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I have a few more questions along with my other post.

How much substrate should there be? I plan on puting 10 to 12 inches down. Also whats the best substrate to buy? For a 4 by 8 cage I'd need about 32 square feet, so I'm looking at prices too.

About buying a tegu now... she'll be in hibernation of course... so what can I expect when I open up the box? In other words, what behavior can I expect from a hibernating tegu than a sick/stressed/etc one?

Something that just came to mind... The room where her cage will be has hardwood floors. I NEED a way to waterproof the cage, these floors can't get ruined. I guess an inner plastic liner would work, unless she digs down deep enough to tear it... Hmm... Any thoughts on this problem.

Sorry about the long post, but I really need some answers, I don't want to mess any of this up. THANKS.... Dave
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"i have a mortal wound!"
"where? where does it hurt?"
"oh, pretty much around the big bloody spot"
"come inside. ill get the neosporin. da na na na na - NEO! ba na na na na na na - SPORIN! blee nee nee......."

>>How much substrate should there be? I plan on puting 10 to 12 inches down. Also whats the best substrate to buy? For a 4 by 8 cage I'd need about 32 square feet, so I'm looking at prices too.

---Cypress mulch 12-18" deep. about $2 a bag at home depot.

>>About buying a tegu now... she'll be in hibernation of course... so what can I expect when I open up the box? In other words, what behavior can I expect from a hibernating tegu than a sick/stressed/etc one?

---- Babies dont usually brumate like adults. Warm them up and they will eat after they settle in of course. Get a fecal done regardless.

>>Something that just came to mind... The room where her cage will be has hardwood floors. I NEED a way to waterproof the cage, these floors can't get ruined. I guess an inner plastic liner would work, unless she digs down deep enough to tear it... Hmm... Any thoughts on this problem.

---try marine or PT plywood sheeting 4'x8' seal the edges with liquid nails but make sure to wipe away the excess. Even at that they will dig and tear at the wood so you probably want to put galvanized flashing on the edges or build from PVC also available at home depot. you are probably best off not keeping the cage flat on the floor either. Humitity may build up under it. I would say raise it up on a couple of 2x4s and if you are worried put a cheap carpet or tarp under it.
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

cypress mulch for substrate-----if tegu is in hibernated state upon arrival it will most likely be lazy/sleepy---for floor i would put down scrap piece of carpet(same size as cage)with visquin (from paint section of home improvement center)between cage and carpet-brian

about the cage and keeping it off the floor... one word... WHEELS!!! that is the single best thing i did when making my own cage. not only will they keep the cage off of the floor, but when it comes time to move the cage to another part of the room, house, etc. those wheels will mave life so much easier. when i want to move my tank (which has about 8 inches of soil mix substrate) i just roll it. i mean, while it's still a bear to move i can at least do it myself, but it's so much better than having to lift it!
also, my tank opens from the top, which is made of wood and screen, the front wall is one pane of glass and the rest is wood (except for the wheels). i use pressure treated wood, stained it, then put layer after layer after layer of water based seal on the inside and the wood holds up fine (and that's under 8 inches of moist soil and a buch of rocks. i use more or less the same approach to sealing rafts and docks that my family has built for use on our lake. if you want to put the time into it, wood will work and in my opinion, look a lot better than a lot of the other materials.
good luck.
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if nothing else, i at least amuse myself!

I've decided that now isn't the best time for me to get a tegu. After a lot of research, I don't think I have the time to give this lizard the care it needs, between school and work. And besides, I have another leopard gecko breeding season coming up soon. And maybe a ball python breeding season, I might get myself another ball and try getting some little snakes from them.

Hopefully at a better time I can invest in one of these animals, but not now

I appreciate all the help everyones given me, its been very useful. Dave

-----
"i have a mortal wound!"
"where? where does it hurt?"
"oh, pretty much around the big bloody spot"
"come inside. ill get the neosporin. da na na na na - NEO! ba na na na na na na - SPORIN! blee nee nee......."

.