Safe feeding of new adult tegu

[Richcymru]

I recently 'inherited' an adult male Argentinian B&W tegu and would like some advice regarding the safest method of feeding him.

He arrived last week and is quite underweight and although the previous owners told me he can be a picky eater, he's already been accepting raw meat, blueberries, asparagus, grated carrot, defrost rodents and a little cooked egg. I think his diet beforehand wasnt particularly varied, with eggs constituting a large portion of his meals.

He's very friendly and used to being handled and is happy to roam about the room. However, the last 2 days, every time i go to open the viv he gets very alert and has been opening his mouth biting at the glass (it's definately food related because he calms down after he realises there is no food).

Anyway, I would like to knock this behaviour on the head asap, as the previous owners told me that he has never done this before. I have been introducing his food when he's asleep, so that he doesnt see me bringing it, but i would like some advice as to whether it would be best to feed him out of the cage. My only thought on this is will he then think that every time he's out he is going to get fed? I was thinking of maybe having his food bowl waiting in a seperate room and take him over to it.

Also, is he more likely to be food aggressive as he is underweight? and will this behaviour lessen as i gradually fatten him up?

Any advice will be greatfully received.

Cheers

 

[Neeko]

Have the food in a separate container in a separate room.Make sure to wash your hands/ smell of food best you can from yourself. Have the food present in the room then bring him in. You want to not be associated with food. If you were underfed and then this object started giving you food, you might then think it was a food robot lol.

 

[Bubblz Calhoun]

You can also continue what you're doing, let him calm down and come out on his own, then feed him some where else. Or even right there outside of the enclosure. As long as you interact with him more often with out any association with food it shouldn't be a problem.

He'll figure it out and calm down in time. Whether or not the agression has to do with his weight would depend on how under weight he is. But either way, keep working with him and he'll come around.