Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, black and white tegu, Blake (hence the user name), has been walking kind of funny for a little while now. He walks using only the palms of his hands. Kind of like if we were to walk on the part of our palm that's down by the wrist. I don't understand it. It doesn't impede him any, he can still take off, but I just don't understand if that's normal or not.

I'm totally paranoid about lack of calcium so I dust all of his food with ReptoCal. I vary his diet daily, but he eats canned cat food, cooked ground beef (7% fat, the leanest I can find), eggs, and fuzzy mice (frozen).

My first inclination was that it was a calcium deficiency, but I dust everything! He has a Reptisun 5.0 light over him as well as an over head heat lamp and an undertank heater. His basking spot is right around 110 F. I mist him daily with Nature's Reptile Vita-Spray.

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

The only wayt to tell for sure is to take him to a vet . I have never seen that happen in any tegu that was not calcium defficient though . A diet consisting of lean ground meat and cat food will do this and I really suggest you change his diet as soon as possible .

Feed crickets , king meal worms and mice (add some fruit if your B&W is an Argentine / Chacoan ).

Buy a good quality reptile calcium as not all calciums are absorbed in the same way . The best calcium I have come across is Mineral All it also happens to be one of the least expensive when you take into account how little of it you need because it sticks to the insects so well ( no waste) and the reptiles really absorb it getting maximun nutrition from it .
Stella St.Pierre
Ron St.Pierre Captive Bred Reptiles

I've tried feeding him crickets and mealworms. He won't eat any of it. The same amount of crickets that go in come back out about an hour later (as in I take them out of the cage). Mealworms he completely ignores. I've tried canned crickets, grasshoppers, and snails. He won't eat waxworms either. I totally don't understand. I've heard from so many people that their tegus eat so many crickets, but Blake just ignores them. He's also not a fan of vegetables or fruit (I can't remember if I stated that in the original post).

Thanks for the advice on the vitamin supplement! I really don't like the powder that I have now and I'm definitely going to be getting some Miner All.

Luckily too, there's a reptile vet in my general area, which is a huge relief. Do you suggest a yearly checkup or should I take him in more often than that after his first visit.

I also have another question. I got him from a pet store (I know, I know, but I just totally fell in love with him over the period of a month and it's something that I've vowed not to do again), and I know that that pet store gets their reptiles from Cal Zoo. Could the way he was raised early on affect him now or further on in the future?

Thanks for your help!

The only wayt to tell for sure is to take him to a vet . I have never seen that happen in any tegu that was not calcium defficient though . A diet consisting of lean ground meat and cat food will do this and I really suggest you change his diet as soon as possible .

Feed crickets , king meal worms and mice (add some fruit if your B&W is an Argentine / Chacoan ).

Buy a good quality reptile calcium as not all calciums are absorbed in the same way . The best calcium I have come across is Mineral All it also happens to be one of the least expensive when you take into account how little of it you need because it sticks to the insects so well ( no waste) and the reptiles really absorb it getting maximun nutrition from it .
Stella St.Pierre
Ron St.Pierre Captive Bred Reptiles

If your gu has a good curl to his toes then it's most likely not a calcium deficiency. From your feeding regimen it could be just the opposite. You're giving an awful lot of supplements that contain vit D3. D3 can be overdosed and can be fatal. You're feeding fuzzies, their livers contain D3. You're dusting, does your dust contain D3? You're providing UVB lighting which helps them produce their own D3. That's a lot of D3.

If your gu was walking flat footed in the manner you describe then I would think a calcium deficiency.

As for the vitamin spray IMHO it's a waste of money and not good for your gu. Their skin is water tight and won't absorb vitamins in this way, in addition you're leaving a film on your gu. Just because a company makes a product doesn't mean that it's a good product just a way to get your money.

Hope this helps.
BigT