Hey guys, I'm having some trouble with my tegu. I bought him a few months ago, and I really wasn't able to bond with him because he went in to hibernation shortly after I got him. During that time, I would feed him outside of his cage, and he would eat a little, but not much. Eventually he stopped eating at all. Back then I had never experienced an animal hibernating before, so I was a little worried because I still had all my temps high, light cycles the same, etc. I didn't think hibernation would occur when that was all the same. Now I know I was wrong! Anyways, during that time, I started feeding him in his cage because when he was out, that's only when he would eat. He got in to this weird cycle where he would only come out at night when I was sleeping, so he would eat then. I was just worried he would become malnourished/get MBD if he didn't eat at all. Anyways, he went down again, but now, a few months later, he is up and HUNGRY.
My mom had been feeding him in his cage while I was in college. She sent me a text saying Zeke is eating like crazy, but he's starting to get really excited when he sees her walk in. He like jumps right at the door and waits. I don't know if this is just the sight of her or if he can smell the food. So, I just made him some ground turkey & scrambled eggs. I'm trying to feed him in a separate container. When I go to open the door, he's obviously interested in what I'm doing. I put a hand in the cage (after washing to get the food scent off) and just lay it there. He approached, smells for a little while, and then bites my fingers. It wasn't a hard bite, but I did pull my hand back and I'm afraid that a more powerful bite will be in the future. He did bite me last weekend when I tried to get him out of the cage; I think that was my fault by startling him though. We still have trust issues, as he is still all huffy/puffy around me. I tried sitting in an empty room for him to bond with me, but he just layed in a corner and didn't move.
Any suggestions? Will some thick gloves be ok to use? I'd rather not use them, but I'd rather not get bit either. I just want him to like me! It's so frustrating. I'm trying to start feeding him outside his cage, but if he starts biting and getting too insane, that might be a problem. I know if he bites my mom, she will be way too afraid to feed him outside the cage. Any suggestions/hints/tips would be awesome. Thanks!
My mom had been feeding him in his cage while I was in college. She sent me a text saying Zeke is eating like crazy, but he's starting to get really excited when he sees her walk in. He like jumps right at the door and waits. I don't know if this is just the sight of her or if he can smell the food. So, I just made him some ground turkey & scrambled eggs. I'm trying to feed him in a separate container. When I go to open the door, he's obviously interested in what I'm doing. I put a hand in the cage (after washing to get the food scent off) and just lay it there. He approached, smells for a little while, and then bites my fingers. It wasn't a hard bite, but I did pull my hand back and I'm afraid that a more powerful bite will be in the future. He did bite me last weekend when I tried to get him out of the cage; I think that was my fault by startling him though. We still have trust issues, as he is still all huffy/puffy around me. I tried sitting in an empty room for him to bond with me, but he just layed in a corner and didn't move.
Any suggestions? Will some thick gloves be ok to use? I'd rather not use them, but I'd rather not get bit either. I just want him to like me! It's so frustrating. I'm trying to start feeding him outside his cage, but if he starts biting and getting too insane, that might be a problem. I know if he bites my mom, she will be way too afraid to feed him outside the cage. Any suggestions/hints/tips would be awesome. Thanks!
