Noob questions.....(long)

CRG · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject: Noob questions.....(long)

Okay I got Aahz yesterday morning and left him alone the rest of the day, well today I wanted to check on him and I of course couldnt find him anywere cause he was way under the cypress mulch...Anyway he went ballistic on me, whipping his tail around and generally acting like a berzerker........Somehow I got the impression these guys were mellow and he acts just like an iguana(this kinda scares me)..Anyway he is about 3mnths,
1.. how long should I expect it to take to tame him enough to hold him?
2..How do I get him to eat if he is hiding all the time, wont his food spoil(assuming I feed him frozen/thawed or turkey)BTW he hasnt eaten yet.
? 3..I dont want to feed him insects on cypress mulch should I change him to newspaper or will that stress him too much?

I got him from Agama int. so he has been outside all his short life and not held,,never been in a cage..
Thanks all

Teiidae · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:51 pm Post subject:

He's probably stressed with all the change and new environment - Let him burrow and don't dig him up - Keep fresh water and maintain your lighting - He will come up in time, than start working with him - He has to gain trust in you as you may seem to be a threat to him...
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Slizarus · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:12 pm Post subject:

I usually reccomend a 2 week acclimation period.. but that's not how I usually act myself anyways, I'm just too excited

I had to hold my girl after only waiting 2 days, and she's a ready to bite your fingers off adult.
As for the handling thing, holding daily in short sessions may take you about 4 weeks for it to become fully comfortable with you... it is my hypothesis that Tegus come to recognize you by scent, sight, and sound especially.
While I haven't a clue how good their hearing is, they will respond to vocal stimulation it seems.. be sure to talk to it, use it's name when referring to it.. be gentle but firm in grasp. Secure the limbs especially.

Seeing as it's young, I don't believe it's brain is fully developed and at this point it's responding more on instinct than anything else, and thus will take a while to even have the capacity to remember clearly different cues and signals.
That said.. this is just my own little speculation about it.

A note: Can anyone confirm or deny the development of their brain?
I know this is the case with mammals, infantile minds being what they are, but some things I've read tell that reptiles are fully developed... if this includes the CNS and the like, I haven't a clue.

Good luck!!
Cute little thing.
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