I started using gloves to handle my tegu (who as been an angel lately compared to when I got him. I can pick him up now without him freaking out and I pet him all the time). I figured the gloves will get him used to being picked up easier, and so far it works. After I fed him tonight, I had the thought to leave the gloves by him for a while, so he'll get used to their smell and will know that the gloves aren't food or a threat. The gloves do NOT smell like meat or any kind of food. Well, the pictures say it all. I must explain that he did not attack the gloves out of fear or anger, but calmly bit them as if they were food. I figured he would let go and realize they aren't food, but he went on for over ten minutes, trying to find a way to eat the gloves, dragging them around, shaking them like a mouse, even a gator-style death-roll! He would let go periodically, then try again and again. Like I said, it was calm bites at first and then he tried to tear it apart (as he does when his SDZ is too big). He FINALLY stopped, at which point I removed the gloves so I could post this question:
Should I leave them in there and let him "get the bite out", so maybe he'll learn he can't eat everything?
The gloves are soft, but I don't want his teeth to get caught in a thread or something weird like that, and I certainly don't want him to tear it apart and eat it. Remember, this is AFTER he just ate, and is not starving by any means. I really feel he needs to do this, because he thinks everything is food. He's been good about my hands, probably because I tell him NO! when he gets a little too interested. Maybe I could just do it every night while I watch him to make sure nothing bad happens until he gets tired of it. Is it a bad idea? What do you guys think?
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-reptilian9
