Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My male Paraguayan B&W is normally such a placid guy, likes to be handled, never have any probs with him ... occassionally he gets a bit restless after being held for a while, but generally just wants to go for a wander ...

Anyway, saturday afternoon, the neighbours kids were talking to me and asked if I could show them the lizard .. now he is regularly handled and is used to lots of different people ...

I decided that it would be a good idea to take him out into the back garden as the garage is a right mess at the moment as I have been rearranging stuff.

Anyway my normally placid lizard - the mimute I stepped out into the garden - turned it a writhing, wriggling, hissing, biting and scratching 4ft long pyschopath ... needless to say his nails need a trim and I ended up looking like i'd wrestled a lawn mower .. the worst thing is though that it's probably put the kids (and their parents) off reptiles for ever .... it didn't turn out to be a good PR exercise !!

Can anyone shed any light as to why this happens ? would spending more time outside (i'll get some welding gloves) help?

carl

Ive noticed with tegus that they cant bite through them so they work great. If you get welding gloves either get the type with no fire retardant chemical in them or they will need a few good long washings to get rid of them. Alot of lizards are nervous and flighty no matter what outdoors, the kids etc around would only make that even worse, in fact much worse.

The 'psycho outside' problem is frequently encountered. Suggestions as to why range from the heavy dose of natural sunlight to the big open sky that is potentially full of nasty flying preditors!

The first time I tried to take Loiosh out, he scrambled up onto my head and scratched the heck out of me! He was only about 20" long at the time. He's now over 3 feet long. I recently solved the problem by opening the door on a gloomy, overcast day and letting him smell and see the outside world from the safety of my arms, while still inside the house. One step at a time, and lots of jowl scratching eventually got us out on the deck. Then down into the yard, where I put him down gently and he went to exploring, with me right next to him.

After about 15 minutes, he came over to me and put his front foot on my shoe. I took that to mean he'd had enough, scooped him up and went back inside. Next good overcast day, I'll do the same. Then I'll try for a sunny day. Just take it slow.

Leslie

thanks leslie ---

yeah my arms looked like i'd had a session with the razor blade - very embarressing at work and had a job interview all only a few days later -- hmmmm try explaining that your 4ft lizard went psycho !!! - well it made me smile explaining !!

I think that the overcast day idea is really good - I have just moved the guys to a new viv, which is located on the floor as well (previously they were 5ft off the ground) - so they have a good sight line to the back door (they are housed in the garage / fish house).

I actually have noticed this behavour with other reps in the past I had a large snapper that seemed to get a new lease of life for speed in the sunshine ...

I'd ultimately like to be able to let the guys have a 'free' nosey round the garden as I am sure that it must do them the world of good to get out and about - what about harnesses ? do you think that it would be worth me starting with a harness ?

cheers

carl

Sorry to be so long in posting back.

Yes, I think a harness would be a great idea. When Loiosh was little I used one of those loop behind the back legs tethers that have been pictured here. Now, though, I'd worry about is cutting into him if he took off, so I got a small dog harness. While he is not thrilled about staying still while I put it on him, once it is on, he cts like he does not even know it is there. And it gives me some security outside, should something spook him. Mostly he just roams slowly around and I follow him.

Leslie

My experience with my Red Tegu Max-

When I take her out on the leash she's fine, but if she's free roaming she'll get under a bush and turn psycho and refuse to come out! So I only take her out on the leash now. I think she just needs that reminder that she's a pet
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Beth Morrell

1.1 Ball Pythons
1.1 Black Milks
1 1/3.4 1/3 Boas, various morphs
3.4 Honudran Tangerines, various morphs
1.1 Leapord Geckos
0.1 Red Tegu
1.0 Suriname Red Tail Boa