I originally posted this in the "General Discussion" forum, before I saw this forum. I apologize for the double post.
So, 3 weeks ago I moved my tegu from his temporary glass tank to his new permanent enclosure. He is 8 months old. The following day, I went to take him out. I slid open the glass door and he lunged at my hand. I then had my wife hold him (he's used to her too) while I cleaned the sand/soil that came out of the tank. He bit her and drew blood. I then took him back, he bit me and drew blood!! I could sort of understand him lunging at me in the enclosure, he may be territorial, even though he wasn't with the smaller enclosure. A few nights later, I went to take him out to feed him. I moved my hand slowly toward him at his eye level to pet him. He bit me real good. Felt like my finger was being squashed and I bled like crazy, LOL! This is only since I moved him to his new tank. Since I got him at a month old, he's never been aggressive. Now, he hisses, puffs up, and squirms like crazy when I try to pick him up. I realize that his whole environment changed, but I thought that he'd be settling in by now. Clearly, he isn't. I've been bit 3 times this week, even out of the enclosure. I've resorted to not even putting my hand in the cage to get him. I just open his doors and wait for him to come to me. He does, and then he bites me, lol. Even when he's out of the enclosure, he tries to bite. He's currently eating a day old chick and 2 f/t "hopper" mice a day. I'm really frustrated because I spent countless hours in the past 7 months handling him specifically so that this type of thing could be avoided. Anyone have any ideas what may be going on? His temps/humidity are on point. Thank you!
So, 3 weeks ago I moved my tegu from his temporary glass tank to his new permanent enclosure. He is 8 months old. The following day, I went to take him out. I slid open the glass door and he lunged at my hand. I then had my wife hold him (he's used to her too) while I cleaned the sand/soil that came out of the tank. He bit her and drew blood. I then took him back, he bit me and drew blood!! I could sort of understand him lunging at me in the enclosure, he may be territorial, even though he wasn't with the smaller enclosure. A few nights later, I went to take him out to feed him. I moved my hand slowly toward him at his eye level to pet him. He bit me real good. Felt like my finger was being squashed and I bled like crazy, LOL! This is only since I moved him to his new tank. Since I got him at a month old, he's never been aggressive. Now, he hisses, puffs up, and squirms like crazy when I try to pick him up. I realize that his whole environment changed, but I thought that he'd be settling in by now. Clearly, he isn't. I've been bit 3 times this week, even out of the enclosure. I've resorted to not even putting my hand in the cage to get him. I just open his doors and wait for him to come to me. He does, and then he bites me, lol. Even when he's out of the enclosure, he tries to bite. He's currently eating a day old chick and 2 f/t "hopper" mice a day. I'm really frustrated because I spent countless hours in the past 7 months handling him specifically so that this type of thing could be avoided. Anyone have any ideas what may be going on? His temps/humidity are on point. Thank you!
