Questions regarding sleeping and drinking H2O

Hockeymom

Hi Guys-
Well Deuce is doing well and is growing, but I do have a couple questions.
He wakes up about 8 am, warms up till about 9:30 or 10:00 and eats. By 3 or 4 in the afternoon he has buried himself and sleeps until 8 or so the next morning. I don't get to see him a lot. I have time to spend with him in the evening but mornings and afternoons are very busy. Is there a way I can change his schedule so he's up later in the evening? Will he sleep less as he grows? Could he beginning to prepare for hibernation all ready?
My second question is I never see Deuce drink water from his water bowl, and when I mist his cage he starts drinking the water off the rock or the substrate. How can I make sure he is getting enough H2O?
Thanks for your help.
Becky
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Hockey mom

Teiidae

Rick · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:46 am Post subject:

Thee01Edge posted pretty much what I would have posted.

Rick
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Sisco Reptiles - Proud Breeder of the Tamest & Most Social Tegus. See www.SiscoReptiles.com

Hockeymom · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:55 am Post subject:

Wow I didn't realize Tegu's sleep so much. I guess I will have to rearrange my schedule, my boys will sure be disappointed they just don't get to see him at all. He's already buried himself by the time they get home from school. Thanks for the help.
Becky
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Hockey mom

arf-man · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:22 pm Post subject:

Question from me seeing's how I know very little about this, is it possible, using lights and timers, to alter the day cycle so the Tegu would be awake and active when you wanted it to? What would the challenges or problems be? Would you have to make sure if you wanted the Tegu asleep during the day to darken the room from ambient light, and if so how dark?

Johelian · Retired Mod Joined: Nov 22, 2004 Posts: 848

Yeah, using timers you could have your tegu awake at practically any time of day - which is how many people keep them from hibernating. My tegu will begin to stir as soon as the room is "naturally" lit in the mornings by the sun, and will actually come out and be active when his own lights come on a short time later. Therefore, I would say that you probably need to have a room in pretty dim light to let your animal know that its time to sleep. That being said, both of my lizards will automatically bed down for the night when their cage lights go out now regardless of whether the room light is on, so....

I guess that just confused things further. Sorry!

Hockeymom · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:50 pm Post subject:

I have Deuces lights and heat lamp come on at 7 am and go off at 7pm. He is still going to bed by 3-4 pm. Maybe I should have his lights come on a couple hours later in the morning, like 9 am and see if that helps him stay up an hour or two later in the afternoon.
Also, how in the world are you suppose to get those harnesses on them? He's too squirmy, just about the time I get one foot in and I start working on the other he pulls his first foot out. He won't let me hold him still to get him in it.
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Hockey mom

Englishtegu · Valued Member Joined: Jul 13, 2005 Posts: 111 Location: UK

I'm still learning about tegus myself, but I have my lights on a timer 10am to 10pm. The tegus will go to 'bed' by burrowing down in the substrate in the early evening, say around 6 or 7pm. I often can't get to them until around 7 or 8pm, i.e. sometimes they are asleep before I've had chance to feed them. I have found that by spraying their cage heavily with tepid water, they will wake up and feed, and then come out for a roam around. I've also noticed that they have started staying up later: I guess its hard to get to sleep on an empty stomach! They seem to be adjusting to the new routine...