#tegu talk

[reptiphoric]

Something that frustrates me and deters me from using the bathtub taming technique with Toluca is the fact that I’m upstairs. The tub is downstairs, and that means I have to somehow secure Toluca well enough that I can transport him from point A to point B without him being able wiggle free (the moment I start moving when I’m holding him he freaks out) and it gets him REALLY UPSET (to the point where he gapes at me, the only time he ever does) when I have him held in a manner where he can’t just fly off and run away, which I understand since I’m a big scary hairless ape and he’s still in the mindset that everything is out to eat him. So I want him to be more comfortable with me and being out of his cage, but I can’t really do so unless I stress him out and then I just feel like I’m doing more damage than good and it’s really disheartening. I mean I wasn’t expecting him to end up being a dog or anything, but I also wasn’t expecting him to be this disdainful of me after having him for this long. And I know it’s supposed to be just a myth that Columbian tegus are more defensive than most other tegus, but had I known he was a Columbian and not an Argentine I never would have bought him. (Of course, my fault for assuming he was an argentine when simply labeled a “Black and White Tegu”) 

I’m just so stressed out right now and at my wit’s end with this and feel like I’m failing him as a reptile owner.

[reptiphoric]

bigasslizard replied to your post: So Toluca has been acting like a total goofer...

It’s probable. Romeo is still having a tough time adjusting to his new digs. He’s fine being in it during the day but at night around bedtime he kind of flips out and I’ve been letting him sleep back in my room in his spot under the dresser.

Omg Im sorry bc I’m sure that might be a little inconvenient but that’s super adorable.

Do you know anything that could possibly help calm him down? He isn’t too stressed out to eat because he ate a little for me a few minutes ago, but every time he freaks out I get a little anxious. There isn’t anything he can hurt himself on in there, but I still worry, you know?

[reptiphoric]

So I went and cleaned out Toluca's cage because he pooed all over EVERYTHING, and while I was cleaning he hopped out of the tub I had him in and decided to explore my blankies. He wasn't all that thrilled when I came to fish him out :U

Long story short; could have gone better, could have gone worse. He's sitting in his now clean cage, giving me the stink-eye from his basking spot xD;

[reptiphoric]

tupinambeast replied to your post:

The fact that he’s eaten since that post makes me...

That’s great! Sometimes they’re just clumsy and ya gotta keep a very close eye. I’m sure he’ll be fine. You’ve been doing a wonderful job!

Thanks! I can definitely assure that he's a klutz; when I went up to look, he had gotten some of the food in his water bowl and I had to completely clean it out. I get the feeling that daily paper towel changes are a must xD;

[reptiphoric]

The fact that he's eaten since that post makes me feel a lot more at ease. Sleepy little accident-prone nerd :'3