First Tegu! >_<

[saided]

I am so happy, I just got my baby BW Argentine tegu, he is only about two weeks old. He is VERY tame, I was prepared for a flighty little baby, but he loves to calmly climb around on me and sleep in my armpit, he has only spooked a few times and he is FAST. He is eating pretty well, he loves cherries and blueberries mixed in with his turkey and calcified crickets.

I noticed he has been shedding or scraping some of his scales (on the top of his head) now that he is in a tank with bark as substrate, Is this normal?
Oh, and its name is Dio, I'm hoping it's a boy.

I will post pictures in a minute, My camera died while uploading to my computer.

[txrepgirl]

I'm so happy for you that you finally got your first Tegu and that all is going well. Congrats. I'm glad he likes the fruit. This will help with the shedding a lot. Since he is shedding I would give him a bath every day for a little while. This also will help with the shedding. Yes, it is normal for them to scratch themselfs when they are shedding. I can't wait to see some photos of Dio .

[saided]

This is my baby Dio

[txrepgirl]

Wow he is so good looking and so tiny . I miss my Leonidas being this small sometimes . Those are some great pictures . Looks like he is going to shed soon since his head is so dark. In case he is going to start shedding soon don't be surprised if he slows down in eating.

[nordica]

Oh he's so beautiful! I especially like the pics of him in the plant.

[Nessie]

He is so cute! Did you purchase him from a breeder of is he a captive hatched?? I just got a baby a week ago, about 10-12" in length, and he is so timid. I can't even get him out to feed him as I don't want to scare the poor guy to death. I have made a little progress in the last day or so by just resting my hand in his tank and after awhile he will come and takes some flicks of my arm and hand but he is still very nervous
I am just wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that he is captive hatched and the wild is so fresh in his instinct. I can't wait to be able to get him out, even if only to feed.

Again congrats on the little guy, ( I am unsure of the actual hatch day of mine but I have given him a b-day of may 25 2010)
Vanessa

[saided]

Thanks for the feeding tip txrepgirl! he is slowing down eating for sure, or maybe we are just letting him get picky.. Thanks for all the great comments on the little guy!

NESSIE: He was captive bred here in Washington somewhere, and the breeder fed all the hatchlings from hand apparently to get them used to humans. I got mine from a reptile store locally. I hope yours comes around soon, because they are so much fun.

[txrepgirl]

Your welcome . Another way you can tell if your Tegu is going to start shedding soon is their white nose and lower jaw turns light pink .

[Pikey]

or the color turns just a little dull, but i have noticed almost always (atleast with mine) the head sheds 1st usaly the top. they "pop" off one plate scale at a time then the rest of the body comes off in almost one big pice or in large sheets.

[saided]

He for sure has had one scsale above his left eye pop off, the rest seem like they are ready to , but are taking their time. I've been keeping his cage extra humid, and giving him baths. I'm excited for him to shed, It will remind me of when I used to find sheds from snakes in the garden when I was little.

We moved him to a new tank and he doesn't seem to be burrowing as much as his last tank, although it is the same substrate. Any Ideas?

His favorite hide is just a piece of PVC pipe i threw in there that my Axolotl didn't like.