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Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 998 Location: South Florida
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:12 am Post subject: A Bran New Take on UV and Sunlight!
Well I went over to Ryans house to take a look at my dead tegu. While I was out there he showed my my other girl. Her colors were brighter then I had ever seen. Blue tegus are generally not blue, this animal was BRIGHT BLUE and solid white! I was amazed to say the least! Her temperment had totally changed. She was now a wild animal as apposed to a nice calm pet! She repeatled came charging on her hind legs with her mouth open wide. She was a very unhappy tegu (really a very happy tegu, just not with us LOL). Her mouth had become a bit scratched up from the new cage but you could tell it was healing well. Sun works wonders for tegus and If I ever keep tegus again it will be outside in the sun (I will have tegus again, now just isn't the time). When I get back this female I won't be keeping her. I'll probably let Ryan keep her and sell off the babies that pop out (if any). Monitor lizards do not need UV - (not proven and I've seen monitors that are MUCH brighter in color raised on home bulbs, That have never seen daylight before in their lives then those kept outside), but I've found tegus need it for sure! This experience with tegus has opened my eyes. I wish I had my degi cam! She was even in shed when I saw her (well almost done shedding). I pulled the big male blue out of his enclosure and put them together. We then left them alone. _________________ John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:44 am Post subject:
What to heck happened? How did the other one die and why did this one become so 'wild'? Where they not handled daily? Were the taunted?
This is why I would never let my tegus go out on a breeding loan unless I was there during the whole process. I give my tegus all the attention they can stand and then a little more. I couldn't imagine letting anyone take care of my tegus unless they would recieve the exact same attention and care.
It's great that you now realize that UVB is a good idea, but it's a bummer about one tegu dying and the other getting wild.
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 998 Location: South Florida
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:05 pm Post subject:
Rick wrote:
What to heck happened? How did the other one die and why did this one become so 'wild'? Where they not handled daily? Were the taunted?
This is why I would never let my tegus go out on a breeding loan unless I was there during the whole process. I give my tegus all the attention they can stand and then a little more. I couldn't imagine letting anyone take care of my tegus unless they would recieve the exact same attention and care.
It's great that you now realize that UVB is a good idea, but it's a bummer about one tegu dying and the other getting wild.
Rick
No idea on the new blue girl. I was told by the vet she hadn't been taken care of real well in the past and was probably the cause of death. Not taunted, and not handled. When your breeding animals you usually leave them alone to do their thing. You'll have a much better chance of success this way. Take any reptile into the sun and let them warm up. I GUARANTEE you will see a totally different animal. I've had Calm retics, monitor, tegus.... you take them outside in the sun and they are a new animal. I guess it's the sun, but something changes in them for sure! I'll just calm her down when she gets back. I'm willing to bet that when I bring her back inside she'll be calm again. _________________ John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/
Hmm thats very interesting, i regularly take mine out into the sun with me to explore around, but not much change in temperament or color. And also if your friend doesnt want the female i would buy her from you.. im in south florida also looking for another tegu, im in gainesville and at the end of the month going to fort myers for the summer, 20 mins from naples. _________________ 1.0.0 - Argentine B&W
0.0.2 - Columbian B&W
0.1.0 - Bearded Dragon
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:11 pm Post subject:
The sun can appear to make a tegu 'fade' or become more 'brilliant', but from my experience it has not made any tegu 'wild'. It's lack of human contact that will do that or sometimes an individuals temperament. As you said, you guys left the tegus alone without contact, undisturbed to breed.
I take my tegus outside any warm day we have. Either they spend the day in my yard basking while I do yardwork or I say to heck with yardwork and we all (My family, tegus and my dog) head to the park for the day. We are outside a lot in the sun. My tegus love it and love to free roam in the park. Many people come up and check them out. First question is "Is thats some kind of Iguana?" and I go on to explain that they are tegus and what a tegu is. Then often ask me to write down this website address so they can read more and see more pictures. Note: If one of you are reading this.. "Hello".
On that note, I have several pictures I still need to pick through and post in my various albums. For now, here are a few park pictures...
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:28 pm Post subject:
I have six tegus. Four of which go to the park on a regular basic and have free roam anywhere that I consider non-intrusive or dangerous. Meaning I do not allow them near the road (dangerous), near the chainlink fence that blocks a 10 yard/meter drop to the river (dangerous), or near other people in the park who may be jogging, have kids, be walking animals or similar (intrusive & dangerous).
Other than that they go where they want in the park. I have a few parks to choose from but one is generally pretty empty compared to the others. They love the park and stop around smelling where all of the animals have been.
I have a harness that I used to train them in the yard, after making them where the harness in the house to get used to it. Plus I have a clicker if all else fails. I click and they all come running for treats.
My tegu gets edgier when hes outside, and will make breaks to escape when its time to get him back indoors. My bearded acts exactly the same. I think its just to do with a new environment personally, as theyre both calm indoors; just as soon as theres uncovered sky above their heads they get nervous.
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:34 pm Post subject:
Thats normal. It's the stress of the larger area. Tux had the same issue at first. Now he rides on the dash of the car and loves trips to the park. Its similar to the stress of a hatchling tegu in a huge enclosure. If you work with them they may get over it. That's the reason I used harnesses to get them used to the outside. I started on the harnesses inside to make sure they could not slip the harness, that way if they did.. they were still inside.
The tegus I have did well and now love the outside. Tee, my female red tegu, does not care for the outside so I do not take her out. Java, the Colombian is flighty, so he stays inside as well.
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 998 Location: South Florida
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:35 pm Post subject:
My experience is they totally change in temperment. Taking an animal outside won't do much. If they LIVE out side they will change (color...). Some people thinks it's best to leave reptiles alone and have them as "look at pets" _________________ John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject:
Bennett has tegus that live outside, we'll have to wait and see what his opinion is based on his experiences. My tegus do not currently reside outside, though I do intend to make an enclosure so they can be put outside unsupervised on nice days even if I am busy.
I am not disregarding your experiences, but neither of us have had tegus living outside on a regular basis, so we need to call on the opinion of someone with experience with that area.
Joined: Dec 08, 2004 Posts: 998 Location: South Florida
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:43 pm Post subject:
Polecat I've got around 10 weeks to find out if she is infact going to drop eggs or not. I'll be sure to post her in the classifieds if I decide to sell her. _________________ John Light
http://www.jlexotics.com/
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(Diablo, Green Iguana)
