Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Hello and HELP

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    New Bern, NC
    Posts
    7

    Default Hello and HELP

    I need some help. I got a b&w tegu by rescue. I found him outside a customers house on a 50 degree morning. After better than a week of sleeping, he is finally starting to be active, moving around his enclosure and playing in his water. The problem is, I can't get him to eat ANYTHING. I have tried mice, thawed and warmed as instructed by the reptile guy at the local exotic pet store, warmed hamburger (I didn't have any turkey), apples, lettuce, cat food, strawberries, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes.
    Every time we take him out of his enclosure he does "use the bathroom". When I rescued him I don't know how long he ha been outside or the last time he at. He is approximately 3ft tip to tip and looks fairly healthy. My wife and I are just getting very worried that he still wont eat.
    His weight looks ok to me, ribs aren't showing abnormally, hips aren't sticking out, thighs look meaty. I would love to take him to a vet but I don't know any in the area that are familiar with exotics, and he was already an unexpected expanse, (Zoo-med tortoise house, UVB light, basking light, undercage heat pad, bedding, etc, over $200) so it'll be a couple weeks before I can afford the vet trip.

    Anyone have any advice on favorites that will entice him to eat?

    Pic is from the morning I found him. The tote he's in is 20"x10" so you can get an idea of his size. More to follow when he decides to be active, he's hiding right now.
    2013-11-06 16.22.15.jpg

  2. #2

    Default

    Looks like a good healthy female you got there. You say you found him outside as a wild tegu? She probably just gearing up for thanksgiving oops I mean hibernation ,) they stop eating prior to hibernation.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    New Bern, NC
    Posts
    7

    Default

    I don't think he/she is wild, there is no aggression/fear that I would expect from a wild animal. He was literally laying on the door mat at the back door, I almost stepped on him and then just thought he was a fake/toy lizard till I saw the shed line on his tail. I think someone realized how expensive they are to keep and dumped him. I checked the local pet stores to see if anyone reported a loss and noone has.
    Since there is no way to know how long he was outside should I go ahead and drop his temps so he can brumate(sp) or keep them warm as I have been.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    San Antonio,TX
    Posts
    9,505

    Default

    Hi Kelisk. Welcome to our Tegu forum family and congrats on your new pet. Your Tegu does look like a female. But you have a Columbian Tegu and not a Argentine. That means that the Columbian Tegus do not hibernate. The Argentines do. Since she has been outside for a while in the cold the metabolism slowed down. I'm sure after she will be basking for a while she will be eating again. Please make sure the basking temps are high enough 115 to 120. The temps should be measure right on the basking spot underneath the lamp not of to the side. Since she is shedding you could give her some luke warm/warm baths. If you want to you can get the carnivore care. This will help her get to eat. In the second link is some information on how to check if yours is a male of female. Yours might be still a bit to young to tell.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA07606U0196

    http://www.thetegu.com/showthread.ph...-s-a-male-Tegu
    Rich is not how much you have, or where you are going, or what you are.Rich is who you have beside you.

    Our videos :

    http://www.youtube.com/user/txrepgirl

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    New Bern, NC
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Txrepgirl, how can you decipher the difference between the two types? Everyone we've shown her to, even the specialist at the pet shop said she was an Argentinian? But thank you for all the other helpful information...hopefully she will start to eat soon.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    San Antonio,TX
    Posts
    9,505

    Default

    Your welcome. The difference between the two are the spots on the head and the face. Also the pattern on the body is different. Here are some photos/videos for you to check out. Hope this helps.

    This is our Leonidas ( Argentine black and white Tegu ). No spots on the head/face.



    This is someones Argentine black and white Tegu.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEtL18-TEmI

    This is a Columbian Tegu.



    This is someones Columbian Tegu. You can see the spots on the head/face. They also don't get as big.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTc7TdO19CA
    Rich is not how much you have, or where you are going, or what you are.Rich is who you have beside you.

    Our videos :

    http://www.youtube.com/user/txrepgirl

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    New Bern, NC
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Wow now that we see it the difference is obvious. Is there a diet difference, everything we have been reading is for B&W. Also, he/she is awake and running around the house where should I post the pics.
    2013-11-19 19.52.57.jpg2013-11-19 19.45.44.jpg
    There are more...lol

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    San Antonio,TX
    Posts
    9,505

    Default

    You can post your photos in the show and tell section.

    http://www.thetegu.com/forumdisplay....cture-Forum%29

    I don't know how old your Tegu is. But this is how you can check if your Tegu is a he or she.

    http://www.thetegu.com/showthread.ph...-s-a-male-Tegu

    The only difference in the Argentine and the Columbian Tegus are that the Columbians do not hibernate. Some of them don't like or have to eat fruits and veggies. Some eat everything that the Argentines do. I would do everything the same way you would do with a Argentine. Nice photos.
    Rich is not how much you have, or where you are going, or what you are.Rich is who you have beside you.

    Our videos :

    http://www.youtube.com/user/txrepgirl

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •