BaiYing509
New Member
- Messages
- 17
So earlier this fall I posted about my invasive tegu and the problem of catching it before it gets cold. I had messaged Laura Roberts and she suggested a humane trapper. Sadly, the trappers and wildlife officials will all kill on the spot, not allowing her to be taken to any other facility. I had gotten a home for her at The Gourmet Rodent in Gainesville, FL. They would come get her that day if someone catches her. But after much cajoling and typing, no one has come. Rodney Irwin said if she wasn't bothering me that she would be fine as adult tegus are very hardy. I have set up a cabinet in my carport with a ceramic heater and close by I put pavers under a 250 watt heat lamp. I am waiting for my ordered digital thermostat to come. I have 2 other lamps and bulbs to set up for more even heating when it gets cold and I can get someone to help with set up. Now I have the lamp hanging off a shovel handle and secured with a brick, it won't move when bumped. But I want to set up a better heating area for her, just waiting to hear from handymen. I tried to get a dedicated line out there, but the electrician wanted $740 to set it up! Crazy. I know copper wire is expensive, but he must be using gold wire! He also wanted to put photo cells and timers on the outlets, which I didn't want because I want to be able to use the outlet at all times according to the weather.
I know Phuong used the ceramic heater at least once, because the next day her man made sea was full of dry skin. (I set up a black plastic tub with water for her to soak in, and I clean it once a week.) She loves her man made sea, and soaks before getting back on the roof. I can tell because there is sand all around it, and there are sand belly marks on the trim of the roof. Also there are tell tale Tegu white drops in the water. She has been living in the dark because we are in the process of becoming part of the city. In the meantime, at least the last month and half, we have had no street lights. The floodlights I have around the house stopped working, so it was really dark. She had been hunting during the full moon phases, and on the half. If my outside light was on while I was doing laundry, she was hunting and killing in the tree. Once the lights went back off, all was quiet, and she was back on the roof. I got my lights working this week and she is ecstatic! She hits the roof with gusto every night around 10pm. I guess this means she can snack on the insects in the light while getting the warmth from the roof. She has been despondent because my dryer broke, and the warm moist breeze blew right onto the roof for her. She really misses her lavender scented Snuggle breeze, and let me know about it. I hung a dryer sheet in the air circulation of the ceramic heater to give her the idea there was a heat source available. I haven't run my central heat because I am afraid she will get in the ducts, as the feral cats have at other homes this summer. She did get into the AC unit for insulation, but hopefully she won't get in the ducts. I talked to a reptile specialist at PetCo who was really helpful and so excited to hear about a tegu in their natural wild state. She is really something, and I enjoy her antics. I still have not had the privilege of seeing her, other than her tongue and her tail. My brother said Santa is going to send a game camera so I can finally see her. I hope it works! I really want to see her. I have spent hours being quiet and trying to barely breathe waiting for her where she can't see me but I could see her if she went on the roof to no avail. As soon as I my back was turned, thump thump thump, she's back on the roof! One night someone was playing their stereo really obscenely loud. She came flying up the ramp and banging onto the roof, probably terrified.
So hopefully I will have pics to post of my rooftop guard lizard soon.
I know Phuong used the ceramic heater at least once, because the next day her man made sea was full of dry skin. (I set up a black plastic tub with water for her to soak in, and I clean it once a week.) She loves her man made sea, and soaks before getting back on the roof. I can tell because there is sand all around it, and there are sand belly marks on the trim of the roof. Also there are tell tale Tegu white drops in the water. She has been living in the dark because we are in the process of becoming part of the city. In the meantime, at least the last month and half, we have had no street lights. The floodlights I have around the house stopped working, so it was really dark. She had been hunting during the full moon phases, and on the half. If my outside light was on while I was doing laundry, she was hunting and killing in the tree. Once the lights went back off, all was quiet, and she was back on the roof. I got my lights working this week and she is ecstatic! She hits the roof with gusto every night around 10pm. I guess this means she can snack on the insects in the light while getting the warmth from the roof. She has been despondent because my dryer broke, and the warm moist breeze blew right onto the roof for her. She really misses her lavender scented Snuggle breeze, and let me know about it. I hung a dryer sheet in the air circulation of the ceramic heater to give her the idea there was a heat source available. I haven't run my central heat because I am afraid she will get in the ducts, as the feral cats have at other homes this summer. She did get into the AC unit for insulation, but hopefully she won't get in the ducts. I talked to a reptile specialist at PetCo who was really helpful and so excited to hear about a tegu in their natural wild state. She is really something, and I enjoy her antics. I still have not had the privilege of seeing her, other than her tongue and her tail. My brother said Santa is going to send a game camera so I can finally see her. I hope it works! I really want to see her. I have spent hours being quiet and trying to barely breathe waiting for her where she can't see me but I could see her if she went on the roof to no avail. As soon as I my back was turned, thump thump thump, she's back on the roof! One night someone was playing their stereo really obscenely loud. She came flying up the ramp and banging onto the roof, probably terrified.
So hopefully I will have pics to post of my rooftop guard lizard soon.
