CharlieDarwin
New Member
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- 4
This is my first post and I joined very recently so I apologize for any mistakes.
Backstory:
My small tegu, about 10 inches, escaped last night. I attempted to give him more space by putting a metal mesh gate around the front of his enclosure and opening the doors. This was a temporary solution (I’m in the middle of a move) to give him more space to explore until he has a bigger enclosure, I put some logs on the ground and a fogger humidifier to keep the humidity appropriate. The gate added about a foot in depth to his 40 gallon 36x18x18 tank. I was sure that there was no way he could escape this, the gate is way too heavy for that little guy to move and there was a gap that was maybe 1/2 inch on each side. Perhaps he climbed the 3 foot tall mesh sides? I’m not sure how it happened but the bottom line is that he escaped and I am very upset.
I never let him out of my hands if not contained because he is so small and could easily get lost in this room.
I removed the gate, put a log and shirts+towel that he can use to get back in. I put some food in his dish and turned all his lamps on. My thought is that he will get hungry and cold and want to come back and bask, I assume he should be able smell his way back.
Is there anything else I can do? Should I turn up the heat in the room so he doesn’t get too cold, or will bring cold make him want to come back? I have to leave for work soon and won’t be back until the evening, what if he comes back and then leaves again?
Any advice is would be helpful and greatly appreciated. I’m so upset and worried!
Backstory:
My small tegu, about 10 inches, escaped last night. I attempted to give him more space by putting a metal mesh gate around the front of his enclosure and opening the doors. This was a temporary solution (I’m in the middle of a move) to give him more space to explore until he has a bigger enclosure, I put some logs on the ground and a fogger humidifier to keep the humidity appropriate. The gate added about a foot in depth to his 40 gallon 36x18x18 tank. I was sure that there was no way he could escape this, the gate is way too heavy for that little guy to move and there was a gap that was maybe 1/2 inch on each side. Perhaps he climbed the 3 foot tall mesh sides? I’m not sure how it happened but the bottom line is that he escaped and I am very upset.
I never let him out of my hands if not contained because he is so small and could easily get lost in this room.
I removed the gate, put a log and shirts+towel that he can use to get back in. I put some food in his dish and turned all his lamps on. My thought is that he will get hungry and cold and want to come back and bask, I assume he should be able smell his way back.
Is there anything else I can do? Should I turn up the heat in the room so he doesn’t get too cold, or will bring cold make him want to come back? I have to leave for work soon and won’t be back until the evening, what if he comes back and then leaves again?
Any advice is would be helpful and greatly appreciated. I’m so upset and worried!