How young can a red hibernate???

[Ellorathered1]

My red tegu Ellora is only 8 weeks old, I've had her for 2 weeks and doesnt eat on her own (without being force fed a few crickets). I find her borrowed beneath the substrate under the heat lamp (which the temp is at 105). She's healthy, active, and alert when being held. The employ at the store I bought her from said that it's a possibility she might be trying to hibernate. So my question is, can a red tegu 8 weeks of age hibernate so young? Please let me know ASAP on what you think, im worried for her

Thank you,
Ellorathered1

 

[reptastic]

Yes they can, your tegu is more than likely an import, tegus in the nothern hemisphere hatch out around june/july some as late as august, many will often go down a few weeks after hatching, it may be the stress from a new inviornment and she jut wants to hide

 

[Ellorathered1]

So is she going to hibernate u think or should i leave her alone and let her hide for a week or 2? Do u think she might die ?

 

[reptastic]

I highly doubt she will die, just let her be, I would give it a few weeks to allow her to adjust to her new home, give her a small plate of food and see if she eats, with young tegus new to a surrounding its hard to say hibernation or not because if they are scared they will hide a lot, just give it time and see

 

[Ellorathered1]

what do u recommend in protein products besides crickets and rodants and what kind of fruits or veggies, for how long do u think i leave the food in the cage?

 

[reptastic]

Here ya go, I wouldn't leave it in more than a few hours
tegu food list

 

[Ellorathered1]

Thank you so very much, your info is very helpful and has eased my stress a little on my sweet heart, i will let you know how she's doing and post photos and updates of Ellora on the red tegu forums. Hopefully she'll be female

Ellorathered1