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Need advice, PLEASE.

mpassaro

New Member
Messages
7
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!
 
Last edited:

Walter1

Moderator
Staff member
1,000+ Post Club
5 Year Member
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4,384
What species and how big? How long have you had him. Any chance for a picture?
 

mpassaro

New Member
Messages
7
Arg B&W. I've had him for 7 months, he's 8 months old and he's about 2'.
 

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Daniel medranodiaz

New Member
Messages
15
It's not necessarily age that matters but more of the size, since you said he is around 2ft long, he isn't small enough to hide and go unnotice so he starts building up the confident to defend themselves from other predator. What's the dimension of the enclosure and how long have you had him in there and where it is located?
 

mpassaro

New Member
Messages
7
It's in my living room. It's about 8x3x3. Read my original post and I went into his whole ordeal with the cage. Can't type all that again!! Lol.
 

Daniel medranodiaz

New Member
Messages
15
I had Columbian tegu who wen through this phase and it took a while for her to return to her normal self. Just have to give him more time and even if he bites you, you still gotta handle him and I know that isn't quite fun. See if it's the lights or tempature is irritating it but the puberty thing is the only thing I can really think of that would cause him to act like this. Is there any other animals in the house he could see that could also be a cause
 

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