Here's our story...
A few days ago I visited a reptile friend's place where I found most of my time being taken up by a little rescue he just recieved. This little black & white tegu who I'm going to be refering to as a she (not sure how to tell between male/female) was abandoned by a petshop who figured she was just sick and going to die. My friend spent a few days with her but came to the conclusion she must be beyond hope, he was going to put her down after this weekend was over.
I felt so bad for her, she was very skinny, can't hold herself up, dragged her body flat to the ground, has virtually no feelings/sensation in her back feet and tail (so it seems for now) and she is very slow and clumsy. I watched as they threw some crickets in her cage and she looked so excited (she has these big crazy eyes that are so sweet) she would try so hard to catch one but it just wouldn't work. She's too slow and just got mouthfulls of dirt. They even fed her some dead crickets that wouldnt move and she would get them in her mouth and just repeatedly sway her head and drop them... trying over and over till she tired herself right out and would lay there flat with her eyes closed. It was so sad becasue you could see how determined she was, she WANTED food, but just was too weak to get any.
I began trying to work with her on a more physical level, I tried cutting up a live cricket just so it wouldn't move too much (they still put up quite a fight with no heads) and placed it on my hand. When she would go for it I would cup my hand and fingers around her mouth so she couldn't drop it. I even let her bite onto my finger so she could help with the swallowing reflex. After a good 5 mins of trial and error she finaly got one down. I was thrilled.
After another hour working with her I managed to get 6 crickets down and after she had a big drink, I felt good about the situation and asked to adopt her so I could try and giver her another chance.
It's been 2 more days and I've gotten her to eat over 30 crickets, she actually has a little belly! She's still very skinny everywhere mind you... this morning I actually let her try and take down a cricket on her own. She was much quicker, a bit stronger and almost got it by herself... I the more easier ones. As it is now, she only shows interest in the crickets.
I made a video of a part of our feeding session this morning, she is a wonderful little girl and from what I've seen and heard about columbians, she could prove to be an exceptional exception. My only concerns are that she might be sicker beyond my help, she IS improving in my care but her body has suffered serious malnutrition and she sometimes acts in a manner that's hard to interperate (swaying her head from side to side when food is in her mouth) she's still very alert and seems mentaly fine to me. I'm not a tegu expert so I was hoping some on with more experiance can help me interperate her behavior and help me do more good things for her while I rehabillitate her, besides crickets she drinks a lot of water with has a re-hydrating cocktail of vitamins & minerals/elecrolites. And her droppings are once daily and normal (just small).
All in all she's wonderful, she's basking in her tank beside me right now peeking an eye periodicly at me
she know's I'm up to goodthings probably...
I really hope she makes it... she would have been put down this morning.
but instead, here's a video I'd like to share with you all of her from this very morning her life was supposed to end. she's still pretty sad looking but so much better than 2 days ago! she actaully can walk now! I'm sure the video will do the talking for how sweet she really is, enjoy
Thanks, Devine* & Lil Tegu
YouTube - Columbian Black & White Tegu Rescue Day 3
Columbian B&W Tegu Rescue
