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blue tegu with NO inhibitions!

norcalherps Aug 30, 2005 09:11 PM

Im not used to this at all! All the species of monitors I keep are catious animals. They want nothing to do with me in the least.

My new tegu however, rushes at the door when I open it!! It seems that the only time she wont try to rush the door is when shes too full to move!! Then she just basks for a day until her last meal is digested. As soon as shes ready to eat, theres no mistaking it!! haha! Funny little animal indeed.

Its this typical of tegus? Or blue tegus specifically?

Replies (8)

russ1066 Aug 30, 2005 10:33 PM

The blus female I had would do this when I clicked the tongs together.Her and santiago new this was the dinner bell take care russ

tristan Aug 31, 2005 02:23 AM

that's funny! sounds like she likes your company. maybe she expects to be fed everytime?!? they're such pigs.
i'm trying to clicker train Roy. i'm two days into it thus far. hopefully he's a fast learner.
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Tristan
1.1 Blood Pythons (Rambo and Medussa)
1.2 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dog, Cleo, Slo Mo)
0.1 Suriname Red Tail Boas (Stoney)
1.0 Argentine Black and White Tegu (Roy)

ZEKyle Sep 01, 2005 02:35 PM

Where did you get your clicker from and how much was it? My tegu rushes up everytime I am going to open the cage and jumps up ans hits itself. Maybe I can tame down this feeding response with a clicker

tristan Sep 02, 2005 02:10 AM

i got the (dog) clicker at petco. it was under two dollars.
do you feed your tegu in the cage? maybe you could try feeding him outside of the cage.
my tegu is not clicker trained yet but i've been feeding him outside of the cage since i got him 5 days ago and now he doesn't rush at the glass like he used to. now i'm able to open the cage and pet him on the head without any fear of him trying to make a finger sandwich! i think he's learning that he needs to be taken OUT of the cage to be fed, which is what i was aiming for.
good luck!
tristan

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Tristan
1.1 Blood Pythons (Rambo and Medussa)
1.2 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dog, Cleo, Slo Mo)
0.1 Suriname Red Tail Boas (Stoney)
1.0 Argentine Black and White Tegu (Roy)

ZEKyle Sep 02, 2005 06:10 PM

No i know you arent supposed to feed him inside the cage and I havent done that for like 5 months or so. Maybe the clicker thing will help. Mine is only 24" a year old born in SEP. I have heard that they do mellow at as they get size possibly thats why yours is mellow. Hes not bad just a little skittish at first when the cage is open or if you try to keep him restratined.

TheTegu Aug 31, 2005 06:49 AM

My clicker training method combined with feeding outside of the enclosure will lessen the feeding response (rushing the enclosure door) and will make it safer when you go to open the enclosure and reach in.

I feed on the floor from a plate. Get a small square of linoleum or some smooth easy to clean and disinfect surface. Place it on the center of a floor. I floor without run is a good idea until the tegu is used to eating from a plate.

With a dog clicker in one hand, go get your tegu. Sit the tegu near the food. Click the clicker a few times and then put the tegu closer to the food if the tegu doesn't move closer to the food on its own.

The Pros: Lessened feeding response, your less likely to get bit, the tegu is less likely to ingest substrate and cause an internal blockage, your tegu will associate the clicker with food which is great if you let the tegu free roam inside or out.

The Cons: A little more work at each meal instead of just tossing in rodents.

Rick
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The Tegu Community - theTegu.com

TheTegu Aug 31, 2005 06:50 AM

Typo:

I floor without run is a good idea

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A floor without rug is a good idea
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The Tegu Community - theTegu.com

tristan Aug 31, 2005 04:59 PM

hey Rick. i need to do that with mine. the pet store where i bought him from fed him in his cage (4 X 4 X 2) by just throwing rodents in there.
today he rushed to the cage and bumped into it. i would definately like to reduce this behavior. i will try your method and keep you posted.
tristan
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Tristan
1.1 Blood Pythons (Rambo and Medussa)
1.2 Egyptian Uromastyx (Dog, Cleo, Slo Mo)
0.1 Suriname Red Tail Boas (Stoney)
1.0 Argentine Black and White Tegu (Roy)

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