So, this is me, I guess

Brad09 · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject: So, this is me, I guess

Well hello to everyone, I guess. My name is Brad, and this account will be jointly used by myself and my girlfriend, Tara. I have been a "reptile person" for the past 15 years, and until recently, my interests centered around Morelia genus snakes. We are currently the owners of a six-month old Eastern box turtle, and are hoping to purchase our first tegu, a two-foot-long Argentinian black and white, at the end of the week.

Tegus have been an interest to me since I first saw them 3 or so years ago. I have been researching natural history, habitat, and diet, on and off, for most of that time. I have kept several varanids in the past few years, and they seem to be New World equivalents in a care sense. Anyway, I consider myself to be an amateur with tegus, so any advice that anyone can offer about general husbandry would be appreciated! Let me tell you my plan so far:

Initially, the tegu we looked at(I believe it to be female, but do not consider myself experienced enough for this to be guaranteed) was hidden beneath the paper towel of her enclosure. The shop that I plan on purchasing her from(not a reptile specialty shop, but seemingly quite knowledgeable) showed me the tegu. Her overall condition appears good. Her eyes are bright, her mouth is clear, she is quite inquisitive and shows regular tongue flicks. She appeared to have a few tiny marks(scars of some kind) on her tail, which look old and look like they have healed well. She is not missing any toes, and does not retain any skin from previous sheds. The shop has had her about three weeks, including a two-week quarantine. She has apparently been eating well since arrival. The pet shop seems to have been favoring rodents, which doesn't entirely surprise me, but she shows no signs of obesity(I have been watching the area around the eyes most closely, as I understand this to be one of the first places that the body deposits excess fat; correct me if I'm wrong). She has good weight and strong muscle mass that seems well-developed. The week after purchasing her, she will be examined by my reptile vet for a thorough exam, including being sexed by an experienced professional.
Initially, for the first few months(with snakes, I followed a strict 3-month quarantine practice, and plan to do the same here), her enclosure will be a pen about four feet long and thirty inches deep, which will be lit and heated by a self-ballasted mercury vapor bulb, with additional heat being supplied by a pad during the evening hours. From testing this before, a daytime hot spot of 104 degrees Fahrenheit will be available for 14 hours, and the coolest part of the enclosure is about 78. During the evening hours, the warmer side of the enclosure is about 84 degrees, and at all times except after a heavy misting on the warm side, the enclosure averages about 55% relative humidity. The enclosure substrate, initially at least, will be either paper towel or reptile carpet, and furnished with a water pan 2" deep and large enough to lie and soak in, as well as a small water dish that hopefully will be used for drinking. I have created a pair of hide caves using cheap plastic cat pans with holes cut in them. The hide cave on the warm side is stuffed half full with moistened paper towel for a more humid hiding place. The cage is also furnished with a large, flat rock and a heavy branch; these being for climbing, filing nails, and basking.

The diet that I have set out involves four feedings a week. Food will be offered in a dish for an hour every day. They will include fruit(grape, banana, strawberry/raspberry), small amounts of vegetable matter(squash, pumpkin, and any other favorites I may experiment with), and either ground turkey or chicken, or scrambled egg. Please feel free to comment and offer advice on this diet.

Now I have a few questions regarding things that I have read. First, I've heard something about tegus being litter box trained(to some extent, at least). If anyone knows about this, or has successfully done it, I'm curious to know if there is any truth to it. While certainly not a necessity(or even expected), I would be curious to attempt something like this. Also, I watched a video on Sisco Reptiles' website, and understand the writer of the article to be associated with the site somehow. Can someone offer an opinion on his expertise? His site seemed knowledgeable and well organized, but one of my flaws as a person is an inherent mistrust of things I find on the Internet, where everyone seems to be a self-made expert. Allow me to also say at this time that if it seems that I am questioning the advice that someone on this site offers, it is simply because I have heard or read something to the contrary.

Anyway, thanks for your time reading my long-winded greeting, and feel free to leave a comment. If you have questions regarding Morelia snakes, I have worked with them for several years and consider myself to be experienced with most species.

Brad09 · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:46 pm Post subject:

Okay, everyone that may eventually post on this thread, just because I know how defensive some people get. I have recently read some posts by Rick Sisco, and I understand now that he is a very respected member of the tegu community, and clearly an authority on the animals. Rick, if you read this, any advice that you can offer would be most helpful.

Ben3233 · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:58 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum!!!

As I heard, Rick is one of the best Tegu Breeder in the world.

About the litter box trained, I have some advise for you.
First, reptiles have the manners to make their mess usually at the same place. You have to pay attention to the Tegu in your house( free roaming) and look where he makes his poop. After a few time, just put the litter box where he poops generally. The Tegu will not care about the litter presence and will still make his mess at the same place.

As my parent told me ( they had a Iguana Litter box trained) the reptile will not understand the significiant of the litter box, but the keeper just have to place the litter where the reptile make his poop most of the time.

I hope It will help you.
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Ben3233
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon (Uresaii)

Tegster · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject:

Welcome! We got our Tegster from Rick and couldn't be happier. If not for this website, run by Rick, I would have spent many a sleepless night worrying about Tegster.

There is so much to read here. And there are many different opinions on everything from substrate to food. But after reading for awhile I go with the majority of what seems to work best for folks.

The only thing I read in your post that concerned me was the use of reptile rug in the enclosure. These guys like to dig. If the rug is in an area where your tegu might try to burrow, it could get it's nails caught in the rug and maybe even torn off. Your tegu should have cypress mulch or something similar to burrow in. No pine.

We feed Tegster every day-as much food as he wants. Whole foods are a very important part of the diet, so rodents and/or chicks should not be excluded. Insects are even on the menu. If you plan on just feeding turkey and chicken you'll need to add calcium/d3/vitamins.

But don't just take my word for it-read through the forums.
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Renee

gebris353 · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:11 am Post subject:

Welcome Brad, hope you can find here any info you are looking for about tegus. These animals are amazing. I have a 10 year old female and if I tell you what she does without saying its a tegu, you will say its a puppy. Good luck with yours and hope you can upload some photos of your other reptiles aswell.

angelrose · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

welcome Brad09

there is alot of good reading here, helpful and friendly people here. it so very good to hear someone taking such great care of their tegu. keep us updated

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0.1.0 B/W Colombian tegu
1.1.0 Gold Colombian tegus
1.1.0 B/W Argentine tegus
1.0.0 Savy monitor
1.0.0 Brazillian Rainbow boa
1.1.0 Ball pythons
1.0.0 Burmese python

Brad09 · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone, for your advice and support. Two more days until we go to pick it up... looking forward to it. Anyway, I heard that someone was concerned about the diet. I have not intended to entirely exclude mice/chicks from the diet at all. I have a reliable source for proper frozen rodents, three types of cockroaches, crickets, several different worms, smelt, turkey, and other animal proteins. I am also currently seeking a good source of chicks, which seem to be tricky to come by in my area. I have access to a full farmer's market of fresh produce, so whatever preferences she may develop will be well looked after, as well as anything else I read is good to balance the diet.

As far as photos go, hopefully Tara will be able to upload some for you to see, as I am still pretty challenged as far as technology goes.

Brad09 · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:46 pm Post subject:

I heard a concern about the substrate that I am using. I intend to switch to cypress mulch after the first two weeks, which will initially be about six inches deep, and when she moves from her temporary pen to a much more spacious, permanent enclosure, I hope to have eighteen to twenty inches of depth for her to facilitate any natural nesting instincts that even non-breeding females may have. I use reptile carpet or paper towel during the first two weeks, so that I may send a series of fecal samples to my veterinarian for examination.

Also, regarding Tegster's comment about feeding daily, as much as they will eat, I heard a few things from several tegu owners that I know about them being prone to obesity. I realize that some of this can be related to enclosure size and lack of exercise, both of which should not be a problem in this case, but I do wonder about it. I'm curious to know a little bit more about their metabolic rates and related information. Can anyone recommend some reading material?

Tegster · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:46 am Post subject:

Brad09,

I'll keep an eye on Tegsters weight

Right now he is averaging 10 centimeters growth per month in length. I imagine when that stops, the food will go right to his lovehandles

It sounds like you have everything covered-and then some! You'll love having a tegu.
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Renee