Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can my tegu learn to use a litter box? Will he just do it naturally (excrete in the same place)?
Niko
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1.0 Peruvian red-tail boa (boa constrictor constrictor)
1.0 Argentinian black and white tegu (tupinambis merianae)
2.0 Bearded Dragons (pogona vitticeps)
0.1 White's tree frog (litoria caerulea)
1.1 "assorted" geckoes (???)
1.0 anery Honduran Milksnake (lampropeltis t. hondurensis)
0.1 hypo Honduran Milksnake (l. triangulum hondurensis)
1.0 2005 Mustang V-8 GT manual
1.0 1973 Camaro V-8: 2002 350 ci. chevy small block, new automatic transmission, 650 cfm edelbrock carb intake manifold, flowmaster exhaust, pioneer sound system

They aren't dogs. They can be taught....but then again I hear it's not easy, and sometimes doesn't work at all!
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John Light
JL Exotics
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Hi there! John is right regarding tegus are not dogs or cats.
However, this may help out quite a bit..... Tegus (or at least 99% of the ones I've had over the years) get their potty urgency triggered in water. Once he/she wakes during the day or on your tegu's schedule.... (if you can) take him into the tub (sounds gross I know LOL) and either soak him in warm-hot water, or splash it out of the faucet on his back and pelvic tail-base regions. This typically triggers tegus to relieve themselves, then are good for roaming if tame enough for hours (just make sure of course he/she can get to a basking spot though). This tub routine has worked quite well, with very few accidents on the floor. When you are talking an adult red, it is a huge accident! :0). Again timing is important and some of our work schedules do not allow to be right there when they awake. You can even attempt to adjust their day/heat lamps hrs a bit to help your schedule out.

Greg

I agree with attentiveear.

Most tegus will even start going to the bathroom right in their waterbowl if it is large enough. I have seen people use two waterbowls, a larger one for waste and a smaller one for water.

I also agree that warm water will make almost any tegu release it's bowels if it has to go. Place it in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. If it has to go, it will. I generally do this to any tegu I am going to take out of the enclosure to hold. I don't personally care for 'accidents' when they happen on me or the furniture. I do not use the tub for the purpose as large 'movements' generally don't like to go down the drain.

I use a large plastic rubbermaid type storage container. It's only purpose to to help my tegus release waste when its convienant for me, such as before holding, before bathing, etc. It can them be emptied directly into the toilet bowl and flushed.

Rick
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The Tegu Community - theTegu.com

Oh, yes, those large "loads" can plug the drain, thus that's where rubber gloves, toilet paper come in handy. ( I know, a bit gross LOL) Then as you stated using the toilet for the larger waste, preventing the drain being plugged.

Great idea regarding the rubber maids, though have to be quite large ones, especially for adult reds. :0)

Take care Rick!

Greg