First bite?

[kim86]

My tegu has only tried to bite me once while I was applying ointment to his nose, which I was able to move my hand away quick enough. Is it better to just let them get you one time? I read somewhere that letting them bite you and realizing they can't really eat you is good because it'll never really happen again. Chomp.

 

[larissalurid]

I would say no, he knows he can't eat you, but biting you is a way for him to tell you "stop". If he realizes that biting will make you put him down, stop doing something, etc. then he will use it against you as a way to control you.

 

[dragonmetalhead]

No animal with bite unless provoked, and inviting a bite is not a good idea. Tegus have very sharp teeth and they know how to use them. From my experience with Kodo, I have come to believe that tegus recognize the hand that feeds and can learn not to bite their owners. He won't even nibble my fingers if they smell like food. That being said, tegus are still wild animals at heart and I would do everything possible to avoid a bite. Most people get bitten by their pet reptiles at least once, so unless your tegu starts biting you every time you take him out or feed him I wouldn't worry to much. He probably tried to bite because you were messing around near his nose/mouth. Kodo hates having his mouth forced open and the last time I tried it, he seized my fingertip, squeezed hard enough I couldn't pull out of his jaws. then released me unharmed; it was his way of saying "Quit that or I'll make you sorry."

 

[chelvis]

Tegus have a few different bites, I tell people I have only been bitten once by my tegus. I got bit by Bosco once while feeding by hand (stupid move) he missed the mouse and got my hand. He quickly let go once he realized what he had was not a mouse. Now I have heard him crush a rat skull with no problem so he could have done a lot of damage to my figure, all I got was two small puncture wounds. He has mouthed me a few times when he is not happen with something. One time while he was trying to eat I thought it would be smart to trim his nails (stupid move again). He slowly turned around and took my hand in his mouth and we the littlest pressure he could put on those jaws closed around my hand and then slowly let go. There was no wound only a small inundation of where the teeth had pressed against the skin.

Reason I mention this is if a tegu can control their jaw that well and deliever different bites then they already know you are not food and they may learn how to tell you off with light bites. Bosco also does nudges with his nose when he is not happy with what I am doing. Bottom line is avoid the bite!