Tegu Mood Swing Please Help

Nathan160 · New Member Joined: Feb 04, 2008 Posts: 7

Hello this is my first post. I have recently adopted a Argentina Black and white tegu that is 2 years old. I have had her for about 1 month now and when i first got her she had a feeding response problem but we broke that. i started to feed her in the tub but now i just feed her on the floor. I guess i should get to the point. Recently i noticed she was shedding but she has stoped and she was fine the whole time she was shedding. the problem i am having is that every time i get her out she is VERY moody and she attacks me. she has attacked me three times in a week and i have to say that it is very scary to get attacked by these lizards. Every time i go near the cage she bows up like she is ready to attack. I am very worried about this and i really need help. I also should say i keep a red light on for heat 24/7 and i turn on and off a Neon light every 12 hours that gives UVB. I will finish a cage in 3 days that is 6x2x2 and i have been keeping her in a 40 gallon cage that i know is WAY to small but i asked the lady i got her from she said that it will be ok until i get a new cage. i would have built a bigger cage but i used really expensive wood and this cage has costed me about 175 US dollars and im not made of money but i wish i could spend all my money on her. I must say tho that i love my tegu with all my heart and i want to be able to bond with her. She has been eating about every other day and i feed her thawed feeder rats or raw ground turkey, grapes, and bananas. well this is all please help me get an idea why she is sooooooo moody please.

luis · New Member Joined: Apr 03, 2007 Posts: 5

i keep hearing about these all night lights on like iguanas. my tegu likes lights off at night 75 to 80 degrees inside house temps 10 hours on 14 off, thats the first thing i would try

luis · New Member Joined: Apr 03, 2007 Posts: 5

also make sure the food is room temp

Dragonfruit · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject:

Hello and welcome! My tegu does the same thing at times. You haven't had her for very long and who knows what her previous living situation was like. It will take time to bond and create trust. She might just not want to be touched. If you continue to work with her and show her that even if she strikes at you it wont make you go away, she will start to warm up to you. Many people recommend putting a shirt with your scent on it in their hide. They associate your scent with being comfortable and warm and this may help. I've tried it and it worked but I didn't keep it up for long- needed my shirt back! Don't get discouraged, you may take one step forward and 2 steps back at times. It's all up to her

Good luck with her, post some pictures if you haven't already so we can see her!

-Tango's Mom

Ben3233 · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

Nathan160,

I made a lot of research about the Tegu/monitor Behavior.

These little monster are very intelligent and the best way to get them tame is to built a trust with them.

As you said, you didn't have him/her for long. If you have a side opening enclosure, it's good, because you can sit on a chair and put your hand into the enclosure and let the Tegu look at it.

After a couple of days, the Tegu will seems to be curious about your hand and come closer everytime. You can try to pet him, but do not put it off the ground, let him/her used to you. Do it progressively!

Need time and patience.

Good luck!

_________________
Ben3233
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon (Uresaii)

Frizz · Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject:

The longer I have Louie and the more I read on here, the more I have learnt that these guys are cleverer than we sometimes give them credit for and they all have their own personalities just like us.

Louie makes a lot of fuss when you first pick him up, tries to flip himself around etc, but after about 30 seconds he is snuggling himself down and falling asleep in my hand and looks upset when you then try to put him down. He doesn't come running up to the glass when I put my hand in but by the same token he doesn't run off in fear.

So I guess what I am saying is that he may never be a Tegu that throws himself at me but when I handle him he is as loving as the next tegu and this is the common ground I now have with him and what you will find with yours

_________________
1.0.0 Louie Our Red Argentine Tegu
1.0.0 Jorge Our Beardie
1.0.0 Charlie Our Yemen Chameleon
1.2.0 Romeo, Juliet & Duchess Our Leopard Geckos
3.0.0 Oscar, Kruger & Rocky Our Fire Bellied Toads

Tegster · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject:

We've had our Tegster since Oct '07. We got him as a hatchling.

We're finding he is tame but not social. That is, he never attacks, and likes to move AROUND us. He would just prefer we not try to snuggle or touch him for that matter.

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Renee

tupinambis · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject:

First thing I think you need to keep in mind is that you have adopted A REPTILE, not a PUPPY. If what you wanted was a puppy, you made the wrong choice. While yes, some people have made their tegus very tame and social, these are not properly domesticated animals and not all of them will turn out this way. Think of it this way, whereas some people have very calm tegus as pets, as untrained animals they are considered some of the most aggressive and nasty reptiles you would ever encounter. It will definitely take some work to get them to be calm, but not all individuals will get that way.

Tegster · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:57 pm Post subject:

Great points Tupinambis. We didn't figure Tegster would be cuddly. And we don't want a puppy. But certain videos and posts gave us the impression he would at least like being held and handled. Obviously these guys aren't robots who all act exactly alike. Unfortunately Tegster has already put in his full day and gone to bed by the time my son gets home from elementary school. So he is definately not getting handled enough. Our bad. And now that he has his custom enclosure he isn't even curious about getting out and free roaming.

We are hoping for a change once school lets out for summer and we can spend way more time with him.
_________________
Renee

Nathan160 · New Member Joined: Feb 04, 2008 Posts: 7

Thank you all for all the info and i wanted to say i do have 2 puppys and after i seen all the Videos they all look very tame. now that i have her in her enclosure she is very happy and she has calmed down. I did alot of research before i got her but things pop up and u think u know alot and they do something u havent seen before and u have to ask questions. Thankyou all again me and my tegu are bonding again and she is great.