sheding

shaman · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:56 pm Post subject: sheding

Hi Rick,

My tegu, Charlie, has shed for the second time since the Portland show! How often do they shed? He eats almost everything I offer and most every time I offer it

He is growing so fast that from one week to another my co-workers are noticing a big difference in growth. His jaw is bigger and he is fat. Is there such a thing as a FAT tegu?

I take him out at my lunch times, and he crawls around on my shoulder. I bring him to our picnic table which is not toasty form the sun. He walks from one person to another eating bits of food everyone offers.
Then we let him walk in the grass. WOW he is very different in the grass. Hunting for bugs and moves very quickly

So I offered Charlie green seedless grapes this after noon with some chicken and he gobbled the grapes up first. I was amazed!

Alan ( Dr. Slack ) took some pictures of him on my hand while he still fits. By the way he is growing he will out grow my hand in another month.

worleygurl · Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:46 am Post subject:

Hi! 'Gratz on your tegu! You said you got him at the Portland Expo. Did you, by chance, get him from Rick?

There is indeed such a thing as a fat tegu, however this typically applies to older tegus in captivity. We tend to keep them in too small enclosures, don't provide them with a healthy diet, and don't provide them with enough exercise, and they get fat. Hatchlings should be fat!

They shed a lot. Shedding equals growth, and hatchlings grow at alarmingly fast rates! They can shed as often as once a week to every ten days. It is nothing to be concerned with.

Now, you say you take him to work with you. Is he getting his proper basking temperatures, exposure to UVB, humidity, and does he have hiding places to destress?

One thing I would like to caution against is feeding him "people food" I mean grapes and bits of boiled or baked chicken would be fine, but go easy on anything spicey, etc. I don't know what type of yummy morsels your co-workers are offering but keep things like cheese, eggs, dairy products, etc. Just a tip

Again, 'gratz on your tegu! They are loads of fun!
_________________
Kris, Herps they're not just a hobby, they're a way of life!

shaman · Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:36 pm Post subject:

Hi Worleygurl,

Yes I did get Charlie from Rick. My son has a tegu already and she goes to school some times to visit for a few hours.

Charlie only comes to work with me during my lunch then goes back home. I live directly next to my office

But when we feed him from our plates we only give him meat, from our salads, fruits or some veges.

He is in a twently gallon right now but he will go into a giant snake encloser when he is bigger. He has a half log to hide in from the pet store, cypress mulch for supstraite and a UVB light. He has an under the tank heater, and the heater and light is on the same side so he can retreat to the cooler side if needed.

We all like him very much. Right now he can crawl around on my head so when the kids get in trouble they tell me they cant take me seriously with a lizard tail hanging off the side of my head

thanks for your advise I wil take heed on what I feed him.

worleygurl · Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:08 pm Post subject:

It sounds like you've got everything under control! That is great! Rick's hatchlings are wonderful. That's funny that your kids can't take you seriously with a lizard tail hanging off your head haha Tell them they better listen or when the tegu gets bigger, HE will take care of the punishment with his tail haha
_________________
Kris, Herps they're not just a hobby, they're a way of life!