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I need some help with this...I got a blk/wht Argentinian about two weeks ago and its not eating much at all! My tegu is young, But the green on his head is beginning to go away. I've got him in a 30 gal. tall and keep his cage misted for humidity, a basking light and uv light. I try to keep his temp. regulated but I haven't used any night bulbs yet. When I first briught him home I watched him eat about 3-4 crickets and now nothing. He won't even chase them. I've tried canned cat food, baby food, bananas, apples, grapes (he licks them), cheese. Lets put it this way, I've tried anything. He drinks his water.What is going on. I don't think parasites because he's captive born. I'm up for any suggestions.Please help me.Also, he hides in his hide box alot.

Ok, need some more info on your setup. What is you basking temp? Ambient on hot end? Cold end? What sort of substrata are you using and how deep is it? Do you have a screen top or a solid cover?

Suppliment dusted crickets are the recommended staple for baby tegus. Stay away from the cat food; it's a tegu, not a cat. Cheese, etc, is not tegu food. It sounds as if your temps and humidity may be part of the problem. Get a temp gun (only $25.00 from Proexotics) so you know what you really have for temps. Cover most of the screen top to hold in humidity. Until I know your temperatures, I'm not sure if your tegu may be too hot, or too cold. What are you using for a hide? Be aware that a baby tegu isprobably going to need some time to settle in. Are you sure it is not eating when you are not around?

It's also possible that your little one is trying to hibernate. I'm sure if you can provide some additional information, you will get more useful suggestions.

Leslie

Where do I start? I am using a 100 watt bulb on the right side of the tank, plus heat tape. As for the hide box, it's one I bought at the reptile store. It looks like a rock with openings at opposite ends of it. The hide box is over the heat tape and underneath the 100 watt bulb. That is where he has gone and curled up under. I also have the temp reading at about 75-80 on the cool end of the tank. As for the basking side, I'm not really sure except for the fact of the heat tape and bulb.
I have only tried to feed cat food , cheese, etc. because that is what I read on some of the tegu sites.I'm just trying to find something the poor guy will eat. I don't believe he is eating when I'm not around because the food I leave for him doesn't look touched.
Is it really harmful to wake the tegu up from hibernation, if that is what he is doing. I'm worrried because I just got him about 2 weeks ago and he has hardly eaten and the handling so he stays tame.If I left him alone he'd never come out.
Oh Yeah.. as for the substrate, its bark from the reptile store. He has just tried to borrow in it. I don't like it at all.I am so new to tegus and don't want to be bothersome. We have other reptiles and snakes of all sorts and none of them ever stumped me like this. Ps...humidity gadge I like to keep around tropical but thats proving difficult I think because of the screened top. My husband and I have talked about placing plexiglass on the top. Do you think that will help? I thank you for any advise you may have.

First, I'd suggest changing out your substrata for plain ol' cyprus mulch. It's much easier to keep your humidity up. Also, get rid of the screen top, or cover it with plexiglass or even plastic wrap or aluminum foil, except for where the light is. You may find that you need to use a lower watt bulb once you do this, as it will bring up the temperature. But it will help to keep the humidity where it needs to be. Your cool side temps sound fine. Ambiant on the warm side should be about 90 degrees, with a hotter basking spot; mine is 123-130 degrees.

If your tegu is trying to hibernate, let it do so. Believe me, I know how hard that is when you just got him, but it's important to let your tegu sleep if it wants to. DO NOT dig the poor thing up to handle it, you will only stress it. When they first awaken from hibernation, they are usually kind of sluggish for a bit, so handling can wait until then. I know, it's HARD to not see them and play with them when you just got them! I drove everybody nuts griping and whining when everyone's tegus woke up before mine! LOL

When I got mine (February 2004), they were sort of just waking up, but both went back dwon to sleep until late March. This year, they are already starting to come out less often, and the female is eating much less. They may just keep that pattern all winter, or they may just decide to dive down in the mulch until spring. You just never know. Hope this helps.

Leslie

Well, he has come out today and was basking so I moved his home to a longer 30 gal. tank. I also covered the screen with so foil for now and the humidity is at 80%(tropical). I also found that the sustrate I am using is Forest Floor by Zoo Med, 100% natural cypress mulch. Still no sign of eating and I believe I probably need to raise the temp on the basking side. I will see if I can borrow a friends temp gun.
As for food, what else do you feed tegues in addition to crickets and grapes. I need some advise to see if I find something the poor guy will eat. I read that tegues have quite the appetites...mine doesn't. I do believe that after two weeks with him he finally had a BM. I think.
But I am glad just to see him out and about for a change. I hope that after moving him two a longer enclosure that he does't go back into hiding. I know I have 6 crickets in there now so we'll just keep watching. I guess that if he gets hungery enough he'll eat. thank you,Jennifer (my husband is Amos)

I stuck with dusted crickets until mine were able to eat hopper size mice. When I tried to get fruit into them, I made up some raw ground turkey mixed with Fruit Medly baby foor (high in vitamin C) If you search the archives, there is a wonderful post by Stella St Pierre on feeding hatchlings, and I printed it out and put it in the front of my tegu info file. The St Pierres raise some of the nicest tegus, and are really great about sharing information.

Leslie

I finally got my tegu(Otis) to eat a boiled egg. It was only a couple of bites but thats at least a start. Anyhow heres a pic of Otis' enclosure.

Two suggestions; put in LOTS more mulch, like fill it almost 1/3 full so your tegu can burrow, and pile up sone cork bark or something so he can get closer to the light if he wants to. He may be eating only a little because he can't get warm enough to digest.

Leslie

Ok, if I add in more bark about 1/3 full in tank, then I don't need to use heat tape? I don't see how the heat tape that I have under his hide box would heat his little sleeping area. Then again, if he's closer to the light on top I guess it should be warmmer in the tank for him, right? I'm soory if I nailing you with so many questions.I'm new at this...but, once I can get this right it should be easier! I do thank you for everything... Thanks. I'll let you know once I get this done and we'll hopefully see results.
Right now he's out basking and I put some oranges, baby food beef, and grapes. He hasn't even thought twice about eating any of it. So, i'm boiling an egg. We'll see.

I'd add at least a few more inches of substrate, as I believe LizardMom pointed out. I would use the heat tape (though I prefer the self-adhesive heatpads) on the right side of your tank since thats the hot side of the tank. The pad will heat the substrate, which will hold the heat until it escapes into the tank (your ambient heat) and you will have the basking light right above to keep that area nice and toasty.

The light and tape will create enough ambient heat to keep the tank at a good temp since you have covered the screen top with alumiunum foil. The light will heat the 'basking area' above the tape even higher to help with digestion. You can use cork bark or some logs to raise some spots to different levels so Otis can choose the temp/level that is best for him.

I'd move the hide so its in the middle of the tank, half in the hot side and half in the cool side. This way Otis can again choose the area in or on the hide he prefers. (Or you could put a hide on both sides)

As far as the eating, egg will often work. I have seen very few Tegus refuse it, but if he does indeed start eating it I would not make it a regular thing because you want him on a standard diet of crickets/mealworms/pinkies (with proper suppliments for the crix & worms). If he eats the egg and really likes it you can drop a boiled egg into the blender on high and put it in a jar with some crickets. After the crickets track all through it and get it all over them, put the crickets in the tank. Otis will taste the egg and start eating the crickets.

As far as the fruit; some, but very few Tegus I have seen, like fruit much when they are young. This is not a strict rule. Mine for example will eat some melon, but not much and not often.

If you need more help I will check back or you can post where you posted Otis pics in the gallery. Handsome boy by the way.
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Rick
theTegu.com

New Tegu Community: theTegu.com - Webcam: Tux.theTegu.com

Ok, I added some more to his substrate. Now he can bury himself in it. I also added a rock and a limb which gives him the multi-level basking area. His basking area is at least 120 degrees with daytime bulb and cool side at 90 deg. With night bulb basking is at 90 deg. and I will assume cool end is probably around 70 degrees. Still, no sign of wanting to eat any crickets and has taken a lack of interest in boiled eggs! This guy is confusing me!!! I would have thouhgt about hybernation but he does come out to bask most of the time. Can you force feed, lets say with a syringe of baby food or something like that? I don't want to make ffeding a bad experience though.
I did find out that hes from an August batch and that the others from his clutch are also not eating well. I have noticed that my calm tegu has finally gaped his mouth at me when I was messing around in his enclosure now that I have crancked up the heat...Must be feeling better.His speed has also increased too, not as sluggish. Any how, anymore suggestions?? I'm stumped. I just don't want his growth to be affected due to not enough nutrience. Thanks, Jen(Amos is my husband) PS. - He has no clue about these guys as for he deals with venomous and nonvenomous snakes.

First, never force feed your Tegu. It will do no good. Either Otis is not interested (force feeding will do no good, he will probably be even less interested after that) or Otis is sick (and force feeding could make him worse).

Now, is Otis having proper bowel movements? If not he could be impacted. Take him to a vet.

If he is not impacted he could just not be interested and perhaps when hungry enough he will eat, but I wouldn't wait too long.

He could be getting ready to hibernate. Otis may not just go into hibernation and stay. Most of the time a Tegu will start to hibernate then after the body temps lower and his body functions slow, the undigested food will start to go bad/spoil and it will need to come out and bask until it's fully digested. This can take awhile and happen several times before he enters hibernation for good. I wouldn't assume it was hiberation.

For Otis's sake I would take him and have him checked. It's possible he has an infection. Take a recent stool sample and Otis and seek a reptile experianced vet. With the investments you have into Otis (money, time & emotional) it is always best to put him first. While there you can have him probed/sexed too.

Let me know how things go.
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Rick
theTegu.com

New Tegu Community: theTegu.com - Webcam: Tux.theTegu.com

Haven't seen you post again. Was wondering how it turned out for Otis? Is he doing better?
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Rick
theTegu.com

New Tegu Community: theTegu.com - Webcam: Tux.theTegu.com

This is nuts! After I put all that added substrate in his enclosure and increased his heat and added an extra rock for him...Otis dug a hole beneath the large rock and hasn't been out since! At first after I did all this, for the first couple of days Otis spent alot of time basking and then one day just disappeared. Of course I checked on him yesterday and he was still there and still alive..but not happy that I woke him up.
About his bowel movements, I think he's had one or two. It was something that was in his water bowl and I assume thats what it was. Nothing like snake poop! Much smaller. Do I need to still put the daylights on or can I keep his night light on since he is not coming out anymore? Also, do I continue to put out food or just wait until I see him come out again. Is it also harmful to wake him up to check on his wellbeing or do I just assume he is okay and enjoying his long nap. How long do you think he will be asleep for?
All I know is that I can't wait until I can fully enjoy him and watch his future endevours. I'll keep in touch with you...Ive gotten busy and sidetracked.

Leslie is right on all accounts. I think your new friend may be hibernating. That is the toughest thing for me owning a Tegu. My guy has free roam of the house and a room to himself. He started diapering for longer and longer periods about 3 weeks ago. I live in S FL and have kept his temps up and all of his basking spots on yet he still chooses to sleep. If I am lucky I see him once a week for 30 minutes to an hour. My wife (a school teacher) came home early yesterday and saw him basking and moving around his room a little.
Its very tuff especially with a new one but you have to let them sleep if they want to, just keep the temps and humidity right and let him/her do it's thing.

I know someone who has two tegus, one is his and the other is his daughters, but they both live in the same enclosure now.

His is a very aggressive eater. Show it anything it can eat and it will try to. Hers is not an aggressive eater. Dump in some dusted crickets and hers may just ignore them. Same thing for pinkies. On either account if the feeders are active enough, I mean, really kicking around, she will attack them and often eat them. Otherwise she doesn't. One think that works well for them is boiled egg (diced) and small live goldfish. Once they are eating this you can try to get them to eat crickets with calcium and vit suppliments as a main staple.

My friend lives just down the road so I will have him check this thread to make sure everything I said is accurate. He is currently starting a tegu site for people to share tegu info as well as building a machine to use as a 'always on' webcam server for his tegus, if you're interested its http://thetegu.com