Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently purchased 2 tegu's from Bert. They are great. i was using cyprus mulch in the cage. I also have 2 bearded dragons that i recently switch over from sand to carpet. When the Tegus arrived the Bearded dragon lost their home and moved into a 30 gal tank for the time being. They usually roam free, but we just moved and i cant have them running around until i can screen in the porch. Anyways, The cypess mulch is a pain so am trying to use carpet and they have a pillow inside the cage they like to hide under. Under the pillow is a heating pad that they love. its under the actual cage and on low so that it doesnt burn them. They seem really happy. Do you know of any reason why i shouldn't do this? Its a lil easier to keep clear even though i have to clean more often. But it keeps me active in there lives and this way i have to handle them every day.

Tegu's like to dig in the mulch and make burrow. they can't do that with carpet. and you have the chance of toes getting tngled and ripped off. I think cypress or dirt are your best choices

Does any one have a set up where a full grown tegu still digs? These are babies and the repti carpet doesnt have strings inside of it to where they can get tangled. I just think they like to hide. also, once they get big enough to roam the house there will be no place for them to dig.

this is true. they dont dig as much as adults. but I like to keep it somewhat nutural looking.

yes natural is good, but for the most part the cypress has an odor of its own. also, as of now when i put in cat food and crickets the only eat the cat foor and crickets. before when i first tried the mulch they would eat lil pieces of bark and fine cypress dust. now its cleaner and i dont have to worry about them eating the mulch. i take them out quite ofter and didnt like to dig around when i was looking for them. I was afraid of them getting hurt. Plus the female like to rattle her tail at me when i did dig trough it. She doesnt any more.