Tegu Fanclub/Updates/Tips

[John1982]

Your girl is getting some nice size on her now! The enclosure looks like it'll be awesome too, can't wait to see her in the new digs. Boon has been back outside for a few weeks now but he's only coming out to steal some rays every few days. Already missing my winter bunk buddy but at least now I get to enjoy him when he's active.

[jclaiborne]

Your girl is getting some nice size on her now! The enclosure looks like it'll be awesome too, can't wait to see her in the new digs. Boon has been back outside for a few weeks now but he's only coming out to steal some rays every few days. Already missing my winter bunk buddy but at least now I get to enjoy him when he's active.

Thanks! She is growing like a weed and has calmed down quite a bit, she still has her moments thought! I wish I could keep her outside but isn't going to happen where I am at. I will have to settle with giving her supervised some outside roam time. I am hoping to finish this cage within the next few weeks, I am currently hung up on weather or not to put a tub big enough for her to soak in the enclosure with a drain and ball valve so I can drain it into a bucket or not. She soaks in the bath tub once a week now and actively swims and seems to enjoy it, but not sure if a tub in there is going to be more trouble then its worth. What are your thoughts?

[John1982]

More trouble than it's worth. You're going to be draining and refilling that thing at least once a day with the amount of digging and rooting around tegus do when given the chance. I've used tubs large enough for full body soaks and my GUs have never shown much interest in them for more than simple drinking. These days I just use a ceramic dish that's easy to clean out.

[jclaiborne]

More trouble than it's worth. You're going to be draining and refilling that thing at least once a day with the amount of digging and rooting around tegus do when given the chance. I've used tubs large enough for full body soaks and my GUs have never shown much interest in them for more than simple drinking. These days I just use a ceramic dish that's easy to clean out.

Ok, you confirmed what I have been thinking. Last question for now. Some people have said that I should provide a lay box for her in the form of a box with a tunnel leading to it burried under the substrate. Something with a hinged top that I would have access to, so basically an artificial burrow in case she lays slugs to keep her from getting egg bound. All that being said whouldn't it again stand to reason that this is more trouble than its worth since the substrate will be deep enough for her to create her own burrows and tunnels?

[Daniel.michelle]

The more options she has the better. trust me. Not too long ago my savannah monitor (who I thought was a male) laid over 30 slugs under the heat light (mostly cuz the other Sav was being a d-bag and not letting her burrow properly.) They need as many options as they can get.

Anything, deep substrate, a plastic to with a hole in the side filled with dirt, anything.

[John1982]

Ok, you confirmed what I have been thinking. Last question for now. Some people have said that I should provide a lay box for her in the form of a box with a tunnel leading to it burried under the substrate. Something with a hinged top that I would have access to, so basically an artificial burrow in case she lays slugs to keep her from getting egg bound. All that being said whouldn't it again stand to reason that this is more trouble than its worth since the substrate will be deep enough for her to create her own burrows and tunnels?

With the size and depth of your enclosure I don't think you need to worry about it for the egg bound reason. It is a good idea to have a prefab hide with easy access for you in case you need to monitor your GU during hibernation, apply daily meds, etc.. It's as easy as burying a top opening box leaving the top at ground level, or slightly below, so you can cover it with a thin layer of substrate. Cut out a hole on the side of the box, close to the bottom, and run a bit of septic/drainage pipe from the hole to the ground level in your enclosure.

The man I bought my tegus from had the simplest, but no less effective, prefab hide system I've seen. He simply dug holes in the ground and dropped pieces of plywood on top. The tegus would naturally dig under the plywood and find the nice, cozy holes already dug out for them. They'd still do their rooting and foraging in the top layers of substrate but would return to these pre dug holes for sleeping, nesting, etc.

[jclaiborne]

Another update on my painfully slow build....this cage should have been done a long time ago...anyways...inside completely sealed...I have the material to frame the doors and lighting is on the way...then it's time to fill it up and insulate.

[jclaiborne]

Got my light fixture for basking finish today. Had some spare aluminum extrusion laying around work so I cut it to length and drilled and tapped the needed holes. I was able to wire it internally so there isn't a birds nest of wires. I used romex and will route the wires coming out the top to a timer outside the cage.

[jclaiborne]

T5HO and basking fixtures hung! Will be wiring them up to power tonight after work and adjusting the basking site for height.

[jclaiborne]

Insulation done...outer panels should be finished by tomorrow