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Recent content by AtlasInSd

  1. AtlasInSd

    Q: Tegu defensiveness/aggression + taming?

    No the interactions do not need to be long. In fact shorter interactions initially will probably be more beneficial. The hard part is going to be trying to end it on a good note. You don't have to but you're going to have the best success if you do. What you don't want to encourage is a negative...
  2. AtlasInSd

    Q: Tegu defensiveness/aggression + taming?

    Do you have a front opening or top opening enclosure? Coming in from the top can be a bit threatening, where coming in from the front is less threatening but can be more difficult to interact depending on headroom. Raising the enclosure to waist height can make you look smaller and thus less...
  3. AtlasInSd

    Q: Tegu defensiveness/aggression + taming?

    As mentioned by Tromegan, I also have a set of leather gloves, Harbor Freight has cheap ones that work. It will help to prevent lacerations but not so much the bite force of a tegu so care still needs to be taken. I also incorporate thermostatically regulated heat tape under slate tile as a heat...
  4. AtlasInSd

    Q: Tegu defensiveness/aggression + taming?

    Yes, you can find many examples of reptile target training on youtube (Clints Reptiles). I run a rescue where we get all kinds of aggressive reptiles quite frequently. Target training is a great way to interact safely and break the ice. I use it with Monitors, Tegus, Boas, Iguanas, and all kinds...
  5. AtlasInSd

    Q: Tegu defensiveness/aggression + taming?

    Some negative interactions would be pinning your tegu down to restrain it, returning aggression to show you are the scarier animal, or otherwise forcing the animal into doing something it just doesn't want to do. There are times when the above may seem to be necessary when dealing with an...
  6. AtlasInSd

    Q: Tegu defensiveness/aggression + taming?

    Some things to consider. The first being around 1-year-old, sometimes a little sooner, sometimes a little later, tagus go into buberty. This can last 6 months to a year where they're just real jerks. You're going to need to spend far more effort and far more care in interacting with them during...
  7. AtlasInSd

    Nail trimming

    One of the easy ways is to have tile in the enclosure and run your heat tape underneath it. They readily go onto the tile often to warm up which very gradually over a long time keeps there nail tips from getting sharp. It's a win win because you don't have to go in there and start trimming nails
  8. AtlasInSd

    Would a black and white Argentine tegu would make a good classroom pet?

    I would also recommend against a tegu as a classroom pet. I run a reptile rescue and have a lot of exposure to these and many other types of otherwise docile or friendly reptiles. Most of the time these reptiles can be very happy, friendly, and on the surface can seem quite safe to handle. But...
  9. AtlasInSd

    Looking for Input for outside year round enclosure Southern California.

    I live in San Diego, Ca, have a large Argentine Tegu, and run a reptile rescue. While our summer temperatures are nice for an outdoor Tegu, Spring/Fall nights and Winter Temps are not. You will end up with health problems if they do not have access to a UVB lit, warm indoor area large enough for...
  10. AtlasInSd

    Tegu aggressive problem

    Like most lizards, tegus see in ultraviolet light. sunlight is substantially more ultraviolet light than you will get inside, so you look very different to your tegu outside than you do inside which often times freaks them out. Once they get used to what you look like outside they will calm down...
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