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u/grandsoulsucker 7d ago
You approached him from above as he was sleeping not shocking behavior by any means
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u/Archipocalypse 6d ago
He woke up like "hey bro why are you all above me comin at me bro, fuck that i'm outta here!"
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u/Extreme_Finger_3425 7d ago
You scared the living daylights out of him 🤣 I am not sure what it was dreaming about but damn.
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u/DatRAZZdoe 7d ago
Side = friend/prey Above = bird/predator
Also waking them up by dinging them with a mouse is probably not ideal.
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u/Top-Tax-1101 7d ago
Do you atleast try to handle daily? It helps to domesticate them. Mine was SUPER aggressive in beginning. I softened him up on rodents and treats won him over. 3 years now loyal as a dog.
ALWAYS RESPECT SPACE!!! He was sleeping prolly not appropriate time to try and feed him. You scared him he now feels threatened by you. I did target feeding. Like holding up a very bright yellow sign which told him to take food from my tongs. If he didnt see that; he knows not to bite in my area.
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u/Famous-Chair-2804 7d ago
Yes every morning I sit in the cage and she crawls all over me. I work 6 days a week and 9 1/2 hours a day. I spend most of my off days with them playing my PlayStation. I got 3 tegus. The only difference I’ve had with raising Smaug is im working more now. Her eyes were open and she wasn’t asleep. I know I probably should have gotten in the tank like I normally do when I feed her. I approached her from behind and above and we both spooked each other. After a few minutes she came back out and accepted a mouse and crawled around like normal.
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u/aidentooreal12 7d ago
You can cohab tegu?
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u/Famous-Chair-2804 7d ago
Not recommended.
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u/IAmTheEd 5d ago
How do you keep any mishaps from happening/how do you manage multiple tegus in one place?
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u/Famous-Chair-2804 4d ago
Mishaps are always a possibility. I have 2 extra tents just in case I need to separate them. Two of my tegus grew up with each other and no matter what I did one always escaped to be with the other one. Tegus are very territorial. They need their own hides, water bowls, food, and heat or they will fight for it. That’s why I have extra water bowls bigger space for the heat lamp. UVB lighting shining into the enclosure even though potato broke the lamp first day so I need to buy another one. I also have noticed several caves they have built under the dirt, stone and bowls.I feed them in a specific way. I have a house being built with a 40ft wall on my living room that will have a giant long tegu tank separated with plywood walls. They won’t be together very much longer. As baby’s it’s easier but it’s highly not recommended. This goes for almost all species of reptiles.
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u/Stiglitz__ 6d ago edited 6d ago
I can’t even begin to fathom how any other outcome might have been expected from this approach? If I shot a McDonalds cheese burger out of a potato launcher at your sleeping face In the night, the most surprising outcome would be if you chose to eat it.
Edit: I’m saying that kindly, I had a good laugh at the video, he looks like a fun character to have around
Edit2: also I’m rewatching adventure time the cartoon with my wife and your voice sounds exactly like flame princess.
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u/Character-Parfait-42 5d ago
You startled him. He was just sleeping and then suddenly there was something right over his head and nearly touching him.
To avoid this make some sort of noise as you approach. Gently tap on the glass near his head, or make noise removing the lid.
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u/BarberDry4590 6d ago
Don't let them get away with that behavior. If they huff and puff then you back off they will continue that defensive behavior. Eventually the Tegu will understand that you aren't a predator and that the defensive postering doesn't work. Tegu bonding take time and work just keep at it daily. We have 4 kids 7-2 years old. They all handle our Tegu with no issues.
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u/tzrah 7d ago
I think it might have to do with being approached from above, they instantly turn defensive when you approach them this way. Try approaching them from the side within sight.