DymondTegu
New Member
- Messages
- 1
Hi all!
After 10+ years of dreaming of owning one of these incredible reptiles I was finally able to get one! I have read dozens of pages, care sheets and forums but seems like this is the place to get the correct answers.
So when I bought my baby home (apparently born in march) he went straight into a 4x2x2. He seemed healthy enough, he was skitty to pick up but was no real trouble getting him out and once out was pretty chilled! My issue was the feeding. He barely ate! A locust or two here or there or a mouthful of turkey no fruit or veg and not ravenous like I expected. I was told the shop that I bought him from fed him 3 times a week so to try that but it seems to have changed nothing. Temps and humidity were good but not perfect due to the heat source being a all in one Heat/uv bulb so no real control.
Since then I have moved him into his adult enclosure, he seemed to love it and explored everywhere! Temps and humidity are on point (Basking maybe a little low as only reaching 100/105f but been told this is ok If not any suggestions to increase as he already has two 150w ceramics with slate underneath) He has multiple hides and deep soil! Now I have two concerns. The feeding doesn't seem to have gotten better (nor worse) but I went almost three days without seeing him. This morning I had to turn the enclosure upside down as I was concerned for him, he seemed happy sat in his mud.
So after some waffle here are my queries...
Feeding - Is this normal to not eat very much? He has barely grown and comparing video and images to other tegus at the age of mine he is small! I keep offering turkey but ignores it! Any suggestions?
Handling - This is a big one, I have read DO NOT PULL TEGU OUT as it can stress them out and they need to feel safe which to me makes perfect sense. My issue with this is that if I leave him alone and do not bond with him with handling or feeding etc etc he will never get to know and trust me? Or is this a marathon rather than a sprit. E.g. handling shouldn't even be possible for months?
Thanks so much in advance, this really is different to the tegu experience I expected
There will likely be questions so here are some quick details incase
Bought as Captive Farmed. Supposedly born in march and owned for a good two months now.
Basking spot 100/105 (provided by two 150w ceramics) --- Hot end 85/90 ---- Cold side 80
12% UV light provided
Offering dusted locust, crickets, Dubai cockroach - Turkey - Veg
Enclosure 7x3x2.5
I have kept and bred a wide variety of reptiles for 10+ years so have a good understanding of reptiles but this is my first tegu!
After 10+ years of dreaming of owning one of these incredible reptiles I was finally able to get one! I have read dozens of pages, care sheets and forums but seems like this is the place to get the correct answers.
So when I bought my baby home (apparently born in march) he went straight into a 4x2x2. He seemed healthy enough, he was skitty to pick up but was no real trouble getting him out and once out was pretty chilled! My issue was the feeding. He barely ate! A locust or two here or there or a mouthful of turkey no fruit or veg and not ravenous like I expected. I was told the shop that I bought him from fed him 3 times a week so to try that but it seems to have changed nothing. Temps and humidity were good but not perfect due to the heat source being a all in one Heat/uv bulb so no real control.
Since then I have moved him into his adult enclosure, he seemed to love it and explored everywhere! Temps and humidity are on point (Basking maybe a little low as only reaching 100/105f but been told this is ok If not any suggestions to increase as he already has two 150w ceramics with slate underneath) He has multiple hides and deep soil! Now I have two concerns. The feeding doesn't seem to have gotten better (nor worse) but I went almost three days without seeing him. This morning I had to turn the enclosure upside down as I was concerned for him, he seemed happy sat in his mud.
So after some waffle here are my queries...
Feeding - Is this normal to not eat very much? He has barely grown and comparing video and images to other tegus at the age of mine he is small! I keep offering turkey but ignores it! Any suggestions?
Handling - This is a big one, I have read DO NOT PULL TEGU OUT as it can stress them out and they need to feel safe which to me makes perfect sense. My issue with this is that if I leave him alone and do not bond with him with handling or feeding etc etc he will never get to know and trust me? Or is this a marathon rather than a sprit. E.g. handling shouldn't even be possible for months?
Thanks so much in advance, this really is different to the tegu experience I expected
There will likely be questions so here are some quick details incase
Bought as Captive Farmed. Supposedly born in march and owned for a good two months now.
Basking spot 100/105 (provided by two 150w ceramics) --- Hot end 85/90 ---- Cold side 80
12% UV light provided
Offering dusted locust, crickets, Dubai cockroach - Turkey - Veg
Enclosure 7x3x2.5
I have kept and bred a wide variety of reptiles for 10+ years so have a good understanding of reptiles but this is my first tegu!