Some Advice needed.

[JokersTegu]

Ok I got a tegu from someone. First night it let me handle it before it got to his enclosure. that same night I put him in his enclosure and I went to fix the lid. and it was like a pitbull in the cage. he was thrashing his tail leaping at me... I was amazed how a couple of hours before he was fine a lil figgity but ok. So I come to find out the pre-owner was feeding him in his cage.. As I read that is a major NO NO. And the owner just said just grab him. I see no trust building in doing that. ok I left him for a day alone just showing my face so he can start to recognize me. the only thing is that I get home late from work and by that time hes buried. but when I enter the room and I say his name he comes out to investigate and will lay under the light and close his eyes. I try then to pick him up but it takes like a half an hour until he lets me. but the whole time hes tail whipping and moving back and forth no more attempts to bite yet. its becoming very fustrating when all I want to do is feed him. and I dont want to feed him in his cage. last night was terrible he wouldnt give in on letting me pick up it was a battle I lost. today I will attempt the same thing. If i wanted i could just grab him and restrain but I know thats not the right thing to do. does anybody else have some more advice I read the " Taming the Beast" but is there more i read dont pick him up around the head or stomach go under but thats impossible with him. i pick him up under his front legs chest and stomach. he is about 7months old I beleive.
Help
thank you

 

[mr.tegu]

how long have you had this tegu?. is this a store bought tegu or breeder tegu? how big is the tegu? what size enclosure do you have this tegu in? when was the last time you fed this tegu? what was and is this tegus diet? if you can answer these q's that will help me with an answer for this problem.

 

[JokersTegu]

I have had the tegu for about 2 weeks. Ok I bought the tegu from someone that supposely had bought a pair of tegus at a show and he said they had 26 eggs and they hatched and that he was keeping a couple of the nice ones and he ended selling and trading them off. so I saw the add and gave hime a call and walaa i have him. right now I have him in a 20 gallon long the pre-owner had him in a 10 gallon tank. he has a 75 watt tight beam and a 10.0 uvb light he is about approx 13 inches long. the last time he ate was the day before yesterday. the pre-owner said 15 large crickets every other day and about 2-3 pinkies once a week. I have been feeding him the crickets and gave him turkey the other day which he ate. I bought crickets last night but had no chance on getting him out. last night I also left my tank top bundled in a ball in the tank I think he slept under instead of his hide.

thank you for a reply appreciate any help you can throw at me

 

[txrepgirl]

Hi JokersTegu. Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new Tegu. How big/ long is your Tegu. If he isn't that big you can try this trick ( link below ) that I have been doing with all of my Tegus from day one. They tamed down very fast like this. I'm very glad to hear that you don't want him to eat in the enclosure. I know you rather not man handle the Tegu but I would just gently but still firm grab him and use the t-shirt trick. The longer you let him be stressed out the longer it will take to calm down. As soon as you put him inside/ between the two shirts he will calm down because now you are his hiding place. He will feel save and warm. When he calmed down and rested in there for a while you can put him in the feeding bin and let him eat as much as he wants to ( since he is still so young it's OK ) . Please keep us posted. Thank you and good luck.

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[JokersTegu]

thank you for the advice txrepgirl. I also forgot to mention. when I put my hand in the tank. he starts to huff and puff and wiggle his tail for a tail whip.

 

[lazyjr52]

It sounds like you're tegu is cage aggressive. Just be patient and don't make sudden moves around him. He is only 7 months old. All tegus have different personalities.