winter behavior?

CuthThroatChris · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject: winter behavior?

i know the normal activness slows but hes in mid shed and he wont eat....is he trying to hibernate or what? i dont want him to but what do i need to do i nthis case i think this would be day 3 if he doesnt eat..ive been givin him superworms and today i gave him some diced peaches but when i put them in he just hid

greentriple · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:14 am Post subject:

Hibernation seems to be a touchy subject. Clearly in the wild and under "natural' conditions they hibernate. However, my reading has lead me to believe it's not required nor detrimental if they don't. But, they do slow down when the light, temperature and climate change even when we try to keep them consistent. I think it's much like birds flying south for the winter.

So what can you do. Try to create a constant and even temperature and lighting range. That is 12/12 and don't let the heat drop below 70 over night. If he's not eating much that's ok, keep offering him food and take out what he does not eat. As long as there is not weight loss things should be fine.

How is the shed? If it's good and health than things should be find, but if it's not you could have humidity and nutrition issues.

txrepgirl · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:58 am Post subject:

I have a 4 1/2 month old arg.bw.Tegu (Leonidas) and a 8 month old arg.bw.Tegu (Zeus).Leonidas comes out of his hide every day and eats than basks for a few hours and than hides again.When he is out of his tank (for feeding time) I spray down the mulch so the hole mulch feels moist to the touch but not wet to keep the humidity up.Zeus is sometimes hiding for 2 days straight.With him I just spray the top layer of the mulch and keep a bowl of water in there,too,for the humidity.I don't spray the hole mulch with him because I don't want to dig around in there and wake him up.He did come out today.He was shedding.After he ate I gave him a bath to help him shed the skin of.The hole skin came of.You even can see the little toes

.It looks like a reptile suite

.Just please be careful to feed your Tegu in the Tank.He could swallow the mulch and get impacted.That happened to Leonidas ones.Hes butt was all swollen and he couldn't eat or poop for 5 days.I took him to the vet and he is my good old boy again

.Good luck with your Tegu.