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theTegu.com :: View topic - Hi everybody! I just got a tegu and have a few questions.
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Hi everybody! I just got a tegu and have a few questions.
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pumpkin
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Joined: Apr 14, 2007
Posts: 25
Location: Detroit

PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:21 pm    Post subject: Hi everybody! I just got a tegu and have a few questions. Reply with quote

Hello, I just got a b&W tegu, I named her Duchess.
I have a few questions about her. I just brought her home about an hour and a half ago, she's in a 20 gallon with a uvb bulb and basking light. The breeder sold me reptibark with her but I have read that mulch is better.
He said he has also used the bark though.

I put a hornworm in with her about 10 mins. ago and she ate it, but hasn't eaten anymore, is this normal?

Also she seems to be laying under her basking light, and dozing off every now and then, is this also normal?

And what would be the best thing to feed her tomarrow.

I'm sorry if I sound stupid, I have two bearded dragons and a few other reptiles, and know matter how many times I bring home a new herp I also worry I'm doing something wrong, so any help you guys have I wold love!!!!
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Jimjones
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Joined: Sep 15, 2006
Posts: 213
Location: NYC

PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Congragulations on getting your first tegu!

1. First you definately need to get rid of that repti-bark, it doesnt hold humidity at all, and our tegu could possibly lose its toe nails or toes from the reptibark. Go with mulch or cocunut husk, those are very good substrates for humidity and burrowing.

2. As far as feeding goes try to offer her more insects tomorrow or maybe fruit. Its good to try and start them on fruit as early as possible. But try offering her more insects tomorrow. If she doesnt eat them shes probably not going to eat for a couple of days, until shes accustomed to her new home. Thats normal!

3. When all tegu basks, they always as somepoint doze off and sleep. These are very laid back reptiles, and thats what they love to do, EAT and SLEEP!!Dont get freaked out if your tegu burrows under the substrate and sleeps for possibly 3/4 of the day, this is normal and thats what they do!!

I'm sure more people will help you also, but once again congrats on your Tegu!
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pumpkin
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Joined: Apr 14, 2007
Posts: 25
Location: Detroit

PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you so much, she ate another hornworm and killed the third then through it across the tank. icon_rolleyes.gif

I will defintly go with the mulch then, I'll pick that up tomarrow at work.

What is the best kind of fruit for them, and should I put the food in a little bowl for her?

How many insects should she be eating? With the beardies when they were young they ate as many as they could in 15 mins, is it differnet with the tegu or would this work?

i did do research on them but I just found this site and it's great!!
I'm just trying to get as much more info as possible so everything is appreciated!
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Jimjones
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Joined: Sep 15, 2006
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Location: NYC

PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, since you have your tegu in a 20 gallon, im assuming its very small at the moment, so feed it as much as it will take. They will stop when they are full in one feeding session, when mine was like 16 inches i used to feed before i went to work, and again when i came home. So that was two feeding sessions a day when he was small, like yours. I was told to feed your tegu as much as it will take while they are under a year old! I dont know what kind of tegu yo have. Do you have a argentine or columbian? If it is an argentine, in my experience, that 20 gallon is going to be useless in another month or so!
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pumpkin
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Joined: Apr 14, 2007
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Location: Detroit

PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

With all the excitement I wasn't sure if the breeder ever said and it never crossed my mind to ask, however he showed me one his his full grown and I'm pretty sure they are columbians if they are the smaller ones.

She (or he) is the smaller of the two tegus. She (or he) is very small I was going to measure her, but I forgot and I didn't want to disturb her.

She is also extremely friendly.

The breeder said she was eatting 3 pinkies a week, I was wondering what everyones views here were.
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Jimjones
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does she look like this
with a green head?
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pumpkin
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

She looks just like that, but smaller and slimmer. I'll post a pic as soon as I can.

She's starting to get really active, smelling everything running to the cool end taking a break then running back to her basking spot.

I her tank I have a water dish and a log hide should she have more stuff?
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Jimjones
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok shes starting to explore her new home, which is good. No thats all as far as important props you need in there, but if you want to put more things you can, its your tegu! If she starts to become somewhat skittish in the next few days, this is normal, dont be afraid. Just let her be for a couple of days, without handling. But this is only if she becomes skittish, if not keep doing what you are doing. Oh yea i forgot, if you want you can put a worn t-shirt by you in her cage so that she gets to know your scent!
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pumpkin
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Location: Detroit

PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The T-shirt thing is a really good idea!!

Do you think 3 pinkies a week is a good? Thats what the breeder said he was feeding her, along with crickets. I gave her 3 hornworms and she ate them all I feel like thats a good thing!
I have superworms and mealworms for the beardies, would she be able to eat these yet?
So I should definetly invest in a whole bunch of crickets, again! icon_biggrin.gif

I believe the colombians get to be 3 1/2 feet is that right?
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Jimjones
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yea that sounds good. Three pinkies a week. Im sure she can eat supers, and horn worms, if shes eating pinkies.
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pumpkin
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok good and should she start eating fruit asap as well?
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Jimjones
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes to that too!
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pumpkin
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Location: Detroit

PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it normal that since I changed her bedding from repti bark to the cypress mulch, for her to be glass dancing and not interested in any food?
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Jimjones
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shes just getting accustomed to her enclosure. She may not eat for a couple of days, this is normal behavior.
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pumpkin
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it best not to bother with handling her until she is eating regularly?
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