Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a red tegu about 2 weeks ago. He was active the first few days and eats fine but about the second week started to spend more and more time in its burrow under the water dish. I know these lizards will spend a few months brumating, but it's only a few months old (about 8 or 9 inches) and I'm not sure if it's normal for red tegus to start brumating this early.

It's also becoming more and more stressed whenever I have to do anything in the cage and will start breathing heavily and freaks out at the slightest touch from me (even if I'm very slow and calm). The only thing I can think of is the tegu is not used to the calmness of my house because I work some days and can't be around to tame it on those days since it only comes out of the burrow for a few hours. What are some things I could do to help the tegu become comfortable with me. I've raised a bearded dragon, diamondback turtle and chameleon and I've never had this problem before.

It's probably NORMAL.
The reds and merianae hibernate so early than september.
In end of october, tegus that don't live in tropical zone brumate/hibernate since nearly 2 months.

Tegus are definitely different than beardies. Without consistent handling, they will become skittish. It could be beginning to hibernate, but it's always best to check husbandry. Are the basking temps up to 110-ish? Does he have a quality UVB at the appropriate distance preferable without a screen barrier? Does he receive calcium supplementation on every meal that does not contain bones?

I had a hatchling that was born at the end of Aug and hibernated by Thanksgiving. The red I have now is an adult and he's still up and and down a bit, but sleeps most of the time. They all seem to have individual patterns when housed separately.

As for taming, you just need to handle him every day. Some people like to place a worn shirt in the sleeping area to associate your scent with the safe place. I also found that picking up to feed outside of the enclosure helped form that positive association of handling.

What i did was just handle my tegu every day since i got him. i started off just holding him and let him run through my hands until he calmed down, after about a week got him to the point to where i would let him walk around my bed while i sat there on my laptop, and now he asks to come out by knocking on his cages sliding windows. another thing, im not sure how yours is housed, but ive found a front sliding cage is better than an aquarium style one. when i first got mine i had him in an aquarium style cage, and once i moved him into a front opening cage, his behavior towards me changed dramatically, as well as his activity level. with mine i notice the more i handle him the more he wants to be handled.