calm down??

You're asking how to calm down a hatchling tegu who you've had for an hour?

Most people tend to wait a week or two for them to settle in before they even really start the whole familiarization process.

 

[ferociouscorpion]

Well I just got a Columbian tegu a week and a half ago and he would hide all the time. He would only come out every other day for like 2 hours then burrow again. But the past 4-5 days he has been out around 9-10 am everyday and is a lot less skittish. He is also finally eating food every day now also. Just be patient and let your tegu adjust to its new environment. I know I was eager to play and handle my tegu when I first got it but a little patience will go a long way.

 

[Liz Herrera]

I know its going to take time im not worried about that, just a matter of seeing a lot of things about the whole ignore technique and wondering when i should just start putting my presence around him, Johnny said for him he was really calm with being handled and he should adjust to me just fine when i start feeding him..

I actually feel kinda silly about this post but i was just in that moment of Oh Crap its here and got all hyped up and panicked.

But the little guy is doing well he's already exploring i kinda just peak in his room here and there and he's out so i guess that's a good sign.

 

[jtrux]

Have you started handling him yet? I personally don't think it's necessary to wait more than a day or so before you begin handling them.

 

[Midwestmonster]

I know its going to take time im not worried about that, just a matter of seeing a lot of things about the whole ignore technique and wondering when i should just start putting my presence around him, Johnny said for him he was really calm with being handled and he should adjust to me just fine when i start feeding him..

I actually feel kinda silly about this post but i was just in that moment of Oh Crap its here and got all hyped up and panicked.

But the little guy is doing well he's already exploring i kinda just peak in his room here and there and he's out so i guess that's a good sign.

Don't feel silly. We're all here to help. Just try laying your hand in there and moving slowly around him. Just pet him instead of trying to grab him. He'll come around.

 

[anelk002]

I say take your time. I just sat in my room and played my xbox or watched tv. He usually just poked his head out and looked at me and was very cautious when basking. I say it took mine about a month to get used to me in the room and about a month after coming out of hibernation in April for me to pick him up easily and not freak out. He went into hibernation about two months after i got him so if yours doesn't hibernate then it might tame down quicker. Also bin feeding really helped as well. He didnt like it at first but now he knows he doesn't eat unless i put him in it. Just be patient.

 

[Oinari]

Have had mine for about a month or so. When I first got him he was quite skittish, would avoid being near any hands unless they sat for a while and even then would run to his hiding place if it moved. Now a month+ and two sheds later he's much more calm and will actively come check out my hand and look up at me. The other day after feeding while he was basking he even let me pet his back, which he seemed to enjoy judging by the arching of the back and closing of his eyes. I avoid feeding him when he can see me set the plate into his enclosure, waiting till he takes a random trip to his hiding place before doing so.

He no longer actively runs from me, but if unsure he may walk away. The fastest he runs now is once he spots food moving, or if I pour in substrate to replace where some was scooped out.