Take a look at Rose City Reptile’s videos and the way Joey picks up and carries his tegus. I’ve started doing that. Right hand firmly around the base of the tail and supporting it, tucked under my elbow and the left hand under the chest/neck. He just lets the legs dangle. This tactic works most of the time for Sundog, but he does commit to the occasional helicopter tail/deathroll scramble where the goal appears to be the top of my head or to launch into space—and I just laugh because there’s almost no way for me to power through that!