Blind Leap Into Space

[Styx]

I know someone else has had to deal with this, so my question is, HOW?

Seems like a once a day thing ever since I have gotten him, but my little red tegu will just jump out of my hands at random times and I have to catch him mid-air before he hits the floor (I have arboreal geckos - I am very good at this). When I catch him he just wigs out, whips and flails and scratches.

So, my question is, what is the best way to deal with this? Obviously I don't want to drop him, nor do I want to just set him on the floor to calm down because he'll run off. But at the same time I'm concerned that by hanging onto him for dear life while I get him back to his cage is negatively affection the relationship I am trying to establish with him.

 

[Murkve]

Hold him over a container, this way when he jumps he will go into a safe place. When they're small, falling from a couple feet isn't the worst thing either. Mine has fallen from 5 feet before, and has since emerged just fine.

You might not want to immediately put him back after such an episode. All you are doing is teaching him that "If I jump and generally freak out, I get to go back home." What I try to do with mine is keep him going from hand to hand until she calms down a touch, then put her back in her enclosure. That way she doesn't associate throwing a temper tantrum with being put back.

 

[Dirtydmc]

I had a normal that died from a foot and a half leap off the couch. Stay on the floor with him.

 

[spark678]

I agree I wouldnt trust a tegu that high. You should know if your tegu is a jumper. If he is I wouldnt carry him all over keep him low.

 

[Styx]

Murkve, thanks. The container is a really great idea. I didn't think of that at all, and that is why I ask.

Dirtydmc & spark678, I don't carry him all over the place. I carry him to and from his feeding cage, to and from his outdoor/indoor enclosures, and to and from the tub for his baths. These episodes occur either to or from such places. So, I carry him to places he needs to go and be, but otherwise I don't hold him high since I know he jumps. The episodes are also random, and don't occur at any predictable time. Sometimes I will take him out of the bath, take four steps and he freaks; sometimes I will take him from the bath and carry him back to his cage without event; ect.

If I'm actually "handling" him, it's always on the floor.

 

[Scott Hogge]

Murkve, thanks. The container is a really great idea. I didn't think of that at all, and that is why I ask.

Dirtydmc & spark678, I don't carry him all over the place. I carry him to and from his feeding cage, to and from his outdoor/indoor enclosures, and to and from the tub for his baths. These episodes occur either to or from such places. So, I carry him to places he needs to go and be, but otherwise I don't hold him high since I know he jumps. The episodes are also random, and don't occur at any predictable time. Sometimes I will take him out of the bath, take four steps and he freaks; sometimes I will take him from the bath and carry him back to his cage without event; ect.

If I'm actually "handling" him, it's always on the floor.

Are you bringing back and forth between an inside and outside enclosure every day? How long have u had him, and how big is he now?

 

[Styx]

No, I only take him outside when the weather permits. So it's often, but not every day. He does get taken somewhere every day though, to eat, get a bath, or go outside (weather permitting). I have had him since April and he is 6" snout to vent length.

 

[Bubblz Calhoun]

Change how you hold him, no matter what size they are they should be restrained to keep from being able to jump when you're holding them. If for what ever reason that doesn't work then use a towel, harness and leash or bin to transport him in.

 

[Styx]

Bubblz, got it. Thank you. He has a leash and harness, I just haven't been able to convince him to wear it yet; still working on that one.

So, I will use a bin, just in case.

 

[laurarfl]

I don't know if I would do the leash thing until I worked on handling a bit more, but that is just me, your mileage may vary.

Agree with everyone...I've had jumps from 5ft that were fine and remember the short fall that killed dirtydmc's tegu. You just never know what will happen, how they will land. I still carry little ones in my hand or in a container so they won't jump. They are very spontaneous at this age and can be arboreal.