Handling an “aggressive” Tegu Lizard!

[@lasagnakob9908]

Positive reinforcement through regular handling and trust building, a solid strategy for calming most lizards, and most animals even.

[@lsuzicosbw644]

Your tegu handling is admirable! New sub! Just adopted my baby tegu this week and began the training yesterday. Hope to be as good of a tegu momma as you!!!!

[@shanabanana1]

We just got a red tague and the advice is appreciated.

[@tarrahbarker24]

She just BEAUTIFUL!!

[@kodykuhns2274]

Mines about this size.. I work with him so much but he does the same thing just death rolls and death rolls I’m so scared he’s gonna drop his tail but ugh I’m so scared for him to get any bigger and do this stuff like you said!! this video made me feel so much better THERES HOPE!!! Lol

[@shanetillery6974]

Awesome you know what u are doing and building trust

[@jareddavis8785]

GREAT VIDEO !! LIKE YOUR METHOD YOU USE BEFORE HANDLING HER 💯💯💯

[@flowersreptiles2707]

JARED DAVIS thanks!! 👍

[@jdandkikisExotics]

my tegu runs as soon as i get near it hopefully in the future he calms down

[@fitodaking16]

Don't give up on KZbin. You're good 👍

[@flowersreptiles2707]

Just waiting to come back even better than I started. I appreciate you 🙏

[@zaerberus9623]

Great work :) She seems so calm. Oh I just saw that jumping scene xD But anyway you're doing great for taking care of her. She's beautiful. I've got my little guy 1 month ago, he's also super calm and curious

[@flowersreptiles2707]

Jennifer thank you so much! Best of luck to your lil dude :)

[@shawncoleman3581]

I’m gonna use your technique if I ever need to thank you!

[@marshy1499]

Hi, I'm watching this x 2 years later ..I have a Red Tegu one roughly the same age as in this video.. How is she now .. Hopefully you'll see this

[@marvinbonilla3660]

why we all tegu/reptile owners call them baby? hahaaha they are so cute

[@brianlynch5112]

You’re like a lizard whisperer

[@HisGraceIsSufficient703]

Love it my tegu Fiona is a baby n has freaked out but I think now she is getting used to me she smells me when I put my hand in her enclosure

[@flowersreptiles2707]

Did you try the shirt trick? Where you put a shirt you wore in her enclosure so she gets used to your scent. That was how I started my bond with my tegus

[@komodofpv1267]

so did you just handle her every day until she got used to you? My red tegu is still scared, I've been slowly putting my hand in the enclosure and getting some licks but he still flinches and doesn't like his space invaded yet so I haven't tried handling him. Should I start handling him first or wait for him to get used to me?

[@flowersreptiles2707]

With a tegu I’d suggest leaving a worn item of clothing in his enclosure so he gets used to your scent in his territory. And with handling, maybe start in a bath tub, or in small enclosed room like a bathroom. You’d want to get him slowly acquainted with you but not freak him out with an overwhelming experience. In this video of my monitor, she was free roaming the room for an hour or so getting used to the room and to me, before I started handling her.

[@lasagnakob9908]

If you get them as hatchlings, handling and touching for a few minutes every day will be important to them mellowing out quickly before getting big enough to hurt you. That being said, an approach should be more moderate if you get them big, but still shouldn't be a big deal since Tegus are known for mellowing out quickly regardless. Just some tips of my own observations with long time reptile keepers, you should check out New England Reptiles (or NERD) as an example for more in-depth tips and tricks to reptile handling,

[@flowersreptiles2707]

@@lasagnakob9908 absolutely!! My hatchling experience was much different than this yearling tegu that was already scared of human interaction. She had no positive threads of trust yet, so it definitely was more of a moderate approach. She still has never tried to hurt me and it took a year to gain her full trust.

[@rickymullane9973]

hi i got same tegu mine is a female how is your one doing

[@morganstettler]

My tegu is my favorite animal. Mushu is so sweet and wants so much attention. I swear it's like having a toddler.

[@christiansotelo3986]

Has she ever bite you? I have a female tegu and she bit me before I want to tame her this is a really good video thank you

[@flowersreptiles2707]

No never bit me but every tegu is different!!

[@adrianj3198]

How is she now?

[@flowersreptiles2707]

She’s very tame and actually comes to me now instead of running away. I have to take an updated video!

[@kennynyc1555]

My new baby tegu giving me the side eye :( I have in a 20 gallon top mesh starter tank , realized fast its not good to have to much stuff in tank cuz makes harder to get at tegu

[@flowersreptiles2707]

Try a front opening tank. Put your hands in every so often and get the tegu used to seeing your hands. I would move things around every few hours.

[@kennynyc1555]

@@flowersreptiles2707 thanks , I will get a front opening soon :)

[@kennynyc1555]

Dang.. a few hours later I feel I Understand what I dint before about what ya said, 🤗 change things around ...so they know its not Only ThUrrs! My Original design looked awesome but realised the "Ratio" needed for Tegu to burrow but also be seen,also hard to handle coming from top with all fancy stuff..had to Re-assemble But big fail cuz Day 1 I see they burrow and they cannot be seen! lmao TY for helping you R now one of my Tegu Famlay :)

[@orlianaferreira1886]

Batata para mim eu vou lá

[@SusanLBritt]

How can u tell couriousness differ behavior from feeding behavior

[@flowersreptiles2707]

Tongue flicks. When a tegu is curious they will continue tongue flicking and won’t go into an excited prey drive mode. They also get a different look in their eyes in feeding mode, like a focused excited look. When being curious they are more calm and not as excited

[@Joe-qy9jv]

Don't put her to close to your face

[@brianlynch5112]

You wanna have a word with your cameraman

[@flowersreptiles2707]

Haha aka my phone leaning on a shelf 🥵