Tegu already shows signs of brumating?

[Anthony]

My tegu is about 4 years old, argentine black and white.
I got it when it was still a baby, so to speak.

It's late July and for the past week he's already showing signs of brumating, reduced apetite, and is in his hide all the time. He does not have parasites as he has been dewormed and fecal came back negative just a month and a half or so ago.

He's never been very active, of the three tegus I have owned he has always been the fat lazy one. But he usually does bask.

I was in the hospital myself for a couple months and during that time my friend took care of him and only fed him chicken (yes I told him that he needs fruit, and he also keeps herps). He has been picky about eating only chicken since.

Today I got him to eat some banana.

He usually brumates and wakes up earlier than the rest. He usually goes into brumation in Late august and wakes in febuary, while the others slept in late sept and woke mid march. But this is very early.

I dunno if I should coax him to eat or just let him do what he wants.

[laurarfl]

Some of mine are acting a bit sleepy, too. It's been very hot here, so I think they are actually avoiding the heat. I see them in the late afternoon or evening, but they are hiding in the peak of the day.

[ZzILikeBudzZ]

I have a young B&W doing the same thing. I was worried about it not eating. I got it to eat a pink the other day. It will not get out on it's own. I have left it alone for the most part. I don't like digging them up. We I got it out it was fine. you might be right about the heat. It has been very hot here as well.

[Anthony]

Well the basking temp is still right. Maybe it is avoiding the heat because the ambient temp is a little higher than normal then. He has a shade hide anyway. Mine doesn't burrow but hides in his "hut". He eating again, just seems to not want anything unless I at least mix some chicken in it. I mixed bananas and kiwi fruit and grapes with some chicken and he ate it.

I took away the UVB lamp just in case there is something wrong with it (a mercury vapor) and replaced it with a normal basking light (no UVB) and I will leave it for a few days like that to see if that has anything to do with it.

He should be OK without UVB for two or three days, right? I took him out for some natural sunlight today. I just want to rule out the light being the cause with all the paranoia about lights being the wrong wavelength etc. It is the same light brand as before same wattage but switched to new one recently. If it doesn't affect the behaviour I will put the light back after two or three days. Is that alright?

[Pikey]

yes 3-4 day with no uvb is fine (a month or more with out it could start to cause problems, but a few days or a week will be fine)

With the food thing you found his new favorite - Chicken
My jonesy LOVES rats more than any other prey or any other food every now and then he wont eat, because he's waiting for rat day.

[Anthony]

I'm concerned cuz he doesn't bask for the past few weeks. I don't know if he is brumating already if so I dont want to intervene.