Hibernation phase?

[Francis the Tegu]

Hi! I just got a baby black and white tegu from Repticon last weekend. I have a 6x3x3 cage filled with cypress mulch, a food bowl, about a 2 inch deep water bowl, basking lights, and some decorations. Now since I got him he has not eaten anything, I try not to bother him much as I am leting him get used to his environment. I tried handfeeding him turkey, didnt work. I tried handfeeding him mealworms, didn't work. I left some freeze-dried crickets in his bowl for a while. It looks like he ate some of it. But the problem is, is that he burries himself in the mulch every day since I've gotten him. If I want to feed him I have to dig him up, but I try not to frighten him. Even though he doesn't eat anything. However I also have a one year old bearded dragon thats doing almost the same thing as my tegu is doing - sleeping under his rock all day, not eating anything. I have concluded that it's definitely that time of year where they "hibernate." What I'm afraid of, is that he is just a baby and he hasn't eaten (or so I believe) anything since I got him. I do not want to come home one day and find him dead, definitely what i do NOT want; I'd be heartbroken,and feel like a failure. Other than that I have been trying to get him to become acclimated to me (tryig to get him used to me and not look at me as a threat) by trying to hold him, even though he tries to get out of my hand and run away (my bearded dragon used to be the same way when I first got him, so Im not too concerned over that. If i was in my tegu's shoes id do the same thing.) I have tried the bathtub idea (where i climb in my bathtub with my tegu, so he has nothing to "explore" but me, thus, in a way, getting him acclimated to me) and I believe that he is slowly getting used to me. But the problem is that he's burrowed all day, so I can only interact with him when I dig him up, which is probably not a good idea; but I get worried and I want to make sure that he's okay. Any suggestions?
Sorry If I posted this in the wrong category, or if this is already posted somewhere. I'm new to this site, but this is where Google always takes me when I have tegu questions.
Thank you for reading.

 

[Walter1]

Please post a picture of him that also shows tail and back legs.

 

[Francis the Tegu]

Here they are, these are screenshots from a video I took earlier. I didn't read your reply until a few minutes ago. I don't want to dig him up and disturb him at this hour, so I hope this is enough

 

[Walter1]

Looks healthy. Wouldn't worry about him slowing down for the winter.

 

[_luckylogan]

They shouldn't be eating during hibernation, correct? Even if they wake up to bask for a bit? My guy keeps getting up and I worry he'll get hungry.

 

[Walter1]

It varies. Some will steadfastly not eat at all for months. Others will periodically nibble. Can leave out a little food once a week and gauge from there.

 

[Francis the Tegu]

Mine stays buried all day, those pictures were from after I dug him up when I first got him

They shouldn't be eating during hibernation, correct? Even if they wake up to bask for a bit? My guy keeps getting up and I worry he'll get hungry.

 

[Francis the Tegu]

Anyone know/have an estimate of when he'll be out of this "phase"?
When he finally emerges, starts eating, and basks under the lights instead of being burrowed all day?

 

[Jessicak]

Like spring time? I've heard around March

 

[Walter1]

Varies lizard to lizard but generally feb-mar. They'll let you know. Mine are down 5 mo/ yr. I miss them but that's what they do.