General Question regarding health of my Tegu

[Veronica C]

Hi,

Yesterday I got a b/w tegu, Tag. It's my first tegu. Generally have had snakes and my bearded dragon recently died at the age of 8.

My tegu has "pooped" on me twice but it doesn't look like the poop pictures I've seen. It's more similar to what my snake did when she looked outside of a moving car during a move. Just fluid and a yellow ball thing. Is this a defense mechanics or maybe Tag is sick? Still adjusting? I couldn't get him to eat crickets so today I'm going to try mealworms. He had some vitamin d3 + calcium enhanced eggs for breakfast. When I got him home from the reptile expo he drank his fill of water. He seems to like the basking spot but appears to be "panting" so I'm kinda worried.

I wasn't ready when Quazi died at all... So I could be over reacting and just scared so some advice would be great!

Thanks!
Veronica

 

[Veronica C]

Also, he stands up when I come by him and if I move my finger up and down the cage he moves his body with it with his tail not quite wagging but moving like a snake slithers. It looks like a cute dance and like maybe he's happy but it's also possible that it's a defensive move... Not sure. He fell asleep with me petting him on my tummy last night. I almost fell asleep too but that would just be unsafe

 

[Walter1]

Could you post a picture?

 

[Veronica C]

Could you post a picture?

None of what I have currently show him looking di

 

[Veronica C]

None of what i have show him in action very well. I forgot to mention, he/she is shedding. Found tag burrowed when I got home. Seems hungry but won't eat

 

[Veronica C]

He keeps standing like this too

 

[Walter1]

Ok- he looks healthy enough. The standing posture is defensive. Make sure he has a cooler end of the cage where his hide box is. Might be a combination of stress and natural slowing down in eating come fall.

 

[Veronica C]

He hissed at me today when I tried to feed him. I put the shirt I wore to work last night in his cage. Should I give him space for a few days to adjust or keep trying to handle him?

 

[Walter1]

Give him a week anyway to settle in to some routine. Let him see you a lot but don't try to lift him up. In a week, start petting. If not eating/looking skinny, especially hip bones, see a vet.