Jaeger the Argentine Black & White Tegu

Little Wise Owl · 09-24-12, 06:11 PM

Meet Jaeger. I picked him up from TeguTopia (Canadian breeder working with TeguTerra). After making no progress with my import Red Tegu, I decided to give her up to Cindy (the owner of TeguTopia). She's previously rehabilitated two import Red Tegus so I have high hopes for my Red. She already has her eating regularly and when I picked up Jaeger, she looked like she's gained weight.

Anyway, I found out that she had only two hatchling males left for the summer and I just couldn't pass up the chance... I'm so glad I got him. He's already eating and 100x calmer than my Red ever was (or ever will be).

Here he is:

The swag he came with (T-shirt, lizard/snake bag, and certificate certifying he was bred and hatched in Canada as well as hatch date and health guarantee)

His temporary enclosure:

BarelyBreathing · 09-24-12, 06:14 PM

He looks nice and healthy. I must have missed the story on the red. What happened?

Little Wise Owl · 09-24-12, 06:48 PM

I never made any progress with her. She ate seldom. Like 3-4 times a month and it was only a couple bites at a time. She would hibernate all summer and then mostly hide all winter. She's about two years old now and only a bit bigger than Jaeger is now and he's only 2 months... Something in my house or something about me just turned her off I guess. She hates me. I asked if Cindy of TeguTopia would see if she could help her and she agreed.

When I went to pick up Jaeger, she immediately locked her eyes on me and just STARED at me the whole time like "Oh God it's HER again"... The breeder was amused at how scared she was of me. It made me feel really bad. I never treated her badly or mishandled her... Since she's been with TeguTopia, she's been eating regularly and gaining weight.

I'm really, really, REALLY hoping that whatever made the Red so nervous in my house won't bother Jaeger... So far he's doing really well. Tons better than the Red ever did.

BarelyBreathing · 09-24-12, 08:28 PM

That's good to hear that your new friend is doing well. It seems as though you made a good decision on the red. Hopefully she prospers now.

rmfsnakes32 · 09-24-12, 10:43 PM

Very cute they are so cute as babies!

h3h · 09-25-12, 06:20 AM

Whoa...I want one! He looks awesome!

- h3

Little Wise Owl · 09-25-12, 02:04 PM

Another photo:

Little Wise Owl · 09-26-12, 02:35 PM

I'm so nervous about him. He's just recently started acting like I have a gun and flips out, trying to run and avoid me if I enter the room. He was fine before but now I'm suddenly terrifying to him rather than just somewhat frightening...

I'm so scared of messing up with him.

BarelyBreathing · 09-26-12, 04:34 PM

What changed? How are you handling him?

Little Wise Owl · 09-26-12, 04:56 PM

I haven't really been handling him yet but when I do it's just lifting him gently off the substrate and then putting him back down. I never grabbed him or manhandled him. Heck, he ddin't even freak out that much when I extended my hand towards him the last time I handled him. He gave me an open mouth like he was displeased and I put him back down when he shut his mouth. Couple hours later, he's crazy... Nothing changed in the room, I don't even think anyone was home. No dogs, no cats.. Nothing. He just suddenly because insanely freaked out and jumpy.

I can't even look at him now without him freaking out. He's also avoiding the hot side. I keep rereading the temps and temp. gunning his basking spot to make sure it's not too hot (Warm ambient=mid 80s and basking=101F)

BarelyBreathing · 09-26-12, 05:12 PM

Try using the tong feeding method. The idea is that your tegu controls the interaction, therefore he chooses to spend time with you.

I keep my tegus' basking spots about ten degrees warmer.

Little Wise Owl · 09-26-12, 05:25 PM

I was thinking about bumping up the basking temp. I was just going by what the breeder was using with him for now. I'll try tong feeding in a couple days. I'm gonna let him settle for a few before I start bugging him again.

BarelyBreathing · 09-26-12, 06:29 PM

I agree with that. I don't handle my reptiles for a good two weeks when I bring them home.

Little Wise Owl · 09-27-12, 02:08 PM

Well, I did what I said I wasn't going to do. I was convinced he was dead. I touched his tail (which was sticking out of the substrate) just to see if he was alive. No movement. Nothing. I lifted his tail, still nothing. I panicked. I've had such bad luck that I wouldn't be surprised if he died on me. I pulled him out and he was like "Dude, what the hell. I was sleeping" He let me hold him for a bit and now he's basking. He isn't freaking out around the tank like he was yesterday. I feel extra bad now though.

Here's a picture I snapped while my heart rate was returning back to normal knowing he's still alive and well.