Arg B&W gets pissy in her cage

She around 1.5 years old now. She's 100% fine outside of her cage and even when she's in her cage and I go to pick her up, she tail-whips. It's not bad now, but I don't want a 4 foot tegu tail whipping me. Do you think she'll get over it, or is there any trick I could try? Thanks.

She bit me for the first time today. I don't understand it. She's the sweetest thing outside of her cage. She also hates the act of being picked up. After that, she's fine.

most lizards act like that i know mine do. but when they get out their just fine.

I have seen a few of these animals that do not calm down 100%. This is the reason some of us breeders breed for disposition. There are some that will never make the best pets, I have been through a bunch of animals to get the ones I have. Many people who have gotten tegus from me have stated they are calm right out of the box, so I would think genetics do play a major role in having a calm pet.

I am not saying your tegu will or will not become calm. But it sounds like it does not like human contact. There could be a few reasons for this, it could also be a trust issue.

Originally Posted by varnyard

I have seen a few of these animals that do not calm down 100%. This is the reason some of us breeders breed for disposition. There are some that will never make the best pets, I have been through a bunch of animals to get the ones I have. Many people who have gotten tegus from me have stated they are calm right out of the box, so I would think genetics do play a major role in having a calm pet.

I am not saying your tegu will or will not become calm. But it sounds like it does not like human contact. There could be a few reasons for this, it could also be a trust issue.

The weird thing about this one is that it seems to like me once it's out of its cage. I let it crawl around on my couch and she will explore and eventually come back to me and fall asleep on my lap. She's even fine if I pick her up from anywhere but her cage.

I might as well add this to this thread instead of the other one I made. The tegu I got off of you is showing a little improvement now. I nudge him into the net, and then nudge him out of the net into his feeding cage. Then when he's done, I put my hand in the cage. He crawls all around and walks over my hand. Eventually I can slowly pick him up. He still resists a good bit, but I just hold him for a minute in the cage until he calms down. Then I hold him in my lab for a while and he slowly walks around. I don't let him go far because he could take off really quick. Hopefully if I keep this up I'll eventually be able to just pick him up in his cage without him flipping out every time.

Thanks.

Yesterday, she was a whole different lizard. I walked by her cage and she was just sitting there, watching me wherever I went. So I went over to her and she crawled into my hands.

Today, she was jumpy, but didn't even do a real tail whip. So she's showing some progress.

I also noticed her wiggling her tail, I think when she's startled. It moves in a slow, wave-like motion. Does anyone know what that means?

...and today she went back to her old self. I went to pick her up and she actually lunged at me. I don't know what to do. I'm not experienced enough to have a big mean tegu.

Well, she continues to bite me when I get her out of her cage. What do you think I should do, Bobby, sell her before she's too big and unhandleable for me, or just keep trying to tame her?

Will, if I was you, that is exactly what I would do. As I said before some tegus do not get tame or choose to have human contact. It is just like any other animal, some like people, some don't.

I have been through probably 500 tegus, my breeders must have three things in order for me to keep them for breeding. They must have nice color, size and a good disposition. If they do not meet those requirements, I do not keep them. IMO it is like dogs, calm tame dogs tend to produce tame puppies. I admit a few might not be as calm and tame, but as a rule they would have a better chance. Mean dogs tend to have mean pups, or pups that will grow to be like the parents. I think it would be true with tegus as well. Will all of my babies grow to be tame? No, a few might not, but most would tend to be more calm then the babies produced by mean adults.