gold tegu healt (tail lost)

Question
my gold tegu lizard lost a good amount of it's tail 6 day's ago. last night it went in his water dish to swim. i found it still in the water this morning and it was lethargic so i took it out of it.i then put it under the sun-glo lamp and i notice that the scab on it's tail wound came off and it's tail is now looking raw again like when it just happened.also when i saw it in the water i thought it was dead but when i reach in i took it it started moving .it was cold and lethargic so i got it under it's sun-glo lamp and is now looking more alive. what i'm asking is what to do about it's tail and if my action after finding it still in it's water this morning were appropriate for what happen? thank you for any advice you can give me. ho! i also put some antibiotic ointment on it's tail wound.

Answer
If your tegu is lethargic, then you need to take it a veterinarian who has reptile experience, immediately.  By the time reptiles show signs of illness, they are usually extremely ill.  These animals will do their best to disguise illness so that they won't become a target for predators or more dominant animals.

Your tegu may have an infection in its tail, or may have internal parasites, or another issue.  Most reptile illnesses are easily treated and aren't horribly expensive, and outcomes are good if they are caught early.

Antibiotic ointment isn't good enough if an infection has set in to the point where it's affecting the animal's behavior.  If it is an infection, it will require antibiotic injections.

Remember, regular vet care is part of the ownership of any pet, including reptiles.

You should provide a small bowl for water, until the tail is healed.  Soaking in potentially dirty water isn't good for it.  Provide a humid hide for your lizard, in the mean time.

Now, if your tegu was ONLY lethargic while submerged under water, and has returned to 100% normal behavior, then I still recommend you have a vet look at the tail, but he may just have been making like a submarine.  Some reptiles will shut down most of their metabolism in order to stay submerged under water for long periods of time.  While in this state, they appear limp and largely unresponsive, until they are removed from the water and come out of it (or decide to come out on their own).  You should check your cage temperatures however--the water shouldn't be very cold, if your cage's air temperatures and humidity are correct.