Hibernation

[Apoc]

Hello,

I just want some advice. Since a couple weeks I've got a Black and White tegu and a Columbian Tegu. They are both 8 years old. The former owner never did them in hibernation. I know the columbian doesn't need it, but what should I do with the black and white? What's the best to do for the animal?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Tannaros]

Hello,

I just want some advice. Since a couple weeks I've got a Black and White tegu and a Columbian Tegu. They are both 8 years old. The former owner never did them in hibernation. I know the columbian doesn't need it, but what should I do with the black and white? What's the best to do for the animal?

Thanks a lot.

You don't really "do" hibernation to them. You can do various things like change the light cycle in order to coax brumation behaviors - but for the most part if the tegu is going to hibernate, they will of their own accord.

 

[jtrux]

After 8 years, why start now?

 

[Apoc]

Thanks Tannaros for your reply. I know that they will do it on their own accord, but more, should I put the light cycle down. Former owner also never did that.

jtrux, I just wanted to know what's the best for my animals. If they really need it, probably you still can start after 8 years for their health. If it doesn't matter with any health issues or so, than I will just let it be like they are used too.

 

[Tannaros]

Thanks Tannaros for your reply. I know that they will do it on their own accord, but more, should I put the light cycle down. Former owner also never did that.

jtrux, I just wanted to know what's the best for my animals. If they really need it, probably you still can start after 8 years for their health. If it doesn't matter with any health issues or so, than I will just let it be like they are used too.

If you'd like to try and see if they'll hibernate you can gradually reduce the light cycle in duration (ex. from 12 hours on/off to 8 hours on, then 6, etc.). You can also start a gradual cooldown - slowly reducing temperatures in the enclosure over a few weeks. For species that require hibernation I generally do the previous two using the normal light timer and a rheostat dimmer.

I've had success with many of my other reptiles going through brumation behavior doing this, though I've never really done it with my tegus - as one always goes down for hibernation and the other seems to never want to.

 

[Concept Dragons]

I was sort of wondering about hibernation myself, since I will soon get my first Argentine B&W from Ty Park and they just hatched 2 days ago. So the question I had was if you only hibernate them after they have reached a year of age or should you already do it when the tegu is a few months old?

 

[Tyler137]

I was sort of wondering about hibernation myself, since I will soon get my first Argentine B&W from Ty Park and they just hatched 2 days ago. So the question I had was if you only hibernate them after they have reached a year of age or should you already do it when the tegu is a few months old?

They will decide if they hibernate or not..

 

[Concept Dragons]

oh, ok thanks allot!

 

[Apoc]