Mumsnet Talk

sorry, i know i will sound coldharted and i am a pet lover but i really dont like my bf's lizard!
I often go and stay at his flat for a few nights and he has this lizard that drives me crazy.
I dont like its beady eyes. It costs him a fortune for special lights for this mahooosive tank it lives in on around 10hours a day, plus its heatmat thats on pretty constantly too.
It lives on a diet of boiled eggs that it likes to leave to rot a bit first in the tank for a couple of days and poor bald baby mice that have to be kept in the freezer and defrosted. Boak. It also likes to leave these to rot before eating. It does eat fruit- when it feels like it.
The tank is so big the only place for it is in the bedroom, special light flicks on timer around 8am, tank and contents start to stink around 8.05am and continues throught the day.
Mostly the lizard spends its time sulking in its cave and watchin us with said beady eyes. My bf spends a lot of time worried about its lack of eating, shedding, pooing, exercise etc etc but its in robust health and is expected to live about 20years.
Its around 3-4ft now and expected to get bigger.
The twice it has had run of the flat while i have been there it has either ignored me or snapped at me.
Its not really a pet in my opinion as its actually dangerous to feed and should be done with some sort of steel tongs!
They are grumpy beasts and are known to dislike being handled.
Am i being u to want it to just feck off? Or to go live on a nice reptile farm somewhere?
Before anyone gets all judgey, i am well aware i have no right to ask/tell/beg my bf to get rid and wouldn dream of it either! Guess i just wanted to rant.

YABU. It was there before you.

Big herps can be a bloody nightmare to handle, I'll grant you that, and it does sound very big - what species is it?

Bearded dragons are quite good fun. They like to explore and run up the curtains, like kittens.

Oh, and there is such a thing as reptile tongs, for handling and feeding. If it's that big and vicious, your BF should have some.

Is it a Monitor? I would assume that your boyfriend is an experienced keeper if he owns one of these and it sounds like he has the right set up for it.

YABU anyway, you don't even live together. Thank your lucky stars he's not like most reptile keepers, who have a whole house full of reptiles. It's obviously a judge of character if it snapped at you. What sort of person wants an animal to die?!

get your BF to go on here, so he can get good advice and stop worrying.

What type of lizard?

Lol. You've just described my bearded dragon. Except he doesnt get eggs. He gets live locusts and crickets and morio worms. Oh and the other million reptiles we have. Cost a bleeding fortune! However I love them, handle them most days and clean up after them without too much heaving.
I don't think yabu. Lizards are not everyones cup of tea.

I think its a tegu. Teegu? Sorry, on second thoughts wanting it to die was a bit strong- maybe it would like to live on a reptile farm somewhere instead? Or in a flat of its own?
Yes, he is an experienced handler and is planning on getting a female when funds allow.
I dont mind bearded dragons or snakes or geckos but this is a big beastie and has frightened me since the first day i saw it.
I am due to stay this weekend and its on my mind already.

I know you started this thread as lighthearted Op, and I totally, lightheartedly agree with you.
I am not a fan of reptiles of any shape or description, you'd have to love your boyfriend loads to be able to live with a creepy fucking lizard in the bedroom
<shudders>
Can't you persuade him to get a cat?

God it sounds crap. I'm never getting a lizard.

thanks for the link! I will educate myself a bit on the beastie, might help.
Still dont like it though, i prefer pets with fur.

Well, if he's an experienced keeper than I wouldn't be too worried. Presumably he has ensured it can't escape? Although I doubt even an escaped tegu could do much damage? You are not wrong though that lizards and snakes aren't really 'pets' they are more of a hobby.

I have kept a number of herps in my time, including desert iguanas, green iguanas (large, unfriendly rescue ones), water dragons, various pythons and boas. I have to admit, Tegu or monitors don't appeal to me because of their size and natures, but I wouldn't mind being around one. I'd much rather that than an anaconda or large burmese python.

Perhaps you could ask your boyfriend to reassure you or show you how to handle it safely so it is less of a worry for you?

Vital question - would it make a nice handbag?

I just googled a pic of a Tegu.... shudders

I think you really do have to dump the bastard. Or poison the lizard. One of the two...

OMG, I've just googled it too .
You're a better woman than I am OP.
I'd run a mile, and then run some more.

I googled it too. Not my cup of tea either since it looks far too much like a crocodile. If I were you, I'd get another boyfriend. And make it snappy!

maybe it would like to live on a reptile farm somewhere instead? Or in a flat of its own?

Will you help it fill out the benefits claim form?

Don't tell him you are educating yourself, just keep coming out with relevant bits of information.

Ha ha, thanks for making me laugh with your title OP. First laugh tonight. Reptiles are lovely though. Do make nice bags though.

It does have lovely red/cream markings i will give it that.
Thankfully it cannot escape as its special glass doors have a lock but it does 'knock' to be let out plus, my bf is fairly relaxed to let it wander around the flat doing its thing, i will sit curled up on the sofa when this happens (with feet well out of the way!) but can feel my heart wind down to a purr when it eventally decides to go back 'home'.
Creepy beastie.

Oh no I Googled too and was going to say I hope it's not a red one. The red ones look evil!

Tegus are sometimes quite friendly, if they are handled enough.

I seem to remember that they are of the type that will either waddle around apathetically, keeping close to their sunlamp, or make a high-speed break for it, depending on mood.

YANBU - my brother has all sorts of stinking creatures like this. They really really make me heave to the max. He used to have a pet crab.

Yes, a pet CRAB. And he was upset when it died. It was the stinkingest of all.

Just googled. Uugh. Freaky bastards, and I didn't think I had any reptile-squeamishness about me. YAonlyBslightlyU.

Tegus, aaaarrrrgh.

YANBU.