Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I read that Argentine Tegus love to swim (And saw the videos)

I was wondering, though. Are Columbians supposed to be the same? I try to let mine soak and it just goes nuts until I get it out.

I've tried warmer water (Not too warm) and shallower water. He freaks out regardless.

I think that it probably varies from animal to animal. Blake (colombian) LOVES to swim around in the tub. 20 min. is about as long as he likes to go for. I can tell when he's ready to come out and I take him out then. That way he doesn't come to see bath time as something to be endured, but a time to play. It's pretty cute.

Lindsay

Yeah, I agree Lindsay. In fact that tegu in the video (Taz) was really bad about baths. My female (Jazz) was much better; she would stay for 20 mins. It didn't get any better trying to get Taz to sit in the kitty pool in my back yard either. Since he can get out of the tub and pool on his own that meant he hardly ever got wet until I brought him to the river. I dono why he would freak in the tub, I think it might be because he got the feeling he was trapped in and with the water he got scared (it was shallow too). Since I brought him to the river I think he has lost his fear of water. It's hard to say why, either because it was deep enough for him to swim and he found out he liked it or because he didn't feel trapped in like in the tub. Lately I've picked him up just as he walks out of his den before he heats up, put him in a warm shallow bath and he stays! Have you tried that trick yet? So the warm bath is kind of like warming up under the basking light.