tegu help

[SilentWarrior]

Last week I caught a male B&W tegu in my back yard, that sounds a little crazy since I live in California, but I just figured he was an escaped pet. I put up fliers and stuff but nobody claimed him, so now I have a 40" tegu in my shower. He's pretty docile and I really like him, but whenever I pick him up he freaks out and whips his tail, is that a normal thing for them to do, because it would be easier to move him. Also, I'd like to train him, but do you think he's too old? thanks.

[SilentWarrior]

Here's a pic of him, his name is Grant

[RevMojo]

The tail whipping isn't unusual. As far as whether he's too old to train...at this point, you'll never teach him to fetch the paper, but you might get him a little more used to being held. Good find! And welcome to RTB.

You are looking into more permanent caging, right? It can't be easy showering with all that tail whipping going on...

[VoodooChile]

Livestock metal feed troughs work well for enclosures..Youll want at least a 6ft long unless you can find an 8ft. Also a sheet of plexiglass with holes drilled will cover the trough, you will find most tegus love to dig, and are quite intelligent escape artists.

Agama International is a great resource of Tegu info
http://www.agamainternational.com/pages/tegus.html

[NicoleRussell]

As Rev said, tail whipping is normal...for almost all species of lizard, when they feel threatened. This will pass as the animal becomes accustomed to being handled, safe and secure. Bert at agama is my friend and I agree he is a wonderful source for all tegu info--I got both of mine from him
You need to get him under proper heat ASAP...heat and uvb are extremely important as is burrowing material for mental stability and problem free shedding....

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