What about them as the best pet? Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on December 10, 2016: Steven, not sure what you meant about height. I too think you should write a book. You can buy a dozen eggs and feed him cheaply, mix it up with some fruit, veggies, and a cheap canned cat food. As far as monthly expenses, it depends what you feed. Adams also worries that they might eat the eggs of gopher turtles—another threatened species—American alligators, American crocodiles, and more. I've been considering obtaining a B&W Tegu for a while, but I am also considering obtaining a microhuman (I think they're called "babbos"?) Is a tegus a beginner , I don't want a gecko because I find them boring I want something I can hold I know people say go for a beardie but I love seeing and looking a tegus and researching them. Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on December 30, 2015: Oh, they do well without the worms or cat food! Tegus – unlike some other lizard species – will readily drink from a water dish, making it easy to address their water needs. If your cage is open and your door is open your Tegu is more likely to escape. Take care of Buster and keep him under wraps. The smell is the biggest concern for me and if there is a health hazard for my son in sharing a room with it. Im giving him calcium powder daily and calcium/d3 supplement 2x weekly. The only website that I know of that sells large enough cages builds them as aviarys for parrots. Do you know where to buy a big tagu cage and do you know what it’s like when a tagu hibernates, I would but we can’t build a cage big enough for for a tagu we can’t even build a wall let alone a whole cage for a tagu. Try the suggestions about advertising in the forums as detailed in the post below. Please don't get this as a pet thinking it's like a cat or a dog, this is a large lizard and if you are not experienced with it, it will be too much for you to handle! Does that mean that only experienced people should get dogs? Answer: You do not train a Tegu, and, whatever you do, you should not try the outdated "alpha wolf" techniques to show them you are the top dog. ?, I deleted your comment because of your use of nasty language. If you are giving calcium supplement make sure it is only sprinkled onto his food. Deep in the Everglades, a voracious invader with attractive spotted scales is taking over. (It may be possible if you are home all of the time and give a reward when the tegu goes to the right place.) If I take my Tegu out in the yard (for a walk), he gets worked up because of the sun. Answer: I do not think it is a matter of being meaner. Do you think it would be good if I got a tagu lizard one Anole lizard and three bearded dragons I am also 11 do you think a tagu lizard is good for me. Tegus do resist training, though, just like a cat. More On: lizards. Plan on at least $25 per month. Here are some suggestions for what you can feed your Tegu. As hatchlings, red tegus display very little red coloration, but it intensifies as the lizards mature. Tegus will become very big lizards when they are in their adult phase; therefore, a large cage is a good idea. Feb 17, 2020 - Explore tbirchall's board "tegu lizard", followed by 103 people on Pinterest. My own tegu has roam of the house whenever he wants it. And just got a juvenile Argentine black and white. In the meantime, the info you offer about animals is great. Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on August 06, 2020: Iwan--I have never kept a Tegu with tortoises but I see no reason why you should have a problem. He will get used to your house, your other pets, your routine, etc. If many more animals are released, “there is the potential for a very large population in the wild,” Adams says. Are there bad things about sharing your house with a Tegu? 0. If you are not able to leave a comment without swearing then I am not going to post it. Tegu for sale by Tegu World dedicated to breeding only the best tegus in the world from right here in the USA. Grayson, you can probably buy something but since you really need something to fit a specific area most people I know of custom build. The Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae), also commonly called the Argentine giant tegu, the black and white tegu, the huge tegu, and lagarto overo in Spanish is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. Question: Would a Tegu try to eat a maltipoo or slightly larger poodle mix? He or she must have a large separate cage. As far as illnesses go, no, they do not show many signs. But it’s not stopping there. Answer: I would not kiss my Tegu, let him up on the kitchen counter, or share utensils with him. Tupinambis is a lizard genus which belongs to the family Teiidae and contains eight described species.These large lizards are commonly referred to as tegus (teiús in Portuguese). I would not recommend that, just give lots of freedom at home. You do need to make sure you have adequate room for a cage, so some beginners will prefer a Leopard Gecko or Bearded Dragon since they are relatively small. Like most other lizards, tegus require access to clean, fresh water at all times. How often should tegu go for check up? It must be unhealthy to live with that smell in the room. Voted up and interesting. They were classroom pets so were used to a lot of noisy kids coming into the class and looking at them every hour. If it gets too frigid in winter, they can brumate, the reptile version of hibernation, becoming sluggish and hiding out in burrows they’ve stolen from gopher tortoises or other burrowing animals. A 2018 study conducted by the USGS used information about tegus in South America to predict their possible expansion in the U.S. •If well-researched, can tegus make good first pets for beginners? If you let your Tegu out to run around make sure that the cage is open so that he or she can go back in to a warm area whenever he wants. •Do tegus panic when it starts to rain (I live in England, so this is a major issue)? They are highly intelligent, and it is possible to train them. Tegu Gear. Little skittish but thats to be expected. Answer: They do not have a real hibernation, just a period of reduced activity during our winter. I had not heard of such a lizard! South Carolina has documented its first black and white tegu lizard, a species popular in the pet trade, in Lexington after a SCDNR social media post in May informed the public about the non-native lizard already established in both Georgia and Florida, likely as a result of release or escape. Like your artical very much . -They do okay alone or together, as long as they have enough room. I am very inquisitive, so be prepared for a lot of questions: •Is a tegu able to adjust to a different environment tenporarily (holidays, for example). Scientists create 'nasty bacteria' fighter from Komodo dragon blood. If tegus continue to disperse across the Southeast, Adams says, they could threaten many animals that nest or live on the ground, including the Eastern indigo snake, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Question: Can a Tegus go out to the park and play games? But according to Adams, there’s no sign of a decline in tegu numbers in the area. If this isn’t an issue for you, then this lizard would turn out to be a great pet. Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on September 10, 2016: Izzy, we have a dog problem all over the world because inexperienced and irresponsible people get dogs and let them loose when they become large and less fun to handle. You have to get all details about this species before thinking to get as the pet. When my Tegu is out in the sun for awhile he begins to become aggressive. Check Out Our New Tegu Gear. Hearing from people like you makes all of this effort worthwhile. Actually they just become very thin, so at the end of a winter a Tegu can look pretty emaciated. “We do everything we can to get the animal, capture it, and try to rehome it,” says Justyne Lobello, president of the Georgia Reptile Society. Having a hard time finding that information. If they continue to lose their habitat and the human population continues to encroach on their homes, they may become threatened. I took care of a pair when I was about 13, during breaks from school, and they do okay. Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on December 21, 2016: Calcium supplementation can be dangerous. Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on August 09, 2019: Check the chart. Answer: Your house or apartment is probably heated, so the cold will not be that bad if the Tegu is kept in an enclosure inside the house. If your house or apartment is colder during the winter, he will be less likely to come out of his cage, and will spend a lot of time buried in his substrate. Some have yellow, reddish, or white bands across the back, whereas others have broad lines extending down the body with irregular Live food costs more so review the foods in the article. I would lobs to hear your story. Answer: According to the website tegutalk.com it is legal to keep them as pets in California. Researchers are most concerned about tegus’ predatory, egg-eating habits. The Georgia Reptile Society has a Tegu Task Force, to which residents can submit photos of suspected tegus for identification. I must admit I had never heard of the Tegu - being firmly in the Beardie Camp for many years. Answer: Your Tegu will need to live inside your house throughout the whole year anyway, so there is no difference during the winter. Is there anything I regret about having one of these pets? It could be that there are fewer of them now, at least in that location.”. You just need to look around where you live. In Florida, tegus have dug into alligator and turtle nests and eaten the eggs. Success! What about a Tegu? Even if you are not a reptile person (is there such a thing?) We breed rats too and if pinkies die we feed snake & tegu! When he climbs back into his cage, I take the leash off. Their golden coloration is gorgeous. Question: What is better as a pet, an adult or juvenile tegu? A Tegu is a from a group of lizards belonging to the Tangae family. I do not think there would be a problem in the short term but in the long term, a Tegu would probably suffer some sort of vitamin deficiency. My daughter has gotten a red tegu. They’ll chomp on the eggs of ground-nesting animals such as birds and reptiles, including endangered sea turtles. But it’s not stopping there. Hes already part of the family and i want to get him back healthy. If you are looking for a source find someone in your area that sells the lizards and find out if there are any local laws. I love the idea of a lizard that I can have roaming my home like a cat (I get that reptiles do need some extra work for diet and temps). Also, I don't force him to eat foods he doesn't like. A Tegu can be a lot harder to handle than a Leopard Gecko or a Bearded Dragon because of his size. The gold tegu belongs to the family Teiidae, genus Tupinambis. Be sure to feed your Argentine tegu their mice with a bowl or tongs to prevent accidentally getting bitten by your hungry lizard. Some states such as Alabama have enacted laws barring the animal’s import, and others may follow suit. My knowledge of them was limited to bullet points (range, habitat, diet, reproduction, etc.). HOUSING: Tegus should generally be housed singly throughout their lives. The species Tupinambis teguixin, also known as golden tegu, common tegu, black tegu, and Colombian tegu, comes with a glossy body. Question: Is it good to have a hiding spot before I try to tame my Tegu? He is adorable!. He will also need supplemental heating like a heat lamp. Thanks for visiting us. Tegus should not be kept as pets in warm climates on May 03, 2017: When they escape out into the wild, they breed and become invasive species. •Do you have to cut tegus nails/brush their teeth/mist bath them? He will accept you, and will even be likely to crawl up and set on your lap, but you cannot take him to the beach, do not take him out to play fetch, and you certainly cannot count on him doing a job like herding or guarding. Tegus ignore a lot but are not really "friends" with most other pets. Check my Pinterest page when you get a chance. Great hub Doc, I am also a reptile lover, I have a 9 ft Burmese Python named Buster that I absolutely love. What is the size of a argentine black and white tegu? I am not sure if there are any laws against Tegus in Canada, but I doubt it. I loved your article and i wholeheartedly agree that a black and white tegu is the best pet ! He is large! I think it may be because of the long tail, or maybe it is that tongue flicking out every once in a while. Friends? A black and white tegu lizard AP. They need a lot of room. South Carolina officials have documented the first confirmed sighting of a black and white tegu lizard, a non-native species that can have a detrimental impact on the state's wildlife. A lot of sites will recommend that the Tegu diet be composed of canned cat food, ground turkey, eggs, and calcium and vitamin supplements. When he gets bored (or maybe just warm-he has never told me which), he goes back to his cage and checks his dish to find out what is for his breakfast. The most likely reason for this is that it’s harder to domesticate Colombian tegus than Argentine tegus, so gold tegus are better suited for experienced herps. I don't think I've ever seen one in any of the Australian zoos I've visited. I have a small room and my parents are divorced if i could fit a 8 by 2 by 2 cage in there and let it free roam in my room would that be okay? They are small, easy to care for, easy to cage and handle. He does not care for the beach where it is open, and he does not have somewhere to hide. These particular lizards are uncommon among tegu pet owners when compared to the other varieties. He is just telling you to back off so he can sleep. While tegus are a threat to small dogs and cats, same as alligators, apparently, they are not a threat to people. As their name suggests, they’re originally from South America, found in Argentina, … Huge invasive lizards are threatening wildlife in Georgia. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. It is nice that someone from HP read this without saying "Ewww, gross." Able to negotiate price for just the lizard. If you are among the millions who climb into bed every night dreaming of the best pet, I have the answer you have been looking for. Did you make your own? I've seen a couple of animal shows on Tegu's in Miami and they are portrayed as being very aggressive and will bite off fingers. The tegu, unfortunately, seemed to underwhelm people. An average male is about 4 to 4½ feet long and 8- to 12-plus pounds. They have teeth that will slice through flesh, and wild Tegus are responsible for a lot of the dogs in our area walking around with hunks missing from their noses. Question: Is the Tegu a rare and endangered animal? HELP! Tegu is a common name of a number of species of lizards that belong to the families Teiidae and Gymnophthalmidae.Tegus are native to Central and South America.They occupy a variety of habitats and are known for their large size and predatory habits. Some varieties of tegus are particularly kind, affectionate, and easy to care for. This year alone in South Florida, traps set by the USGS captured more than 900 tegus near Everglades National Park. It's silly to mash up food a pet doesn't like in order to mix it with food they do. Question: Is there a good book available for a lizard owner? Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on May 02, 2016: Okay I'm convinced that I will be getting a Tegu Monitor! In this, he is very much like a cat—have you ever seen anyone take their cat to the beach? It is unclear how they were released into the wild, but tegu lizards are legal as pets in many states, so it's possible a domestic lizard was released, on purpose or accidentally. A black and white tegu was spotted in Lexington County, SC in August, and just a few weeks later, 8 more sightings were confirmed in the state. Tegu, (genus Tupinambis), any of about seven large, carnivorous, tropical South American lizards of the family Teiidae. They belong to five different genera. Answer: No, tegus do not really like it when it is cool in the house. 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