Weird behavior from Gary

[Rhetoric]

The few days Gary has been eating less. I'm offering various foods but he doesn't seem too interested in any of it. He didn't eat the last 2 days and today he only had a few bites of turkey and a couple blue berries. He's still pooping but not as often since hes not eating much. I didn't think much of it at first because Guru did the same thing and he now eats every other day.

Today I let the 3 boys out all together (first time in a while) and Gary just tried to hide the entire time. He'd try to get under anything he could and threw a fit if I tried to get him back out again. No biting but he'd huff and rattle his tail and do everything he could to get away. I didn't force anything, I'd move him and put him right back down.

He also seemed really skittish. He'd see me walk behind him and he'd run off. Even if one of the other tegus came around he'd hustle out of there. It was really strange and unusual.

When hes in his enclosure he's fine. He's got no problem hanging around Rango. He doesn't spend his time burrowed or hiding. He's basking and roaming around. He doesn't have any thing physically abnormal, clear vent, clean eyes, no lumps/cuts/bumps anything like that.

Any thoughts what might be going on? I'm not sure if the appetite loss is related or not but I figured I'd mention it.

---

I didn't force anything, I'd move him and put him right back down.

I did move him to prevent him from being injured but I didn't force any extra contact. I wanted to let him be and observe him.

 

[jumper123]

First I love that name for a tegu! have you checked your UVB light? --is it Running out of juice? how old is he?-- it could be a stage he is going through. When my 3 year old turned about 2 she did something similar no tail rattling but not herself. Also have you been around them or has your schedule changed at all. I find if my schedule changes my female gets pretty upset (even though her schedule stays the same [as far as lights and eating goes]) If I am not home to see her the same time or go to work early instead of late I get the cold shoulder. (so to speak). also, Has his enclosure changed?

 

[Bubblz Calhoun]

Does he act the same way when he's out alone instead of with the other tegus? It sounds more like a security or intimidation issue to me. He could be picking up on signals or body language from the others. Scent included and may not be that happy with having them around.

 

[jumper123]

good one bubblez! never thought of that!!

 

[reptastic]

I agree with bubblz, i had a tegu act similarly, turned out he was sorta being hassled by my larger female(this was during free roam, they were kept seperate) but he eventually came around and started eating more

 

[Rhetoric]

First I love that name for a tegu! have you checked your UVB light? --is it Running out of juice? how old is he?-- it could be a stage he is going through. When my 3 year old turned about 2 she did something similar no tail rattling but not herself. Also have you been around them or has your schedule changed at all. I find if my schedule changes my female gets pretty upset (even though her schedule stays the same [as far as lights and eating goes]) If I am not home to see her the same time or go to work early instead of late I get the cold shoulder. (so to speak). also, Has his enclosure changed?

The UVB light is almost 3 months old, I bought it new when I got Gary and Rango. He's about 2 years old, summer '09. My schedule hasn't changed. He was alright yesterday when it was just him and Rango out. I was cleaning out their enclosure and they were hanging out in the sun. I added a new basking rock, its now elevated so they can use it as a hide as well.

Does he act the same way when he's out alone instead of with the other tegus? It sounds more like a security or intimidation issue to me. He could be picking up on signals or body language from the others. Scent included and may not be that happy with having them around.

So weird but I bet thats what it was. As I said earlier in the reply, he was fine yesterday when it was just him and Rango. He's fine when hes out by himself as well. Poor guy, I feel bad.
Guru is larger, hes much heavier and a couple inches longer but hes a year younger. He had jowl popped before but I didn't notice him doing it today or lifting his tail. I wonder what kind of signals were being given out if thats what it was.




As far as the food goes, I wasn't sure if it was related or not, I just figured I'd add it just in case it might have been related.

 

[roastedspleen]

thats my name... hope your tegu starts eating more

 

[Rhetoric]

gary? well its a good name! someone online suggested it but I cant remember who

 

[Bubblz Calhoun]

When I hear Gary,.. I think of Spongebob,.. lol plus some one on another forum has a snail named Gary