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Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject: Need advice on handling a newly acquired adult arg. b/w
So I got this adult female argentine at that show a couple weeks ago. I've avoided really handling her till this point other than moving her to and from the bathtub. She is a little flighty, but not horrid. I knew she was freaked out at the show.
I was thinking on putting on some heavy sweat pants and sweatshirt. Don't know about gloves yet. I was thinking of starting off in gloves and possibly taking them off during the process. I just fed her so she is full and hopefully not looking for food when I attempt this.
How about wrapping her in a towel with her head out? Any suggestions would be awesome. Kelly
go into a room thats not too big, but not to small, sit on the floor and have the tegu in there with you and just do that a few times a week, until it gets more used to you.
I also think that the tegu may be flighty due to the fact that they are naturally ground dwelling, and to be held would generally freak them out a tad bit, I've seen this happen in the few tegus that I had the chance to see.
Well, I've come to the conclusion that she is a pain to catch, but once she is on my lap (I don't generally hold them standing up) she seems to be good for about 20 minutes of pets. She has just charged me so many times from her hide...guess it is just a natural territorial thing. I'm honestly afraid to sit with her being loose in a small room...i know she will nail me for sure. I'll just keep working with her. Kelly
Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 1354 Location: Denver, CO
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:28 pm Post subject:
Sounds like she is intimidating you and she knows it - Some take more time than others to gain trust - Hell it took like 6 months to get my Black comfortable enough to come up to me and crawl up my arm, but most Colombians are another story - Work with her a little bit daily and she will learn to trust you - And I would agree with Dead's post - Out of the enclosure and in a room together - let her free roam the room and just sit there with her - keep it quiet and be slow as not to startle her - she will get more comfortable with you - I do this with all my Tegu's... _________________ 1.0.0 Ball Python "Albino"
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yes, I am totally willing to admit that a 4 foot lizard charging me with her mouth open does intimidate me...I'm such a wimp
And actually, her enclosure is the master bathroom right now. But I think we did do some good with just having her sitting in my lap for a few minutes. She seemed to enjoy the petting. Hopefully she will be a nice lizard yet. Actually, Fluffy needs some work too...but she is trying to brumate right now. Kind of nice though...sleeeeeepy leezards
Some will never be lap pets, and most will not be anything more than tolerant, People need to remember that even though tegus seem to tame very easily they are still not dogs, and I have never seen a tegu that enjoys being petted(?sp?) I dont want to start beef with anyone, but that is just my opinion, and if my tegus or monitors dont want to be held, i dont hold them, when you force an animal to be held that wants to be left alone you will stress it and after stress its immune system will crash and in no time you will have a tegu that will sit in your lap and not move at all, not eat and will eventually become so stressed that it may die, this tegu is not a baby and is set in its routine, it doesnt like handling, does that mean you shouldnt handle it, no you can handle it just dont over do it, but a 4 foot tegu is not that intimidating, when i got bit, it seemed like its jaws are more pressure than puncture, my adult burm hurts a hell of alot worse, but the bite will draw blood and the teeth will go through the sweater and you may get some fabric in it, causing infection, ETC
thanks
tony butler
Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 1354 Location: Denver, CO
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 12:22 am Post subject:
nogard wrote:
patience patience
Some will never be lap pets, and most will not be anything more than tolerant, People need to remember that even though tegus seem to tame very easily they are still not dogs, and I have never seen a tegu that enjoys being petted(?sp?) I dont want to start beef with anyone, but that is just my opinion, and if my tegus or monitors dont want to be held, i dont hold them, when you force an animal to be held that wants to be left alone you will stress it and after stress its immune system will crash and in no time you will have a tegu that will sit in your lap and not move at all, not eat and will eventually become so stressed that it may die, this tegu is not a baby and is set in its routine, it doesnt like handling, does that mean you shouldnt handle it, no you can handle it just dont over do it, but a 4 foot tegu is not that intimidating, when i got bit, it seemed like its jaws are more pressure than puncture, my adult burm hurts a hell of alot worse, but the bite will draw blood and the teeth will go through the sweater and you may get some fabric in it, causing infection, ETC
thanks
tony butler
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however I agree and disagree with some of your statements - I have also read some of your other posts where you have stated that you have not handled your Tegu "s" for a year - That is not bonding or trying to bond with an animal you would like to tame - While yes I would agree that if the animal does not want to be picked up, on the other hand - you are letting that animal control you - There are appropiate and in-appropiate times for handling the animal, and many are set in their ways - I've been bit as well by my Black when he was 2 feet - punctured and tore some flesh off my finger - Was quite a while ago, however now he is hand fed with tweezers and quite larger - The bite occurred IMO because the animal felt cornered when I was reaching for it under the entertainent center, however working with these Tegu's bonding and gaining trust is how we get past these problems - And to say to someone that is trying to bond or build up trust with a 4 foot Tegu which in your words "a 4 foot tegu is not that intimidating" is simply a crock IMO - As to the original post, I would continue working with the Tegu as you are - They can intimidate and are smart enough to know when they do so - Maybe not a puppy dog, however these Tegu's are smart enough and can be tamed with time and patience... _________________ 1.0.0 Ball Python "Albino"
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Last edited by Teiidae on Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:20 am, edited 1 time in total
I worked in the local pet shop for a long time. Day after day, time after time, folks would come in (usually looking for the cheapest reptile there) for a pet for their little kids. We are talking age range from 4-12 years. And, time after time, I would be asked "will it bite?" And, time after time, my answer was *always* "Yes, but so can anything with a mouth including my 2-year-old!" So I do understand, possibly better than some folks, that reptiles are wild animals, no matter how many generations they are captive bred.
I don't intend for either of my tegus to be quite like this man's (who everybody seems to know and respect highly).
But, I do intend to be able to handle my tegus with relative ease. If this simply means that they "tolerate" this attention...that is fine by me. But I do believe that these lizards (and others including leos, beardies, etc) can feel calm, and relieved by human touch. I have seen it.
But without anthropomorphizing these animals anymore...there is a serious need to be able to handle an animal such as this. For medical treatment, transporation, etc.
As far as a burmese (I'm assuming python, since I keep burmese tortoises) bite being far worse...well, that is exactly why I will keep nothing larger than a ball python in my home. I am not interested in handling an animal that is as unpredictable as a snake coupled with the massive size and power capable of killing myself or my child should the whim arise.
Kudos to you sir, if you are content at dealing with this sort of creature. I, simply, am not. Thus I have tegus LOL. Kelly
I did not intend to say that you should not hold tegus, But simply dont over do it, tegus are very smart, and have individual personalities and some will never tame, no matter how much patience or time. most will be tolerant/tame, and others will be exceptionally tame, I also said that the bites are more pressure than puncture, maybe I am wrong, just on personal experience, I feel that a four foot tegu bite, is not nearly as bad as an adult burm or a 4 foot blackthroat monitor, I also said that you shouldnt use gloves on a adult tegu, I use some rules I learned on the kingsnake forum, under 2 feet=no teeth through gloves, 2-3 feet= teeth through gloves, over 4 feet= the surgeon will be removing fabric from the bite, I use this for monitors as well as tegus, And as for tegus not being intimidating, I didnt mean for it to sound as though I am hot shit, and am not scared of anything, I personally wouldnt go after an aggressive 4 foot cornered tegu, IT WOULD HURT LIKE HELL, but I dont find them as intimidating as a agressive monitor of the same size, just my experience,
Keep trying to bond with your tegu, take it slow, they have fairly long lives, and with patience you may be albe to tame him, I am sorry to Teiddae if I pissed you off or am trying to challenge what you feel, I am just lending my opinion , and from my experience, I felt that it would make sense,
I do not handle any of my tegus or monitors for the first year and I have had a few tame adults doing it that way, I am sorry if you disagree, but it works for me. I also would get rid of any of my animals that are large if I had children in my home, I am not willing to sacrifice the life of my children for a python,
thanks
tony butler
Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 1354 Location: Denver, CO
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 10:11 am Post subject:
No problem Tony - Opnions and experience make forums like these thrive - Everyone may agree or disagree on some points, however at the end of the day, It's what works best for the individual and the animal in question... _________________ 1.0.0 Ball Python "Albino"
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Actually, just after the one time of holding her for awhile and putting her back....
I walked in yesterday, picked her up like it was nothing. Held her close to my chest and hauled her downstairs to see a friend of ours for a moment. She never squirmed once and seemed totally content at just resting in my arms for about 5 minutes. So, I think I've gained enough confidence and she realizes that I have no interest in hurting her :0)
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