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Thread: nailsssssss

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    Default nailsssssss

    is there anything you can do to trim the nails? it's to the point now where when I pick my tegu up he makes me bleed.
    1 leopard gecko
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  2. #2
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    Feb 2006
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    You can try regular pet nail trimmers,...I don't know if you have ever trimmed cats or dogs nails but its pretty much the same. Especially with animals that have dark nails, just take off the tips. Some people use drills on their pets, rocks or pieces of brick or cement in the enclosure to help wear them down while walking across it. Sometimes I put a little tension on the leash when I have Dino outside so that he has to use his nails. But the clippers and drills are quicker just takes some getting use to. Some people also use the Pedi Paws and Peti Cure that they advertise on Tv (I'm thinking about it). From what I have heard they're a little slow depending on which one you get but they're safer.
    0.1.0 BP (Spiral) aka Rita Wayward
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  3. #3
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    Jan 2008
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    Pennsylvania
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    As bubblz mentioned, I use cement blocks in the enclosure and that helps than I just clip the pointy tips off. Be sure not to cut down to the quick where the blood vessels are.

    Here are some things you can use though if you scroll down to the bottom:

    http://www.anapsid.org/clawtrim.html

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
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    S.E.Texas
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    I let Tank crawl around outside. She crawls on the cement driveway and the cement sidewalk and this keeps her nails filed.

    I bought a Pedi-cure for my dogs and it really doesn't work that well, but it may work for a Tegu.
    The most experienced breeder of B & W Arg. and Red Tegu's--Johnny LaRocca!

    He learned from his friend and the most influential reptile breeder in America, Bert Langerwert. In Bert's newly published biography he has this to say about Johnny LaRocca....page 419 "Johnny LaRocca... the one breeder I worked most closely with studying tegus. His tegus are the best I have seen produced anywhere except on my farm".

    Purchased my Awesome Tegu from teguterra.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
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    I like to use the baby nail clippers.It's easier for me to see where I need to clip the nails from.I just clip the very tip off it.Not to much so the Tegu doesn't start to bleed.You also can put a brick or a rock in the Tegu's enclosure and that will help with filing down the nails.

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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    My vet recommened and emory board..to just file the nails down. Nail clippers can be dangerous if you hit a vein..However, if you sut cut the tip, there should be no problem.

    I, personally, do not trim my tegu's nails.. I wear welders gloves whenever I pick him up. However, we are talking about a very large animal where just him brushing his feet against you will cut you open. Actually, I don't think my tegu would tolerate anyone trimming his nails....lol

    Rob

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
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    1,210

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    Our vet recommended the Dremmel tool and we got one, but I could not bring myself to use it. It seems like it would be too easy for it to slip and slice into Hernando's body.:sad:

    I use a cat & dog nail clipper, the smallest size sold. These are different from human clippers in that they are specifically designed for round-shaped nails.

    If your near vision is not perfect, you'll also need good, angle-adjustable lighting (I cover the tegu's eyes) and your reading glasses or a mounted magnifying lens. I mention this because the color contrast between hard nail and vessel/nerves is there but is more visible at certain angles.

    Hernando had his first nail trimming done at the evil, herp-specialist pet store, as a demonstration to us. They hit several veins and he did bleed a little, and we hated that, but the pet store monster told us this was normal for the first clipping, and that the live part of the cuticle recedes a little each time you clip. We have NEVER drawn as much blood as that first time, but I can't tell you whether this was actually normal or if the pet store people are full of it. Ooops, did I say monster? I meant m-a-n-a-g-e-r.

    We also have basking stones in Hernando's enclosure and some tile surfaces where he free-roams. I'd say it helps smooth the nail after it's been clipped, but is not enough friction to keep the nail worn down to where it doesn't need clipping. That's just with his activity level -- others may have a different experience.

  8. #8
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    Sep 2007
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    BTW, I noticed this link near the bottom of the page that angelrose linked to:

    http://www.anapsid.org/adambritton.html#claw

    I've been looking for that for a year! It's what I learned nail clipping from, even though it's for iguanas. This is really helpful if you are just starting out in the lizard manicure world.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Central FL
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    When the tegus were little I trimmed the nails, but now that they are full-sized tegus, I just protect my arms. It's not so much that the nails are sharp, it the way they use their legs to dig into your skin! :O Now my ig gets a regular nail trim, but his claws have a different shape and purpose than a tegu's. His are also easier to see the trimming point where it gets a little hook. My beardies and the Colombian get the occasional nail trim as needed. For now I use either baby or adult human nail trimmers and I hold them sideways (clipping the nail from the flat side as opposed to top/bottom). I have the guillotine type trimmers for dogs, but haven't felt the need to use them on the lizards yet.
    Laura R (FL)
    1.0.0 Colombian Tegu
    1.4.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    1.2.0 Red Tegu
    1.2.0 B/WxRed Tegu
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  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    richmond, va
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    362

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    thanks guys for all the replies. I have a piece of slate in my tank but he usually just throws mulch all over it and lays on that. I wil try the cinderblock thing and see if that helps at all. I have yet to take my tegu outside and am just a little nervous that he will take off. Ill have to get a harness first.
    1 leopard gecko
    1 gargoyle gecko
    125 gallon fish tank african cichlids
    1 red tegu
    1 jeweled lacerta
    1 western hognose
    1 coastalxjungle carpet python
    1 argentine red tail boa
    1 braziliain rainbow boa
    2 lightening blue geckos
    1 tokay gecko
    hundreds of roaches

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