Help with my tegu's tail!

[jd61285]

My tegu is 2 years old and he's having a really hard time shedding his tail. He won't eat his ground turkey/liver/cod liver oil mix so I've been putting cod liver oil on his rats to at least get some into him, but I'm not sure what else I can do for him, here are a few pictures of his tail and then a bonus picture of my sexy lizard. Any advice greatly appreciated.

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[BOOZER]

i to am having this problem. just recently.any advice??

 

[Guest]

How's the humidity level?

 

[Kingwolf26]

i had that problem. The skin has been on for more that 2 sheds. This is my cure. I soaked mine in luke warm water that has been DECHLORINATED. The declorinator adds slime to the old skin. What I also did was put cod liver oil in the water and that helps soften the skin. Make sure you pour both declorinator or cod liver oil on him before or as you add it to the water. My tegu had the same problem and I was exhillerated when it worked. This is a week long affair

 

[DMBizeau]

Soaking always takes care of my shedding problems. Leave him in the bathtub all day in warm water with the lights off so he just sits there and relaxes. Once it gets started just help him with the rest.

 

[isdrake]

I just got this problem myself. Our Tegus was shedding and there was no problem with the body but skin around the tail wont go off!

Soaking always takes care of my shedding problems. Leave him in the bathtub all day in warm water with the lights off so he just sits there and relaxes. Once it gets started just help him with the rest.

I wonder if I dare to do that. I'm afraid that she will jump out of the bathtub and hide under it instead. What's your experience with that? Do you supervise them the whole time or do you leave them alone? Have then ever managed to get out of the bathtub?

 

[Toby_H]

Adding Cod Liver Oil to his diet is definitely a benefit to this problem...

Increasing humidity in the enclosure will also help. Balancing a high humidity and proper ventilation is a delicate balance.

Soaking your Tegu in water will help soften the old skin and allow it to come off. Although if your Tegu is like mine this is not as simple as it sounds. Mine does not at all seem to enjoy "bath time".

massaging Cold Liver Oil into the old skin will also help soften the old skin and allow it to come off.

Dechlorinating your Tegus water is an option. I personally do not do it. As for the "creating Slime", this is a bit of a misunderstanding. Most dechlorinators "promote slime coat" in fish by triggering their natural ability to produce their own slime coat. So while I'm sure WolfKing's method did work, I believe the dechlorinator was a much much smaller part of the process than suggested.

 

[DMBizeau]

I know some tegus do not enjoy soaking, I have found turning off the light puts them into rest mode and I have far less issues with the light off.

Increasing humidity in the enclosure is always your best bet though. You can try spraying it down a couple times a day with a spray bottle and see if that helps also. Sometimes I pour water onto the bricks under my MVBs as well for instant humidity.

 

[jd61285]

Thanks guys i usually bath him for about a hour every day. The humidity in his enclosure stays about 80% with daily maintenence. I guess i will just have to lengthen that time and try to get him to take more cod liver oil. It is just making me nervous since the skin is splitting.Also jsdrake my tegu has jumped out of the bath tub so now i supervise him while he is soaking. Thanks again for the advice i am trying all these and hoping something works for my gu.

 

[Toby_H]

I wonder if I dare to do that. I'm afraid that she will jump out of the bathtub and hide under it instead. What's your experience with that? Do you supervise them the whole time or do you leave them alone? Have then ever managed to get out of the bathtub?

My guy doesn't care for bathes but he also doesn't 'hate' them... When placed in the tub with warm water he spends most of the time trying to find a way out. Usually walking up the slick walls toward me (which is pitifully adorable).

A few times I have turned lights off and left him alone. At 45" long I am convinced he cannot get out of my tub. There is just no way for him to get enough traction for a good leap nor to climb at all. If you have a rubber mat or something else to provide traction you may want to factor that in. Also I am not sure of any differences in bathtubs on your side of the pond.

My suggestion would be to monitor him in the tub until you become convinced he cannot get out.

Also be aware that bath water will cool off quick.