Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well - My Argentine B&W Tegu has been brumating for about a month now, but he does come out occasionally to bask. I offer food, and he glances at it, but never goes for it. First, he was in a shed when he went in, and it is still on him, a little has come off and the rest is just kind of flaking off, but has been on there for some time now. I tried olive oil and also water, but he goes back into brumation before i get another days coating on there. Also, today he just came out, and he looks terrible. He doesnt look skinny, but his eyes are kind of sunken in like he is dehydrated. If i spray him, he will dig and go back to sleep. I drip water on his head and he drinks. I would love for him to just stay out of brumation, should i get a red light for night as well?

Does anyone think this will help: I will get a red light for heat at night, I will up his humidity by soaking all his substrate with water, I will offer all the food I can think of (crix, supers, pinkies, grapes etc.), and I will let him do what he will do, just try to raise the temps for him.

Thanks
David
-----
KDRKreatures.com
Exotic Reptile Breeders - Specializing in Bearded Dragons

Email

If his eyes are sunken in, he needs help quick. It sounds like he's definitely dehydrated. I'd recommend giving him SC and ICe injections of lactated Ringer's solution, no more than 2% of TBW, and perhaps also orally administered via stomach tube of Pedialyte, Ricelyte, or even Gatorade, no more than about 1% TBW. Also, if possible, you should palpitate the abdominal cavity to see if you can feel an obstruction (semi-hard to hard lumps, often about the size of a small egg).

You should also do what you can to help bring him out of dormancy. Being dormant AND being sick is a guaranteed means of dying. I'd recommend immediately bringing ambient temperature up to 27degrees Celsius, and then slowly further increasing day time temperatures by about 1 degree per day or two to a maximum of about 35degrees.
I'd make sure to have daytime photoperiod of at least 14hours, and that should include UV output. A nighttime redlight is likely to be ineffective as tegus typically bury themselves at night in their substrate. I'd advise against feeding him until he regains an active and alert behaviour.

Ive given him some water, working on pedialyte - thing is my vet is out of town, no herp vet near us right now! He actually burys about 1/2 inch below substrate UNDER the 100 watt bulb. I highered the humidity, and bough a red light, just to raise the heat at night and during the day. He didnt go back down today to his sleeping period, just went in and out of burying. Basking too. I think I may have over reacted when i said sunken eyes...rrr i dunno, im trying to get a photo - but since my vet is out of town idk what to do.
-----
KDRKreatures.com
Exotic Reptile Breeders - Specializing in Bearded Dragons

Email