B&W Tegu stopped eating

[ZzILikeBudzZ]

Well, for some reason my tegu just stopped eating. I have no clue what is going on. Temps are perfect, around 85 ambient with 100 to 115 basking. I actually have a high and lower basking spot with the lower being around 95 degrees. The cool side is around 80 to 85. There is about a 10 degree drop at night. I also have UV on it as well. Humidity is always in the 70s to high 80s. I use coco coir for the substrate. When I get it out it seems fine. It is very active and flicks it's tongue like normal. I have offered: Turkey, mice, worms, bananas, peaches, grapes, cherries, mango, and crickets. He was feeding on Turkey mainly before. I got it to take fruit a couple of times. Anyone have any Idea what's going on? I forgot to mention it is about 6 months old or so. That's my guess by it's size. I have had it for about 3 months and It hasn't at in about a week and a half.

[nordica]

Well, my first guess is that he/she might be preparing for hibernation.

[ZzILikeBudzZ]

That's what I was thinking at first. Usually when mine do that they will eat really well for the couple weeks before. He hasn't done this. You know how they will usually sleep for a week and come out and bask to digest the last bit of food before they hibernate. I dunno what the deal is. I have kept tegus for several years and this just doesn't seem normal. I guess you guys know that they are full of surprises lol as well as I do though. Every time you think you have them pegged boom they throw something from left field lol. I just worry when something major changes. It was one of my best eaters before. Now he is looking a little skinny for my taste. I'm going to get it out today to see if it will eat.

[nordica]

If he's losing that much weight as to concern you, then I'd definitely advise to take him to your vet, with a stool sample if you can get one, but I'm sure you've already thought of that.

[ZzILikeBudzZ]

I don't think it is enough to take him to the vet just yet. I think I may just be being a little paranoid lol. I'm just trying to see if anyone else had these experiences. It just doesn't make since with his environment being as perfect as possible.

[txrepgirl]

I would try to feed him some fresh fish filets ( cut up and at room temps ). Make sure it has no growth hormones in it. Some farm raised fish has the growth hormones in it. Also try to get a fish that doesn't have a lot of fat. The more fatt a fish has the more mercury it has in it. I get my fish from the local supermarket ( at the fresh fish section ). Since you have mentioned that you mainly feed him turkey maybe he has been getting to much protein in his diet. I also would try to feed him some frozen/thawed rodents. Is he by any chance going to shed soon. Some of my Tegus slow down in eating when they are going to shed. But I'm sure you know this since you had Tegus for many years. If you want to you also can try to give him some cut up liver, gizzards or hearts. Do you have a picture of him ?

[ZzILikeBudzZ]

I have never given it a rodent. I just don't like feeding B&Ws rodents, but I'm going to try that today. If that doesn't work I'll go out and buy some fish to try out. I was going to ask if anyone has tried gold fish? I keep those as treat for my fish and turtles. I use them strictly for treats and I think I have a dozen or so in the freezer.

[ZzILikeBudzZ]

I will try to snap pics if it gets out to eat. I don't like digging them up. I think it makes them not feel secure. I didn't get it out yesterday for that reason. I keep wanting to but I will wait at least a few more days before I do it. Just don't want to do it anymore than I have to.

[txrepgirl]

I don't recommend using the gold fish because they are very high in fat. It is VERY important that the Tegus get some rodents because of the natural calcium they get from the rodents bones. If Tegus don't get enough calcium they can get MBD I would feed them frozen thawed ones. Here is a great company to order rodents in bulk. Here are some good infos for you to check out if you want to.

Tegu menu ( from a breeder )

http://thetegu.com/showthread.php?47...Tegu-Caresheet

Rodent company :

http://www.rodentpro.com/qpage_articles_01.asp

http://www.rodentpro.com/index.asp

MBD info :

http://www.anapsid.org/mbd.html

[ZzILikeBudzZ]

I feed them rabbit "disks" for the natural calcium. They are ground rabbit, bone and organs. Pretty much whole rabbits ground. The tegus love them. I meant to add that to the list of stuff I tried to feed him. I breed my own rodents as well. I have a pretty large snake collection. I have a rat pink in there with him now. Hopefully it will come out to eat it. Either way I'm going to get it out today to check on it.