Taming

filique · Member Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 12 Location: California

I just purchased an argentine tegu 3 weeks ago. I have been trying to tame her down ever since. This is my first reptile. I would take her out and hold her but it didn't seem to work. Then I read the article on taming an untamed tegu on this site. IT WORKS!!!. After just a week she is very calm, I pick her up without welding gloves no problem and she is not jumpy or anything. To go from hissing at me constantly, flicking her tail and opening her mouth like she is going to strike to this is amazing. I recommend that method (in the helpful info section) to anyone who is looking to tame a tegu who is haveing troubles.

Brisamen · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:47 am Post subject:

It is great to hear that this site has helped you getting the fullest joy from owning a tegu. Just keep going like this and I bet you will have a great pet!
I am hoping I can turn my stuborn red tegu around to becoming one too. Hes already 4 years old but I think with enough patience and effort I can turn him around just a little bit more so hes a more social tegu then he is now.

Keep us updated on your progress with taming your tegu!
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1.0.0 T.rufescens
0.1.0 T.merianae
1.0.0 Testudo horsfieldii
1.0.0 Stenodactylus sthenodactylus
0.0.1 Ceratophrys ornata
0.0.1 Geocholone elegans
0.0.1 Python regius
2.0.0 Mustela Putorius Furo
0.1.0 Bouvier des flandres

drfish · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:46 am Post subject:

I also tried these tips, but unfortunately, he just will not go for the picking up thing, at all.

Doesn't mind me man handling him, as long as he doesn't leave the floor.

But, he's nealry 3 year old, and wasn't trained from the start. The way I see it, I don't need to pick him up, so leave him to it.

filique · Member Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 12 Location: California

I've been reading what others have posted about taming their tegus and I must have gotten a really good one. I took her to the reptile store where I get my feeders and they were all touching her with no problem. I noticed though she is always a lot more comfortable with me around. It's only been a month and she seems pretty cool with me, I handle her a lot and she will crawl up on my lap and it's funny cause a few times when she got scared she actually ran to me for protection. Pretty good for only a month. She still huffs a little when I am first taking her out of her cage but I just lay my hand down for a few seconds and she stops.

Rick · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:35 pm Post subject:

Glad to hear the method works. I have gotten many emails stating similar experiences from others. Sometimes it doesn't work because the tegu was already too old and set in it's ways, sometimes the tegu was just to stubborn. The problem with a really smart animal is that it can be a bit independent when it wants to.

Thanks for letting us know how it went for you.

Rick
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Sisco Reptiles - Proud Breeder of the Tamest & Most Social Tegus. See www.SiscoReptiles.com

John · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 1:11 pm Post subject:

Reptiles have a thing Against gloves, I won't wear them! They can also cause trouble when an animal bites into them (broken teeth....).
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John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/

Rick · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 4:08 pm Post subject:

A broken tooth from gloves is a possibility if you yank away when a tegu sinks deeply into a pair of leather gloves. Though I'd really rather have a chipped tooth on a tegu and watch for infection than 12 or so stitches in my hand and watch for infection.

The whole 'reptiles have a thing against gloves' is like saying "all flowers are yellow", though some may have had bad experiences, all reptiles do not hate gloves. More specifically, the tegus I have dealt with didn't have a problem with the glove any more then it had a problem with my hand in its territory.

If someone, like you, wants to feed a large reptile by hand and take all risks that are involved with those actions than all the more power to you, but masking such a high risk task with a simple "I have always hand fed" type comment will promote people trying to do so. Then their tegus will get large. Their tegus will, I used 'will' instead of 'may' because it's very, very likely" someday get bit. It may be minor and they may learn from it or it could be a very serious injury.

Anyone with any serious experience with tegus will tell you "Do not ever hand feed your tegus". Yet, for some reason every time the words "hand fed" are muttered I know a post from John will follow saying "It's ok to hand feed. I hand feed all of my large reptiles."

Everyone is entitled their opinion here. John is clear on his, I am clear on mine. Make your own choice, but don't enter into hand feeding as if it's a simple matter. Generally you get little, if any, warning before a serious bite.

Rick
_________________
Sisco Reptiles - Proud Breeder of the Tamest & Most Social Tegus. See www.SiscoReptiles.com

John · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject:

I guess I should stop feeding the gators and caiman by hand as well? From personal experience as well as many others I've been told, noticed, and witnessed a difference in behavior with an animal when gloves are present. Thus is why I stated "reptiles have a thing against gloves". I've found a much calmer animal in my bare hands that seemed less stressed. I'm not trying to promote anything, if someone wants to do something DO IT. If you don't feel the risk is worth it DON'T do it. No one will get all over you for being safe. An example: Bill Hasst still milks by hand without the use of hooks (ect.). He's also been bitten many more times. It could be I'm just young and stupid. Then again it could be I'm smart and experienced. As a noob try hanging around someone that knows what they are doing (with pretty much anything). They will do things you think are stupid or ignorant.....they probably know what they are doing. Anyways this is a worthless arguement that won't get either of us anywhere.
_________________
John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/

Rick · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:33 pm Post subject:

I didn't personally think that this discussion was stupid or an argument. I just felt it was poor practice to post so lightly on such a serious issue. We are dealing with tegus. Not monitors, caimans, or boas. Tegus are intelligent and will indeed associate your hand with food. Every tegu breeder or experienced tegu keeper will state "Do not hand feed." If it is safe why would almost every single experienced tegu keeper say the same exact thing. I can honestly, without any anger or contempt, say that I do not know one well known experienced tegu keeper who recommends hand feeding tegus.

You keep posting as if its no big deal that you hand feed your tegus and never get bit. How many tegus have you hand fed and for how long? I know after just a few weeks of tong feeding my tegu, Tux, he kept trying to eat the tongs even when they were just laying on the floor and he noticed them!! My point is someone, somewhere reads this and thinks.. "Cool, I am gonna hand feed my tegu too." and he gets seriously injured. News covers the attack of a large tegu and crap goes to hell for large reptile keepers in that state. Am I being a little dramatic? Perhaps, but it happens all the time. One incident, a hyped up news crew looking for "news" and herpers end up paying every time. If you want to post "I hand feed because I am a tegu expert, but do not try this at home unless you are experienced." then I would not have even said anything, but you always post as if it is such a light subject.

That's my point. No argument, just my opinion and yours. I just wanted to make sure anyone reading these forums was warned and now they are.

Rick
_________________
Sisco Reptiles - Proud Breeder of the Tamest & Most Social Tegus. See www.SiscoReptiles.com

Brisamen · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:44 am Post subject:

I am with Rick all the way on this.
I would seriously warn anyone (yes even experienced reptile keepers) to feed without tong. It is a serious risk to your hand. If you know what a tegu's yaws can do with the head of a mouse or rat, think of what they might do with the bones in your hand. And the infection it might cause you when he only gives you a niping...
And I know you think you know your tegu's and I know your experienced and all that. But in fact you can't EVER know for sure what that tegu is thinking. And you never have EVERYTHING in hand, someone might call you up when your feeding and the phone rings, tegu upsad and bites...mother comes in when your feeding, tegu bites....
Its the same with dogs. People think they know their dogs but in fact they stay animals and they will act acording to instinct. If they feel treathend or think their pack is being treathened they will protect it.
And you are not seriously saying you wouldnt mind having these theeth sunk into your skin is a minor thing now would you?

Do not hand feed unles you can peek in your tegu's mind and can be sure nothing unsuspected will appear!
_________________
1.0.0 T.rufescens
0.1.0 T.merianae
1.0.0 Testudo horsfieldii
1.0.0 Stenodactylus sthenodactylus
0.0.1 Ceratophrys ornata
0.0.1 Geocholone elegans
0.0.1 Python regius
2.0.0 Mustela Putorius Furo
0.1.0 Bouvier des flandres

Junior · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:13 am Post subject:

Not to beat a dead horse several, several times. I have to agree with Rick. Every Tegu is different, by the comments that are posted daily the one thing that remains consistent is the different personalities that every members Tegus have. I stated when I first posted how difficult My Tegu Lady is. I dare anyone to get the idea of feeding her by hand. Plus just for the sake of argument I have three small girls and two boys if they watch me feeding lady by hand they will follow and I can guarantee a trip to the emergency room that night. I think Rick is just pointing out that every Tegu needs to be taken seriously remembering that they are learning about us, at the same time we are learning about them. They learn that we are not going to harm them, but never forget that if they feel threatened by us they will react in a defensive manner i.e. biting.

drfish · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:38 am Post subject:

Have to say, I treid it once, and once only. I wouldn't go as far as to say it hurts when they bite, but if they decide to death roll your hand, that could be another matter. I got bit very early on in Tegu ownership, on the forearm, and it did put me off just a little bit. I am however used to handling 2 Staffordshire Bull Terrier's and believe me, they can bite much harder.

John · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject:

Being quick does help. I've fed 5 tegus by hand over a couple of weeks/months, Long enough to where they new my hand ment food. I'd walk over to the visions and place my hand on the glass to slide it. The tegus would come running. You let them check you out (don't get to close) and within a minute or 2 they realize that there isn't any food. At that point in time you can do what you want. Have I had a tegu try and bite my hand? Yes I have. Do I think this is a light matter, depends on how you look at it. I'm not a safety freak and maybe I tend to do things on the edge. I'm not recommending this, it's just what I do. Do what you want. Even with them knowning my hand meant food I could still place a f/t mouse on my hand and place it in the tank. The tegu would pick the mouse up off of my hand and eat it. I ONLY have tried this with 2ft- 2 1/2ft tegus, I highly doubt I'd do that with an adult! Feeding by hand is just something I do.
_________________
John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/

John · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:17 am Post subject:

***It would be best not to do what I do*** If you were smart you wouldn't anyhow.
_________________
John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/

TEGUSFORYOU · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:17 am Post subject: hand feeding

lol john you remind me of a good friend of mine he wont buy a animal unless it bites him. we as reptile breeders and owners need to educate the newbies in good husbandry and ownership.is this not why were here to help other im sorry but hand feeding leads to the hand being fed you stated the best reason for not hand feeding :
Long enough to where they new my hand meant food. I'd walk over to the visions and place my hand on the glass to slide it. The tegus would come running. You let them check you out (don't get to close) and within a minute or 2 they realize that there isn't any food. i don't want my animals thinking my hand is food or may have food in it.im a firm believer in feeding out of the cage for this same reason tegus learn quick where food comes from them chasing the tongs is another example.as for gloves i don't use them either and not for my animals hating them i like the feel of my animal in my hand.but will use a glove for some things as i don't want to be bit.if i play in the street long enough ill be hit by a car.why take the chance for the thrill of the bite? i don't want a record like 160 plus bites from venomous animals how many times has he been dead 2 or 3 i think and lost fingers and such to bites nope not me.i got bit the other day first time in a long time and by a snake that never bites so it just reminds me there wild animals who put up with us for the food and shelter we provied