Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello...i purchased a young female argentine tegu around november...she is appx. 17 inches in length...and at the time i bought her, she was getting ready to hibernate...she is just starting to wake up...and when she comes out of her hide, i usually take her out & try to feed her...

so far i have tried; scrambled eggs, wet cat food, chicken, sweet potatoes, and pinky mice...

she ate a little of the scrambled eggs, a bit of a chunk...and she also took nibbles at the sweet potato...but she doesnt really seem interested in eating...

is that normal?

also, i noticed some grey bits on her...i think they are spots that are either ready to shed, or didnt come off last shed...

but i just wanted to make sure!...they are very small spots...

thanks so much!..

jessica

-----
0.1.0 Hogg Island Boa
0.0.1 Red Albino Cornsnake
1.0.0 Normal Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Argentine Black & White Tegu
1.0.0 Leopard Toad
1.2.0 Dogs
1.2.0 Cats
2.0.0 Rats
1.0.0 Rabbit
1.0.0 Gerbil

Sry I cant see the spots.I hear a lot of people talking about feeding cat food to their tegus. My vet at UF suggests not using cat can food it differs from can dog food. She only suggest feeding it at a way to help add fat. But that if I choice to use can food to use a high quality can dog food. She gave me a brad but I'm not sure if its allowed thing to say.
What kind of bedding are you using for your tegu?
Looks like shavings. Do you know the dangers in using shavings?
Good Luck.
Here's a link if your looking for help w maybe a fast response
Link

Make sure there is a "hot spot" around 105'F. I'd suggest Cypress mulch for substrate deep enough to burrow under and keep an area moist. Dog and Cat foods can have bad calcium to phosphorus ratios--not good for herps. Many Tegus don't eat during winter at all, but still make those adjustments if needed.

thanks for the advice!...

i use aspen stuff...is that okay?

its the natural kind with no dyes or scents added...

i think she is just still in hibernation-mode...

sometimes she wakes up for a little while...but she always burrows back under the aspen, or goes in her hide box...

so i guess i'll wait till april or so for her to wake up
-----
0.1.0 Hogg Island Boa
0.0.1 Red Albino Cornsnake
1.0.0 Normal Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Argentine Black & White Tegu
1.0.0 Leopard Toad
1.2.0 Dogs
1.2.0 Cats
2.0.0 Rats
1.0.0 Rabbit
1.0.0 Gerbil

Aspen tends to be very drying. Cypress holds water well and creates a humid environment. I'd switch to it. "Keeper's Choice", "Zoo Med" and "T-Rex" all package Cypress mulch as reptile bedding. Also, on the east coast(and elsewhere, but harder to find and more expensive)Cypress mulch can be found at home centers in big bags for garden use. It's cheaper than the "pet shop" brands, just look for the fine grade, or "double milled" as it's less "chunky". With Cypress it's easy to keep it damp under the hide box, which is important. Also, that water dish is a little too large. You don't want to encourage soaking as this increases the chances of your Tegu ingesting fouled water. A small, heavy drinking dish is all they need. Assuming your Tegu is healthy, and there is a hot enough basking spot, it will eat soon enough. Good luck.

if your going to feed wet cat food or dog food make sure there are no by products. just look under ingredients if its not in the 1st 6 ingredients then your fine. a good cat food is iams and a good dog food is nutro

Sounds perfectly normal... tegus usually dont eat unless it really heats up , otherwise if they consume a large meal and the temps drop the meal could kill them by rotting instead of digesting ...

Try bumping the heat up in his basking spot , once he wakes up though get ready .. Tegus can EAT
-----
Safari Tom
See'em Touch'em Save'em
www.SafariTom.com