Getting a rescued Tegu up to health?

stenodactylus · New Member Joined: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 8

I just rescued a very big red tegu about 3 days ago. It was left in a box in at the dog pound.

He's bigger than I expected and is living in a 4x2x2 cage. He doesn't have much energy. My own tegus crawl around constantly and are very active. He just lays there all the time.

I got him to eat 2 hopper mice (nothing to a 15 pound tegu) but nothing else. I think I might have to try live mice or small rats. He doesn't want to eat any fruit or chicken gizzards or ground meat or anything else.

He has a basking spot of 85 degrees. I've been soaking him in the bathrub every morning for about a half hour.

Any other tips or suggestions as to what I can do to boost this guy back to health? I want to get him healthy and find a home for him......

ApriliaRufo · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:52 pm Post subject:

Needs a bigger enclosure, a reptisun 10.0 or equivelent flourescent, a 150 Watt Basking Spot for a higher basking temp spot, heat tape, and a chance to explore. For feeding issues I would go ahead and take him/her out of the cage and give her the kitchen floor, put a bowl with kiwis, zophobas, phoenix worms, and hoppers in it. Let it decide what food it is going to use for a stimulation meal. I find that roaches and zophobas, as well as codfish, provide a great stimulant for eating. If your temps are off and are not what he's used to, he will be resilient and refuse to eat.

stenodactylus · New Member Joined: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 8

with the reds, what basking spot temp do they prefer?

This is the biggest cage I have set up right now; I'm not planning on keeping him. Would this size cage be ok as temporary housing? I have a 6x2 cage I could put in the garage for awhile if that would be better as a temp cage.

Since he was left in a box with no info, I don't know what he's used to basking temp wise or food wise.

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Cowher · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:02 pm Post subject:

beef liver is very good for them to get healthy again lost of vitamin A and iron
_________________
Arg. B+W Tegu 1.0.0

You lock the door and throw away the key. There's someone in my head but its not me.

LisaN · Member Joined: Sep 03, 2007 Posts: 65

Nice red male....doesn't look like his is in too bad shape in the picture.
Where are you located? I may be interested. : )

LisaN

Bill_S · Member Joined: Dec 10, 2004 Posts: 56

Reds can use a wide basking spot of about 120 degrees, and a cool end that's 80-85. With the cool basking area maybe he thinks it's slow-down season and he won't eat for health reasons -- if it's getting near winter the temperature isn't warm enough for digestion.

Fire him up and see what happens.

B.

stenodactylus · New Member Joined: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 8

we're in the San Francisco Bay Area if anyone is nearby and interested

ApriliaRufo · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:37 pm Post subject: