My Tegu Pictures

[nepoez]

As I have promised. Here are some pictures.

I also have 2 collared lizards that previously inhabited the viv, but now they have to share... until I find a new home for them. So far they seem to get along, no aggression at all what so ever. But when the tegu gets bigger, I think they might get eaten if I don't get them out of there!

https://plus.google.com/photos/103641022791999749733/albums/5847843616260479585?authkey=CPnUoJ3D9fenYg

 

[Cassie]

Whoooaaaa, reading your other thread you just got him right? Are you sure housing him with any other reptile is a good idea, especially without going through proper quarantine with him?
Granted, I'm a snake person, but I'm preeeeeetty sure you're meant to QT any new reptiles being brought in because they might carry mites or any other multitude of problems and cause disease or death of other reptiles in the same area, let alone the same enclosure.

 

[nepoez]

No I didn't quarantine the new lizard. Hopefully I didn't cause any harm.

 

[TeguBuzz]

Why would you get a tegu if you don't have an enclosure ready for it? You're housing two completely different species of lizards together. I disagree with what it is you have going on, and would strongly recommend splitting them up immediately. If you can't do that, rehome one or the other.

 

[BatGirl1]

Yes...aside from the differences in care requirements, environment, etc. Parasites are dangerous

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[Dubya]

[attachment=6530]I don't think housing different species together is a good idea.

 

[BatGirl1]

Uhhhhh...
That's terrible.!

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[Deac77]

Uhhhhh...
That's terrible.!

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Terrible but what's going to happen

 

[chelvis]

I would listen to what others are saying, the reason being is simple.

The collard lizard you have there is a desert animal requiring high heat, low humidity and a sandy or dry substrate. The tegu you have is a tropical lizard requiring a high humidity, high heat and a moist substrate, just to do bare essentials. Too much humidity for the collard lizard can cause fungal infection and respiratory issues, too low of humidity for the tegu can cause respiratory issues and skin issues.

Collared lizards eat insects, tegus eat almost anything including smaller lizards. You could wake up to a hungry tegu munching on a smaller lizard leg.

Parasites can be passed from either animal to the other. Collared lizards and Colombian Tegus are both often wc and can have lots of parasites. Having lost an animal to a parasite infection its heart wrenching.

I don't wish to put you off from reptiles, but quarantine new animals is very important and housing species separate can prevent a lot of heart ach.

 

[dragonmetalhead]

Seriously, get the tegu out of there ASAP. You have a ticking time-bomb there with that setup. Somebody is either going to get sick or eaten or both.

 

[BatGirl1]

Agreed. Mixing certain fish in a tank is not the same as mixing reptiles.

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[nepoez]

Thanks guys, I agree. The tank was converted from a dessert(for the collards) to a tropical(for the tegu) and now I'm afraid for the both species.

1.) The collards are very fearless guys, they constantly run around and now with the Tegu, they trample on him and probably stress him out.. they even use him as a head rest
2.) the tegu is gentle now but one day he might eat them
3.) I'm afriad the moisture level might make the collards sick

I've found a buyer and they'll be coming to take the collards today. And yes it was irresponsible on my part but the tegu landed on me and I took it. The good news is this situation has only been for 3 days so hopefully the collards will be ok still.

Thanks

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It will be a sad good-bye to the collards but if I like them so much I should let them go live in a suitable place. The tegu is too amazing and I have to keep him. I get the most amazed feeling waking up every morning these 3 days just watching him move around, digging, eating, trying to escape. I keep telling my wife what how amazed I am.. So the collards will have to be the ones leaving today, sad.. but the tegu totally makes it up.. I LOVE HIM!!!! I can't believe how awesome he is! And I am not taking your criticisms personally as we all just want our reptiles to be healthy. So, I'll be posting more pictures and updates so hopefully I get more tips if I'm doing anything else wrong. I really hope he lives a long time healthily.

So here's a few questions. Since Columbians are WC, do you guys take them to a vet to check for parasites when you first get them? Do you take them to the vet regularly for checkups, etc?

thx!

 

[bfb345]

Not all Columbians are wild caught there are small breeders of them and yes any animal you suspect to be WC should be taken to the vet but I wouldn't think they would need regular check ups unless health issues arise

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I don't think housing different species together is a good idea.

OUCH

 

[BatGirl1]

It is very good that you take advice well and not adversely. sad to give some up but it shows that you want to do the right thing. You are probably like me in that when you see animals in need you impulsively say yes to help. A lot of us on here are probably this way. But as time goes by we must all learn to think 'rationally ' sometimes. like when a 'ferret ' was brought to me injured from the side of the road and I discovered it was actually a weasel! Haha. I put on gloves, tended to some ticks and wounds, unsuccessfully tried like three animal hospitals to help him then finally got a wildlife control guy to promise he would not euthanize and take to a specialist if I kept the weasel overnight and it lived.haha. we can't save ALL the creatures but we can try our best right???

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[nepoez]

Yeah I'm glad I posted the pics to get corrected. The people will be coming probably pretty soon. Gonna take a look at them a little longer... at least I got lots of pictures.

 

[TegusRawsome80]

To my knowledge, no one in the US has successfully hatched Columbians bfb. Laurafl got really close and has gotten eggs multiple times but I don't think anyone has hatched them before, so yes all of them are W/C. I am glad you have decided to take the advice given to you. It is very refreshing to see.

 

[TeguBuzz]

I applaud you for taking the right course of action, those are signs of a true keeper who cares for his/hers animals.

 

[nepoez]

So the collared lizards have been gone for a couple days now. Yesterday Twirp was only out for 2 hours all day and the rest of the day he's underground. Today he was only out for 1 hour, and came out 2 more times for less than 10 minutes each time to grab some food and went back in.. Really love him, just a shame that I rarely get to see him..

 

[BatGirl1]

If he's trying to hibernate he'll eat less and less then refuse altogether. Then will just eliminate stomach content but continue to come out of burrow occasionally to drink.

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[nepoez]

I've heard contradicting info from different people. Some say Columbian tegus don't hibernate, and some say they do... What's your experience?