Help! Male bit up females tail?!

[GREM]

Ugh... Ok first off hey guys sorry I haven't been on in such a long time! Quick update to get you guys on the same page...

After a year and a half with my first tegu we found him a home with a friend who has more time to spend with him. He's still small so he needs constant daily attention to become dog-tame.

Picked up a good sized male b/w at the last Phoenix Reptile expo this past November and introduced him to our large female. They'd been getting along just fine until hibernation season... For some reason and out of nowhere my male has become sexually charged! -_-;;

Saw him chasing the female around the enclosure the other day trying to mate. Didn't think much of this, figured she might retain it thru the hibernation and it might actually yield eggs, or they would start up again after they woke up.

Then the other day while cleaning their cage my big girl comes sliding out of her hide and I notice her tail is all beat up! Surface wounds really... No muscle damage or anything just scales/skin cut in places...

I've searched all over the internet for info on this but have yet to find anything useful! Should I be worried? I mean I already am... But is this something that I can treat with antiseptic and betadine? Should I wrap her tail in a bandage to prevent any bacteria from spreading from the substrate into her wounds?

Lastly should I separate them? I don't have another large enclosure to keep her in... Haven't witnessed the male trying to mate at all this week.

I'm lost... help guys

-Grem

 

[Kingwolf26]

i had the same problem and nothing serious continued to follow from the bites. You can put some antiseptic or antibiotic cream on yours if they are in a humid environment. My females tail healed and shed without any help from me. The male grabs her by the tail to subdue her to stop her from the problem of her running from him and from the sound of it your male is obviously bigger than her, so she wont ever fight back. I separated mine since it could be stressful for the female and you should do the same to prevent her tail from breaking off

 

[Guest]

I would suggest separating them ... Each needs there own safe space ..

 

[GREM]

Okay but without an alternative enclosure with a UVB/UVA bulb and basking area what should I use instead? A sterilite? =/

They each have a separate hide within the enclosure to prevent any bullying.

 

[Guest]

If it has become a problem you could try a Rubbermaid tub as a hospital .. Just put a heat lamp on it ...Soon she will heal up and you can try to put her back ...

 

[GREM]

If it has become a problem you could try a Rubbermaid tub as a hospital .. Just put a heat lamp on it ...Soon she will heal up and you can try to put her back ...

Okay thanks very much! I was worried about putting her in a sterilite w/o UVB but thinking about it now it wouldn't really be for too long just until she is better. Thanks again!

-Grem

 

[Kingwolf26]

she would be fine in less than a week. My girl had punctures from the males teeth in her tail, hopefully thats all you have

 

[GREM]

Any tips on cleaning the cuts? Some of them are a little deep. As I said earlier no muscle damage but you can see some pink from beneath her skin.

I've bathed her / cleaned her cuts and applied some ointment but shes dirty the next day due to her substrate. The chance for infection worries me =/

 

[Guest]

Sounds like you are doing great .. Bath and ointment .. It dosn`t sound like you let it go to far so I think she will be fine .. You could put her on newspaper if you are concerned that the substrate will cause problems .. Myself I would use hydrogen peroxide or bag balm as that is what I have ...

 

[GREM]

Ok thanks very much!