Tegu still depressed?

Lizardguy13 · Member Joined: Aug 04, 2008 Posts: 22

Well It's been a day an a half now and i still cant get him to come out, He didnt eat ween I put in the crickets. Plus He hasn't drinked, or even came out since I got him. I guess hes just getting adjusted but any ideas when he will come out? He isnt dead or hibernating I see his tail move every now and then and his tongue poping out of the ground aswell.

txrepgirl · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject:

Try to get him some fresh fish filet from the super market ( cod,catfish,tilapia,tuna or salmon ).Cut it up into small bites and put it infront of him and see what happens.Are you temps right ?

october · Honored Member Joined: Aug 04, 2008 Posts: 224

Hello lizardguy13. A day and a half isn't bad at all. I can only tell you my experience with my tegu. The first day he stressed out to the max. He went and burrowed and hid. The second day, I believe he was still burrowed and hidden. I saw his tail, but there was no movement.

I believe it was the third day that he came out for a bit. Mean while, I had left a plate of turkey in there, during the day, for maybe an hour or 2. Make sure you leave the turkey on a big plate or in an area that it is not on substrate. This is so if he drops some on the tank floor, he will not ingest any substrate.

So, on day 3, I believe he took some more turkey and stayed out for 2 minutes with me in the room. Day 4, he ate the turkey again and stayed out for 15 minutes...At the end of week one, he would stay out for 20-30 minutes with me in the room. By the end of week 2 and 3. I could stay in the room and he would not go hide at all.

So basically, he will decide when he is ready to come out. Hopefully, when he does, there will be food available. However, don't leave the food in there all day becasue it will spoil and there will be bacteria.

I hope this helps

Rob

Lizardguy13 · Member Joined: Aug 04, 2008 Posts: 22

Ok thanks for the helps guys, I just didn't think that him hiding under ground for almost 2 days now was normal. But I'll give him time he has to come out sometime to drink or eat. I tried to get him to eat but he totally refuses, get this when I put the crickets in his cage one even sat on his nose sticking out of the ground for a good 30-45 seconds his toungue even touched it a few times but he refused to even try to eat it...if he opened his mouth it would of literally feel in. I guess thats his way of being rebelous towards me for taking out of his home for his own life. I would like to leave the some crickets in his cage but I can't for more then an hour I'm afraid they could do damage to him. How he is just laying under ground I'm afraid they would nibble at his tail or something. I'd love to leave some turkey meat in his take but he's never been feed anything but live prey so now would be a bad time to wing him off live food. But thanks you all so much, He had me worried for a minute. But now that I know this type of thing is normal I have nothing to worry about.

It'll probally help cuz by the time He's out and ready to eat My crickets should of layed enough egg that I could feed my starter group to him. Bought 15-20 crickets to start my colony and they've all ready layed 5-10 eggs in just one day.

txrepgirl · Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 10:37 am Post subject:

Don't forget that the hibernation season is starting,too.My Leonidas is going to sleep allot sooner now and Zeus hasn't come out for two days now.Ok,yesterday I didn't see him at all and today he sticks his head out of the mulch a little bit but still doesn't come out.

Lizardguy13 · Member Joined: Aug 04, 2008 Posts: 22

I didn't know they hibernated this young, he only 5-6 months? But he finally came out hes been out for an hour now....if only he would eat. He lets his food crawl on him and he just looks at it....

txrepgirl · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject:

Usually my Tegus have to bask for a while first before they eat something ( to get the metabolism going ).One of my Tegus is eating less and less now and sometimes not at all.If your Tegu doesn't eat any of his life food please take it out of the enclosures because the crickets,worms..... can bite him and stess him out.