Handeling problems

Knight05 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:03 am Post subject: Handeling problems

My tegu's when i first got them were super tame and still are but.... they do not like being handeled anymore either of them. I only go to get them when they are out I never dig for them. They see me reach my hand in the cage and they just look at me and don't move until my hand gets close then they usually take off at lightning speed. Obviously this is a trust issue but realistically when i reach my hand in there daily to let them come to me naturally they never do. So what can I do to increase the trust and make them like me again. Even though i fully support them in my hand they wiggle and squirm and when I go to get them like i said they take off quick.

It's m/f argentine b/w combo pair, both about 11 months or so. They have 7X3X3 enclosure good light good humidity, eating fine, no stool problems, no abnormality issues. Both just finished shedding at the same time. They pretty much seem to do everything in sequence as pairs.

Ben3233 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

When you pick them, to you grab them on the top? Or you put your hand under them and lift them up?
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Ben
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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mistery, but today is a gift...that is why we call it the present". -Tortoise Oogway

firecar96 · Member Joined: Jan 27, 2008 Posts: 40 Location: Michigan

Do you feed them in there enclosure or do you take them out to feed them?
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cwj108 · Valued Member Joined: Mar 18, 2008 Posts: 104

Hey guys, I am having the same problem with mine. My hatchling is around 10 inches head to tail. She spends most of the day burrowed in the mulch and when I go to get her to feed, like knight, she will let me put my hand right in there next to her but the second I go to touch her shes GONE! I go under and not over to pick her up, I am always gentle and don't force it, but you would think she'd catch on that, "Hey when he gets me I get to go eat" but no, she just freaks out. If anyone can help Knight and I, it would be much appreciated! Thanks guys!

davebelcher · Member Joined: Mar 17, 2008 Posts: 41

also having this very same problem, mine looks happy wondering around the tank, and laying in her basking spot. but when ever i try to entise her to come out of the tank willingly she wont,even with the glass door open theres not even a move to come forward, i then try to get my hands under her trying to be calm and careful and shes rather big in size....and i get her turning her head and huffing at me,as my tanks on the floor and not much room to get to the back were she is i struggle a bit as im nearly 6" tall. i managed to get hold of my tegu and she did note but scratch like hell at me drawing blood.its a real shame im getting this response, ive spent alot of hard earnt money to give her the best home and surroundings in the tank, feed her when shes happy to take food, and still she keeps acting up with me, you would of thought her seeing me feed her and rearrange her tank cleaning water bowls and bath,she,d be use to me and my smell, but noooo its a different story all together,what am i doing wrong,i try to let her out to have a free lance around the home but she just tries to escape and find holes to get in or under,

jose2187 · Honored Member Joined: Mar 08, 2008 Posts: 259

how long do you handle your tegu at a time, and then how many times a day?

venomousdave · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

Pixal is just now getting to really trust me after about 3 months of daily interaction. I make him come out of his cage to eat, except for crickets. I also leave his cage door open anytime someone is home, and he has begun to come and go as he pleases. He free roams probably 5-6 hours a day. He still startles fairly easily, but is no longer really scared. He jumps at loud noises, but not nearly as bad as he used to.
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txrepgirl · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject:

to me it sounds like that you all are doing every thing right.I know that when Tegus are getting ready or are ready to shed they have some mood swings.What I did with mine at the beginning was that some times when I pass by the enclosure I open it and put my hand in it for a little while but didn't move it.Some times I petted him for a while and than left him alone.I didn't try to pick him up or take him out of the enclosure.When you let your Tegu free roam try to spend some time with him/her.Pet him/her and talk to him/her.

jose2187 · Honored Member Joined: Mar 08, 2008 Posts: 259

should have got a red!!! much easier to tame

joshjames14 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject:

My Argentine B&W has been very tame since day 1. I've had him for four months now and he has only gotten more tame. I work 2 days on, 2 days off. When I'm home I get him out for 2-3 hours a day. I open his cage top and pet him for a minute then I take him out. He knows now that means he gets to go outside. I just let him cruise around my front yard. He dose really good. He doesn't try to take off or anything. I do things a little differently then allot of people on this site. I feed my Tegu in his cage and he knows when I take his bowl out he waits patiently for me to put it back then he goes and eats. I pet him sometimes while he eats, and he doesn't seem to mind. I use coconut fiber for substrate so if he accidently ingest it , it won't cause him to be impacted. Also if my Tegu is in his shelter I'll take it out and get him out. My Tegu has never hissed at, or tried to bite me. He knows that I'm the one that takes care of him. Once you build trust with your tegu they become very attached to you. When I have mine outside he'll follow me around and if I sit down on the ground he'll crawl onto my lamp. I think mine is about months old. Keep working with your Tegu and let us know how it goes. I think working with Tegus is like working with dogs. The more time and effort you put in to them the better they turn out.

Ben3233 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

I don't think that feeding him into his enclosure can automatically turn the Tegu food agressive. If you are using a food bowl and he sees it, I think that they are enough intelligent to understand that "the bowl" means food and not the hand.

Good luck with you little buddy.

_________________
Ben
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon (Uresaii)

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mistery, but today is a gift...that is why we call it the present". -Tortoise Oogway

cwj108 · Valued Member Joined: Mar 18, 2008 Posts: 104

Thanks for the insight. Today it only took a 30 secs to get him into his feeding bin!! Normally that is a 5 minute job. I think he realized thrashing around to escape doesn't do anything, and everytime I take him out, it is to eat! He gets a little jumpy in my hand, but I hope in time mine will be as tame as yours! I haven;t really put in any time with him yet, he just arrived last week and I wanted him to adjust a little bit before he gets handled a lot. I plan to start working with him tomorrow. I want to start out at 15-20 mins a day at first and then gradually work up.

Ben3233 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject:

way to go!

good luck with your Tegu!

_________________
Ben
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon (Uresaii)

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mistery, but today is a gift...that is why we call it the present". -Tortoise Oogway

jose2187 · Honored Member Joined: Mar 08, 2008 Posts: 259

a hatchling is not gonna be dog tame over night its a baby and is defending itself against a much larger animal(you), but he will learn quick enough once he sees you all the time and you handle him he will realize your not going to hurt him