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Along with the tegus and the other lizards and the horses (and dog and cats), I raise fancy dwarf hamsters for a good local pet store. I had just moved some weanling hamsters when some friends stopped by. As we sat talking, Loiosh, my big red male, started to tripod at the front of his enclosure, which means he wants to come out. Not thinking that I had handled the hamsters, I let him out. He did his usual toungue flick around my face to make sure it was me, and then he and I both realized that Mom smelled like hamster! He reached over and took my finger in his mouth, and immediately let go. No blood, no broken skin. Now that's a smart tegu. When Loiosh opens his mouth to yawn, we joke that you could lob a tennis ball in there without touching his lips! (Wait...do tegus have lips????)

I got lucky!!!! I'll remember next time.

Leslie

When the tegus smell 'food' on you, but don't associate you as food the first bite seems to be a small inspection bite. If you had just got done feeding live hampsters or mice to the tegu then you did the same thing it you probably wouldn't have been so lucky.

I too had been lucky in the past. My wife was cleaning the rats enclosure and said "Hold these for a minute" (the rats are her pets, but the baby are tegu food) anyways, I took the rats and they ran to my shoulder. Soon she came and put them back in the enclosure. I was half watching TV and half typing and had no got up to wash up.

An hour later my daughter came over and took her tegu, Tila, out of the tegu enclosure and took out Tux and sat him on my lap. He checked out the laptop first, as he always does. He loves to type.. lol - then up onto my shoulder he goes. He is touching my ear, tick ---- tick (you can hear the tounge) --- tick, tick, tick tick. The touching became rapid and I thought what heck is he.. Ouch!!! Inspection bite!

I am seriously glad he didn't just get fed. As this bring his feeding response up.

Enough rambling, I am glad it turned out good for you.

Rick
The Tegu Community
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theTegu.com(munity)

Loiosh always inspects my face, neck, ears, etc. when he first comes out. Just making sure it is me. I know what you mean about the tick, tick, tick. The really funny thing is when he sticks his nose in my ear and breathes and snuffles.

Actually, I had a thought earlier: My husband bought me lovely dangly sparkly earings for Christmas. I think I shall try to remember to take them out before I get Loiosh out. I don't think they move like food, but he might!

Leslie

Congrats on surviving that encounter with all digits intact!! I very often shudder when I think of taking a full-on bite from Squishy whenever I see those choppers. Anyway, the awareness (intelligence) of large reptiles really fascinates me. Many years ago, I kept large retics in a converted bedroom (pond, mulch floor, several trees, etc.) and I made a potentially very serious "dumb" when hand-feeding (VERY STUPID!!!!) a 12 foot female. She was higher than me and when she struck down at the rabbit she missed and caught a few teeth on my thumb and forefinger. She never wrapped though, and instead released instantly and tongue-flicked for the rabbit, which I promptly threw up on her shelf. But she knew for sure I was not food and that, just like your encounter, indicates a higher level of awareness than I think most people give them credit for. Billy

>>Along with the tegus and the other lizards and the horses (and dog and cats), I raise fancy dwarf hamsters for a good local pet store. I had just moved some weanling hamsters when some friends stopped by. As we sat talking, Loiosh, my big red male, started to tripod at the front of his enclosure, which means he wants to come out. Not thinking that I had handled the hamsters, I let him out. He did his usual toungue flick around my face to make sure it was me, and then he and I both realized that Mom smelled like hamster! He reached over and took my finger in his mouth, and immediately let go. No blood, no broken skin. Now that's a smart tegu. When Loiosh opens his mouth to yawn, we joke that you could lob a tennis ball in there without touching his lips! (Wait...do tegus have lips????)
>>
>>I got lucky!!!! I'll remember next time.
>>
>>Leslie

They're smart little guys arent they? I did that too, had just fed Tika a mouse or crickets, I dont remember, but I was holding him and ignoring his I'm-still-hungry-tongue-flicking-for-food attitude and he chomped on my pointer finger. Well he let go right away and looked very surprised when I said OW. I showed that cut off for a long time. He hasnt bitten me since. I dont know what I'd do without my baby.
-Beth