Who knows about Tegus??

Question

Well...I got a Gold Tegu about 8 months ago, and the store where I worked told me to keep him on the ground Walnut Shells bedding. I listened to them because they've always given me good advice and know what they're talking about.
So about a month after getting him, I noticed his feet were starting to show signs of being "torn", or cut. I previously posted a question about this a few months ago and got some good answers. Once I noticed this, I took the bedding out and kept him on newspaper for about 2 months. In that time, I would pull him out every other day or so and put some triple antibiotic on his feet and also helped him with his shedding problems. The skin on his toes would NEVER shed on their own, so I had to do it for him. I got his feet looking better and decided to try putting him on the shell bedding again for a few days. Well, sure enough...after 3 days, he was back to the way he was. So I took him off that bedding for good. He's been living on newspaper since.

Well...it's been quite a while since I did that, and after doing quite a bit of research, I learned that this particular type of Tegu needs to be kept on Cypress mulch or something of that nature. So I decided to try it. I pulled him out of his 55 gallon tank and mixed in some of my cypress mulch and some of the coconut shell bedding (kinda like dirt, what people use for frogs and spiders). I mixed all that together and loaded the tank up with it. Half the tank is filled halfway to the top with it so that he can dig and get close to his heat lamp to bask. I've noticed a BIG improvement in his behavior and activity. He's got lots of places to dig, and branches to climb on and everything. He's acting like he's in heaven...and he's eating a lot better, too. I've also been keeping the humidity up, too, and it's been helping with the shedding.

I just want to know...am I doing the right thing for him or if there is anything else I can do to make him happier? ANY advice would help!!

Answer 1

Yes, you did the right thing. Walnut shells are as useless as Calci-sand for substrate--they aren't good for ANY reptile!
Here is a good care site:

http://www.thetegu.com/

Answer 2

Cypress mulch... If you can not find Cypress in your area Eucalyptus mulch , Hemlock mulch , or Orchid Bark is a suitable replacement .

If there are no open wounds or any sign of skin infection you can use a small amount of olive oil . Apply a small amount of oil to a cotton ball or a clean cosmetic sponge and gently rub the affected area to soften the skin . Take a clean wash cloth and soak it in warm water then gently rub away the stuck shed .If there is any sign of skin infection or any open wounds contact your veterinarian before doing anything . *Do not use any kind of scented oil or any oil which may be toxic .

1. You need to check your hide box and make sure it is maintaining proper humidity. A tegus hide box should be just slightly moist but never wet to the touch . Constantly dry hide boxes are the number one cause for a tegu to have shedding problems .Do not allow shed to become stuck on a tegus toes as it can lead to a loss of digits if it constricts blood flow.

2. If you have checked your hide box and it is not to dry you need to check your diet . This is especially true for the Red tegu . Red tegus require a lot of fruits in their diet . A vitamin deficiency will cause your tegu to have problems shedding its skin.

Note :The easiest way to ensure that baby tegus get enough of the vitamins they need if they are not feeding directly on fruits is to feed them king meal worms or crickets which have been properly fed .

Goldie

Answer 3

The shedding problem is either a sign of stress, which is a possibility given the dilemmas with the bedding, or could mean there isn't enough humidity/heat.

Humidity always needs to be raised when reptiles are about to shed. It makes the process much easier for them.

Answer 4

I keep mine on cypress mulch, and have done so for years.
They need a hide box and lots of heat.
Moisten the mulch occasionally, so that it does not dry out.