mushu
New Member
- Messages
- 1
Hi everyone,
I just got a new red tegu about a week ago who is about 6 months old. I am in the process of letting him get used to me and his new environment.
He stays in his hide 80-90% of the time, comes out sometimes when I'm not in my room to bask, drink water, etc. Here is my setup:
- 40 gallon glass terrarium with mesh top
- Double dome fixture (put on top of the mesh screen)
- Zoo Med Labs 100w 120v PowerSun bulb (left side in the picture)
- Exo-Terra 150 26w UVB bulb (right side in the picture)
- Rock shaped hide
- Large water bowl
- Grapevine bark log
- Hanging green vine
- Repti Bark substrate (I used two bags - about 2 inch coverage I think?)
I am getting a thermometer tomorrow as I was not told it was important, so I will check in with the temps tomorrow.
I live in Southern California and my room is pretty warm most of the time. At night I would say it's around 60 degrees but I could be wrong.
As for feeding, the reptile store told me to feed him crickets and dump them in the enclosure. I did the first day, I think he ate some but he doesn't seem to like them and neither do I (I'm sure most of you understand lol
). Anyways, I was able to feed him salmon, chicken, soft-boiled quail eggs with the shell, mealworms (he LOVES those), blueberries and watermelon. I tried offering him green bell peppers and some parsley as I found on this care sheet (https://reptileslounge.com/blogs/blog/a-list-of-best-foods-for-tegus), but he doesn't seem to like greens so far.
He also pooped once or twice I think.
I was also told to that taking him out of his hide is okay, so I did and he got scared and started running around so I let him be and didn't try anything after that.
I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on red tegus and reading articles, and I realized that I've learned a lot more from the internet than what the supposed "reptile keepers" at the stores told me which is a shame (if it was was Petco I woudn't be surprise, but it was a massive local reptile store
).
Now my questions/concerns are basically this:
1. Is my enclosure setup proper? Heatlamp location, hide, water bowl, etc?
2. Is it normal that he stays in his hide most of the time? I heard he needs a few weeks to adjust and settle.
3. Do I really need a mister for the enclosure? Any other required things I should have other than the thermometer which I'm getting tomorrow.
4. Is it okay to take him out of his hide to get used to me? Or do I let him be until he decides to come out and feel comfortable?
Thank you so much. If you guys have any comments or anything else to add, I would really appreciate it!
Lastly, here is a picture of Mushu watching me admire him
I just got a new red tegu about a week ago who is about 6 months old. I am in the process of letting him get used to me and his new environment.
He stays in his hide 80-90% of the time, comes out sometimes when I'm not in my room to bask, drink water, etc. Here is my setup:
- 40 gallon glass terrarium with mesh top
- Double dome fixture (put on top of the mesh screen)
- Zoo Med Labs 100w 120v PowerSun bulb (left side in the picture)
- Exo-Terra 150 26w UVB bulb (right side in the picture)
- Rock shaped hide
- Large water bowl
- Grapevine bark log
- Hanging green vine
- Repti Bark substrate (I used two bags - about 2 inch coverage I think?)
I am getting a thermometer tomorrow as I was not told it was important, so I will check in with the temps tomorrow.
I live in Southern California and my room is pretty warm most of the time. At night I would say it's around 60 degrees but I could be wrong.
As for feeding, the reptile store told me to feed him crickets and dump them in the enclosure. I did the first day, I think he ate some but he doesn't seem to like them and neither do I (I'm sure most of you understand lol
He also pooped once or twice I think.
I was also told to that taking him out of his hide is okay, so I did and he got scared and started running around so I let him be and didn't try anything after that.
I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on red tegus and reading articles, and I realized that I've learned a lot more from the internet than what the supposed "reptile keepers" at the stores told me which is a shame (if it was was Petco I woudn't be surprise, but it was a massive local reptile store
Now my questions/concerns are basically this:
1. Is my enclosure setup proper? Heatlamp location, hide, water bowl, etc?
2. Is it normal that he stays in his hide most of the time? I heard he needs a few weeks to adjust and settle.
3. Do I really need a mister for the enclosure? Any other required things I should have other than the thermometer which I'm getting tomorrow.
4. Is it okay to take him out of his hide to get used to me? Or do I let him be until he decides to come out and feel comfortable?
Thank you so much. If you guys have any comments or anything else to add, I would really appreciate it!
Lastly, here is a picture of Mushu watching me admire him