Very uncomfortable with hibernation, please help!

[thomasjg23]

So haven't been on here in a while but recent events have caused me to come back to the experts. I got my very young Argentine red from a vendor in July. Another vendor told me that his animals were (can't remember the wording) not captive bred or not from this country maybe? Anyway since then I havn't had a single problem with the little guy great behavoir and great handling.

About two weeks ago I switched him from petco jungle bedding to cypress mulch from Lowes and I think he loves it because he is always burrowed.

Two weeks ago he would still come out occasionally for food and water and then one week ago He stopped coming out. Just before he started coming out I heard him sneez early in the morning and he was just begining a shed.

The temperatures are drastically decreasing here (Johnstown, PA).

Four days ago I was worried he wasn't coming out for food so i dug around alittle for him (Bad past me!) and took him out to feed him (a little huffing and puffing). Since then he had not come out so I realized he might be hibernating.

Yesterday I remembered he was starting a shed and he already is missing his back left little toenail so I dug him out again Even though the surface temp is warm he was pretty cold under all his substrate. No huffing and puffing this time. I used tweezers to help him with the little bit of shed around his toes and then let him return to his burrow. While removing his shed his activity was normal, tolerant of me and my tweezers for so long then take a few steps and repeat. Should I get a side or under tank Heater? what else should I do?

 

[Guest]

A side or under tank heater is not needed.. if he is burrowed the temps should be at least 75 F or a bit higher on the cool side. As far as digging him up, I would refrain from that because you wouldnÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t want to scare him or lose his trust unless you are sure it doesnÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t affect him. Im sure he will be fine, he must really love the new cypress bedding

 

[Toby_H]

It sounds like he may be a farm raised hatchling from South America.

I would strongly discourage you from digging him up anymore.

My best advice is to read your Tegu and give him the parameters to support him doing what he decides to do.

Since your Tegu seems to be trying to go down for the winter, I would support it doing so. Thus I would not add any heat and would let him sleep.

It is important that you prevent the burrow from getting too dry. This moisture will also help loosen shedding skin.

Lastly, you will want to make sure your Tegu does not have food/waste in his system. When I feel I need to wake my tegu up to dispell waste, I will pour warm water on his hide. The warm water will peacefully wake him up and also induces the need to poo.

I fully understand how/why one would be nervous having a reptile hibernate in your care. This is my Tegu's third winter with me and I'm still adjusting. But in the end keep in mind your Tegu will know what he needs far better than you or I, which is why I simply suggest following his lead.

 

[thomasjg23]

Thank you for everything so far guys! Okay so today when I got back from class he was out! and when I opened his lid and put my hand in he hopped up and out so I fed him. How do I know if I shouldn't be feeding him?

 

[txrepgirl]

It sounds like that he is going into burmation/hibernation. I don't recommend digging him up any more. This will just stress him out. The sneezing could be because he maybe just had something to drink or the mulch on the buttom is to dry and he was breathing in some dust. I wouldn't use a under the tank heater. Tegus will hibernate if they want to no matter what. The temps in your home will be fine for his enclosure.

 

[slideaboot]

Thank you for everything so far guys! Okay so today when I got back from class he was out! and when I opened his lid and put my hand in he hopped up and out so I fed him. How do I know if I shouldn't be feeding him?

I'd feed him til he stops eating. He'll know when it's time to stop eating to get ready for hibernation.

 

[Guest]

Yea, I had a couple questions about hibernation reguarding feeding. She will stop when she thinks she's going down for hibernation (if she does) ? Because I've been feeding my new baby every other day.

 

[tora]

Yep they know when to stop, so if they seem more picky than usual just see if they're going down.

 

[Toby_H]

Hatchlings and Yearlings should be fed as much as they will eat. Thus I would be offering your young Tegu food daily.

As they near brumation/hibernation their metabolism will slow down, thus they will loose their appetite. So as long as they are accepting food, offer it to them. Just monitor to ensure they dispell waste after their last meal.

When I've found the need to encourage my Tegu to 'dispell waste' when he's sleeping, I will pour warm water onto his hide. The warm water wakes him up slowly/peacefully as well as enduces the need to go...