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New to Tegus

A

aplusreptiles

www.aplusreptiles.com
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Hi. I am new to Tegus, but not to reptiles. We just got an Argentine Black and White Tegu. He's a very small baby (still green). And I can't find the answers to some of my questions...

How often am I supposed to be feeding him?
I am currently feeding him on our beardie schedule, which is 3-4 times a day.

How much am I supposed to be feeding him?
I take him out of his cage, put him in a 10 gal, along with some crickets and supers and let him eat as much as he wants. Which is about 6 crickets and 3 supers... we do this 3-4 times a day.

I don't want him to be obese, but I want to make sure he's getting enough, since I know he's a fast growing lizard. I also cut up some hard boiled egg and turkey dogs and put it in a dish in his cage. All of his food items are dusted with calcium.
He has thick substrate for digging, a hide box with slightly moist substrate, a branch to bask on (basking temps 97-99), large water dish to soak in, and a UV light. When he gets a little bigger, we plan on incorporating frozen/thawed rodents into his diet. We do not plan on hibernating him. Oh and he's not even the least bit aggressive, not even when fully warmed up. He's going to the vet next week and getting a fecal done as soon as he eliminates (we have microscope at home for these purposes). He is captive bred, by agama international. We are in the process of buying a house with a 10x10 bedroom, just for him. So he will have plenty of room and is well loved.
Any tips on how to keep him as sweet as he is now?

Also, will my vet be able to probe and tell sex when he gets a bit bigger, or do I just have to wait and see what I got? Any other info and advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
aplusreptiles said:
Hi. I am new to Tegus, but not to reptiles. We just got an Argentine Black and White Tegu. He's a very small baby (still green). And I can't find the answers to some of my questions...
Click to expand...

I will do my best to help you out. Also, welcome to the forums!! :)

How often am I supposed to be feeding him?
I am currently feeding him on our beardie schedule, which is 3-4 times a day.
Click to expand...

He needs to be fed once a day. Three or four times a day is not needed with tegus.

How much am I supposed to be feeding him?
I take him out of his cage, put him in a 10 gal, along with some crickets and supers and let him eat as much as he wants. Which is about 6 crickets and 3 supers... we do this 3-4 times a day.
Click to expand...

This is fine, but once a day will be much better. Also he needs a varity in his diet. Here is a care sheet that will help you with this: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78209

I don't want him to be obese, but I want to make sure he's getting enough, since I know he's a fast growing lizard. I also cut up some hard boiled egg and turkey dogs and put it in a dish in his cage. All of his food items are dusted with calcium.
He has thick substrate for digging, a hide box with slightly moist substrate, a branch to bask on (basking temps 97-99), large water dish to soak in, and a UV light. When he gets a little bigger, we plan on incorporating frozen/thawed rodents into his diet.
Click to expand...

Pinkies would be fine added to his diet now. I do not like the turkey dogs due to the high fat content. Ground turkey would be much better.

We do not plan on hibernating him. Oh and he's not even the least bit aggressive, not even when fully warmed up. He's going to the vet next week and getting a fecal done as soon as he eliminates (we have microscope at home for these purposes). He is captive bred, by agama international. We are in the process of buying a house with a 10x10 bedroom, just for him. So he will have plenty of room and is well loved.
Any tips on how to keep him as sweet as he is now?
Click to expand...

Here is a great link to help you with getting him tame, as well as keeping him tame: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83282

Also, will my vet be able to probe and tell sex when he gets a bit bigger, or do I just have to wait and see what I got? Any other info and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

A vet can probe him, but telling the sex in young tegus is very hard. Tegus are easy to sex after they reach three feet long. We are also more than glad to help you!! :)
Click to expand...
 
I would also avoid the hot dogs. Most hot dogs have red dyes in them which are bad for almost all reptiles.
 
Yeah, we only did that for the first day. The caresheet we got said to feed him hot dogs, pizza, bagels! That's why I wanted to ask around and see what everyone else thought.
 
Yeah, I can tell your tegu is going to be a GREAT tegu! You care so much about what is proper and right and best for him, getting a house with a room for him? Not many people think that way! I can't wait to watch your growing up and becoming the baby of the hosue!
Wolfy
 
Yeah. We just love him to death! We only want what's best and for him to be happy and healthy. I will post some pics of him soon.
I did have one more question. What about hibernation? I don't want him to be unable to breed just because we skipped a year. And what about the hemisphere thing? Should he hibernate in the summer or winter? He's only a month old.
 
He will start hibernating soon. He should start slowing down on feeding soon. As for the hemisphere, in Argentina they have winter when we have summer. But this should not have anything to do with your tegu. It would make a difference if it was a import. :)
 
Ok. That's what I thought. He's been sleeping under his hide box for the last day and a half. So, I'll just leave him be unless he decides to come out. If he hides for a month, after that is when I cool him down to 60's?
 
Hibernating tegus has nothing to do with temps. It is all about the lighting and the internal clock. My tegus go into hibernation here in August, the temps are still very warm (90s - 100s). You can start reducing the lighting time. This will help him get started in the hibernation process. If you are keeping the lights on for twelve hours, reduce the time to ten for a week, then eight, six, and then just turn them off. No heat is needed under the hide at all.
 
This is always though to be needed in tegus, but it is not the case in this species. They just about do everything themself. :thumbsup:
 
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