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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:47 am Post subject: what do you think?
today 4-15-05 is day number 5 that I have had my two tegus and I changed the "bedding" last night to the wood bark stuff from the local pet store and immediately they burrowed under the stuff is this a sign of being happy? or just normal? they never burrowed under the previous stuff I had. And still I have not seen them eat, i tried to give them meal worms and even wax worms (which my leopard loves) and no luck! upon changing the cage over I noticed it looked like some crickets had been eatin but not alot. I'm under the impression that they are eating machines at this age (juvies). I havent tried any fruits yet. I bought these at a local reptile show they have here in Cleveland monthly and what are the signs of parasites? I appreciate any and all info you guys can give me. - thanks
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:09 am Post subject:
Tegus commonly burrow into their bedding (also referred to with reptiles as substrate) when every thing is normal. Normal and stress free is good, thus normal means a happy tegu. If they were not burrowing before they probably did not like the substrate.
As far as not eating, it's normal for a tegu to go without eating when it's made a major change, such as the transport to the reptile show and then to your home. I would keep offering foods and they will generally eat when they are ready. If you notice serious weight loss I would seek vet advise.
If you know what the previous owner was feeding it may help. If you don't know try several things. Rodents (both live and prekilled), some tegus prefer live and some prefer prekilled, depending on what they are used to. Try 93% or better ground turkey. Try a bit of boiled or scrambled egg (I have seen very few tegus refuse bits of boiled egg). Though egg is not a great nutritional source of calcium or vitamins, and infertile eggs are bad in large quantity, picky tegus seems to like it so it can be used to get them eating whatever foods you wish to feed them. Once it will eat the egg, try rubbing egg on a prekilled rodent, this scents the rodent with egg. The tegu will start to eat rodents, then feed 'unscented' rodents. Later you can move to live if you wish. You can also feed egg on a plate then add a little turkey.
Just some ideas to get your tegus to eat quicker, but they will probably start eating soon anyways.
Joined: Mar 07, 2005 Posts: 328 Location: Chesterfield, UK
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:54 am Post subject:
Heavily scented fish such as tuna or salmon may well get them going to.
Gave mine a nice bit of Chicken Tikka the other day, and he couldn't get enough. Just for reference, I cooked it, so I knew what was in it. I wouldn't recommend using something straight from your local Indian Take-away.
Definately a sign of being comfortable though if their burrowing in. That is where gu's tend to spend most of their 'lazy' time. Don't feel the need to remove substrate tho in order to help you see them better. I made that mistake, and it led to a very uneasy Gu.
Lastly, if your not sure about whether they have been screened for parasites, take a stool sample (fresh) to your local herp vet and have it checked. There is no obvious signs externally of infection.
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