Is this hibernation? My 1st brand new Tegu!

[Guest]

Hello,
My name is Andrew and I have a brand new Red Tegu (my 1st one after owning several other reptiles, don't even have a name yet). He is about 8-9" long so I figure he's about 4 months old. When I first brought him home last weekend he was very friendly when handled. I've been feeding him with no problems. Now the last couple of days he has been hiding in the substrate and when I "wake" him to put him in a bin to feed, he gets really nasty, hisses, tries to bite, etc. I have taken him out and, after eating a bit, he relaxes. When putting him back in the cage he either basks for a little bit, or gets right back into hiding.
Is his nastiness due to me waking him 'cause he's trying to hibernate? I'm afraid of letting him hibernate and then, 5 months from now, he'll even be nastier 'cause he hasn't been handled. Should I worry? What do I do about feeding if I don't wake him? Just leave the food in the cage?
Thanks for your help!

 

[tora]

You know, hatching tegu's are like 6"-8".
At 4 months my B&W was over 2'.

Anyway, I suggest not digging him up. If he is hibernating you'll start at the same square you were at when he went down. Digging him up is probably freaking him out a lot, and that's more than likely why he's trying to eat you. You're this big monster that he thinks is trying to kill him. Just take it slow with him, he'll come out on his own if he's not trying to hibernate. If he doesn't come out don't worry about feeding it, just make sure there's fresh water in the cage at all times.
But-
I don't think it's hibernation, I just think you're terrifying the little thing. He's already probably scared from being moved to a new place. Like I said, just take it at his pace.

 

[brutus13]

Yeah my tegu isn't 3 months yet and he is 22" I think you have a very young tegu! Tora had my thoughts he/she is just scared!

 

[slideaboot]

^^^Concur^^^

 

[Guest]

ok im lost....i got a b/w and i think bob was his name(the guys that owns this site)said it was born july 27th,or at leasts im pretty sure thats what he said.and it is around 8 or so inches......and if my math is right thats aorund 4 months. so needless to say im confused.

 

[Guest]

Now I'm confused, too, 'cause I was told he was born around June, unless he lied.
Regardless, I'll let him be, haven't seen him out today at all (but I work most of the day).
Thanks for the advice and if anyone else can shed some light on this subject, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[Guest]

Are you counting the tail ??

 

[VARNYARD]

Frost , I explain this every year. My tegus start hibernation around the end of August, that is why he is not as large as a tegu that has been awake and being fed. He was hatched around the end of July, and started hibernation four weeks later. Also you wanted a tegu with the tail nip, so he does not have a full tail, and would be longer if he did.

 

[Guest]

yeah i know that,i also wasent sure if they were going from snout to vent or snout to tail either =/ and the tegu u gave me(blizzard)=] is still up and active,that gives me some more time to work on him,hes not agressive just skiddish.which im very glad for.i had a savana monitor that latched on to my finger everytime i put my hand in the cage.=[