Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey I just picked up my second tegu from the reptile show that was in Oregon last month. S/he doesn't move around a lot. S/he spends most of the day laying around. S/he hardly opens his eyes too. Even during the night when I am up untill 3AM and all the lights are off except for the computer glow he doesn't seem to move around all that much. Any ideas? The hot spot in his cage is about 105-110, that is what I had read was best....was I mistaken? Any imput on the situation would be greatly appreciated.
My other little tegu doesn't have this prob at all s/he is allways alert and moving and trying to eat my hand when I walk by.
Jon

Try checking the Ambient temps(80-85), and try raising the basking temp to 120. Also was she hibenating? This could be a reasone for her lazyness. Also you may want to take her and a stool sample to a vet. I do this with every new animal that I take in . Good luck Russ

I checked the temps a little later being when I had taken the others the lights had only been on for an hour or two. The hot spot was between 115 and 125 and the ambient was about 85....I'll take a stool sample soon

I agree with Russ. They are awake at 3 am?!? Mine is buried under the substrate by 10-11 pm at the latest. You have deep substrate right? Mine is lazy all the time, but eyes are wide open when he hears me coming. What kind is it (BW, colombian, red, blue...)? Mine pretty much lays around until I get him out of his cage then he is curious as can be.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.0.1 Axolotl Salamander
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

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BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

No he's still sleeping and usually in his hide box at pretty much any time after the lights go out. He was sold to me as and Argentine black and white. Not sure what locale he is. When I go to take him out he wakes up pretty good or when food comes around =D

Jon

If you post a picture , I can tell you if it is a Argentin or not . Where do you Live? Thanks Russ

I have to wait for the girlfriend to get a new camera =(
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Jon@JPReptiles.com

Everything seems normal then. Reptiles are just lazy. I guess their paradise is one nice warm spot where they could lay there forever and never move! Maybe in a few weeks you will see more activity. One last thing, double check and make sure you are using a high quality UVB/UVA bulb (Zoomed Reptisun 5.0 is most recommended). Or if you already have one, has it been more than 6 months since you changed it? UV light supposedly makes them exhibit more natural behaviors.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.0.1 Axolotl Salamander
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

My Home Page

BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

Yes I have a mercury vapor on the way. Right now he has just a reptiglow 8.0

Might want to double check on that. This is just my opinion based on research, so take it as you will. The physics of light wavelengths only allow for adequate UVB OR heat, not both. Since a single bulb can only produce light in a linear section of the spectrum and since UV and infrared are farther apart, they degrade each other's strength. You may get heat and SOME UV from a mercury vapor, but not enough UV. What I do is have 1 incandescent spot basking lamp (120F surface temp) and a Zoomed reptisun 5.0 UV lamp (these need ballasts also, make sure it is electric and not magnetic as the magnetic ballests produce a 60 Hz hum that may annoy your tegu). This produces the 5% UVB that is acceptable for indoor animals. Your mercury vapor may only produce 2-3%. Again, just my opinion as I do not know the specifics of your lights, but just something you may wanna think about.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.0.1 Axolotl Salamander
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

My Home Page

BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

I had never heard that about UVB lighting. I ad always read that people had tested ect and that the Mercury Vapors put off WAY more UVB. The other thing that I had always read/heard was that the UV flouresence such as the ZOOmed one or the REPTIGLO was that they would only put of as you said 5% or 8% UVB where as some of the Mercury Vapor bulbs that where coming out would put off as much UV as the sun at noon. Granted this will be a lot of UV and you probably wouldn't want it on all day. Also had read that the ReptiGlo ect that putting an animal under that for a week was eqivalent to putting them out in real sunlight for 30-60 minutes.........Not sure this is what I had always read.

Jon

Mercury Vapor bulbs put off considerably more UV than does a Reptisun 5.0 or other comparible UV tube. You can use the different wattages of MV bulbs to achieve desired temperatures as they can not be used with rheostats or thermostats. You will probably notice a markable change in appetite as well as activity once your animal has been exposed to a MV bulb, they are great. I use them with several lizard species and have had great results. Too bad they are so expensive and short lived!
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Peace!
KofSeattle
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