Reptile & Amphibian Forums

someone help me! i just took an argentine b&w tegu from a friend since they were moving and he isn't tamed at all. my friend never handled him and now the only way i can is if he's totally wrapped in a towel and i'm holding his head so he can't escape. when i take him out of his tank, he flails around and scratches me. he's already a few months old and about 2 feet long, so i'm afraid he could really hurt me or himself if he tried.

what's the best way to calm him down or get him comfortable with being handled?

Mine did the same thing. You sound like he is still young, which is good. The good people here made some suggestions to me that really helped.
Start putting your hand in the cage and just let him lick it and get to know you. Just keep your hand it there and let him get used to you. If he seems receptive you may want to just touch him or pet him to let him know you are not his enemy, talk softly.
Try scooping him from the bottom and not the top.
(this was hard for me to learn) but try not to hold him so tight when you are holding him, as I have learned the harder you hold on the more they struggle.
Once I got my tegu used to being picked up, I would take him to his baths and after awhile he was walking all around with me on my shoulder. Now he loves his outings, he knows he can explore and have a good time.
Hope some of this helps

First off, give him some time to get used to the new place and the new smells. Talk to him as you feed him and change his water, so he gets to know your voice. And do as stardust suggested. The idea is for him to get the idea that you are not a threat, and that this huge preditor (You!) aren't going to eat him. All tegus have different personalities, so it may take awhile. My smaller tegu has been tame and ok with handling from the start. The other one would do "croc rolls" in my hand to get away when he decided he'd had enough of my company.

Leslie