Adult tegu acclimatization

[Abidjan]

Hey guys,

As this is my first post here ill give a short intro, my name is jan and I live in holland where I have completed an animal care study an am currently studying wildlife management. As my studies might have given away I have always had a great love for all animals. Together with a bunch of other students we have quite an arsenal of reptiles in this small dutch student infested city, while they can speak of a collection I only have 3 boa constrictors and an adult argentine black and white tegu female.

I have had this tegu just 1.5 weeks now, it was a pet of a fellow student from my prior animal care study, she couldnt take care of her anymore and I have been on the lookout for an argentine tegu so I bought the tegu from her. Its an adult, roughly 4 years old. The tegu came with an enclose of 1.8m long 60cm deep and 50cm high (almost 6 feet long and 2 feet deep). Once she is acclimatized she wil get a bigger enclosure. The tegu is tame, but still seems stressed from the move, seemingly afraid of me still. I have changed the enclosures decoration so this adds to a more intense acclimatization period. The tegu is obviously still in brumation, and had been kept on temperatures barely above room temperature. I currently have her cold spot between 20/22 c and the basking spot just little over 30 c to slowly get her out of brumation, once she gets more active I wil crank it up.

Now she had been eating every 3 days before I got her, however she showed no interrest for food once I got her. I have tried to feed her a couple of times with a variety of food, not too intensely stressing her out but occasionally offering her a plate and leaving her alone. I realise its not a big problem yet since she is acclimatizing still and is in brumation but I was wondering when I should get worried with tegus not eating.

Anyway youll probably see me around more on these forums as I continue to learn new things from my tegu Any input and information you guys can give me from your experience with tegus is welcome!

 

[Bubblz Calhoun]

Welcome to the site and congratulations on getting the tegu. Each one's different and some take longer to settle in, while others never really skip a beat. Between the two acclimating and brumating it can take some time for her to come around but she'll let you know when she's hungry and things start to pick up. As long as they're healthy they won't starve themselves and they can go long periods with out food. Just make sure she has access to fresh water and UVA/B lighting with proper heat. 30c is too low for basking it should be more in the upper 30's, 38c to like 45c range, the lower temps will do more damage than good especially if she's eating.

We love to see pics when you get a chance.

 

[Abidjan]

Thanks for the reply. I currently have the temperatures a little lower, shes used to about a 24c basking spot at the previous owner and i wanted to slowly bring it up to give her a transition to get out of brumation, if she wants to get out ofc.

Ill post some pics soon, i am currently using my phone to reply.[/php]

 

[Bubblz Calhoun]

Once again the temps are too low for basking. Basking temps (directly under the light) shouldn't be much lower than 38c. The previous temps and where you have them now are more ambient temps than basking. Which could also be a reason why she's not eating. Surface and ambient air temps are two different things and basking temps should be higher than ambient.

What are you using to measure temps?

 

[Abidjan]

I use a digital thermometer, I have placed it on the basking spot and in his hide to check the temperatures.

This might sound strange but this tegu probably hasnt experienced more then 25c for the last 2 years at the previous owner which is why I chose to give her a transition. The good news is that she has eaten some chicken yesterday.