Tegu talk

[kevinb]

Hey guys and gals. After a long debate with my mum last night she has made it clear that no more snakes will come into the house. I can have anything else just not snakes. So with that I've stared looking around at other nonsnake herps. I have had beardies and leos before, but I like big animals....not little tiny guys. thus I have settled on tegus. I'm not sure ill be getting one in the near future or not but id like to do some research and get a feel of care. I love monitors but they seem to be more of a hassle then tegus. I am leaning towards the standard Argentinian b&w but I'm open to others as well. Note this now *I have not done any research on this species as of yet so don't flame me for asking a few questions*. I basically only have three questions in which will let me know if they are for me or not.

#1) what size enclosure would I need for a full grown adult?

#2) for those who have one, what is you diet and feeding regime?

And

#3) what are the levels in the enclosure (temp, humidity, etc)?

Thank you for any help. I would love to get one but if they can't fit my lifestyle I may have to wait or pick something else.


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[Jessica Loesch]

Tegus are awesome. You may be able to keep it before you move out, but let me tell you in your little room you won't have room for that big enclosure they need. So hopefully you get a place of your own by the time it is that big!


I don't know anything else about them, but good luck!

[kevinb]

Well since I don't technically live at home my whole room is at my disposal. If I were to get one I was going to custom build a plywood enclosure with deep dity bed fpr digging.

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[kevinb]

Anyone care to share some info?

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[Jonzin4BallPythons]

Hey Kevin, I`m new to the Tegu scene myself. Mine is only months old. I do voluteer at a Reptile Zoo here in my city. They just got a pair of adult B&W`s. We made them a 6'L x 3'D x 40"H enclosure. That would be the appox size enclosure u would need for an adult, could even go to 8'L x 4'D if ya had the room. A baby could do with something half that size for the first year or so.

They will eat a mixture of raw meats, rodents, fruits and veggies, mealworms and superworms, crickets. There is an awesome food list on TeguTalk.com

Cool side should be low 80`s, ambient hot side in the mid 90`s, and a basking spot 105 - 110 should be provided. They need UVB light for calcium absorbtion.

They also need 6-10" deep substrate as they need to be able to burrow.

I would strongly advise you to join TeguTalk if you plan on getting a Tegu. They have the most info i`ve found anywhere.

Cheers,

John

[kevinb]

Thanks for the info John. I have accually joined there and on TheTegu.com and have been reading up. I actully came across a thread on one of the sights of a "Captian's Bed" of sorts with the matresses laying ontop of the wooden enclosure. Which is what I think I plan to achieve IF I can afford to feed the beasts. I however will be adding an attachable headboard to the enclosure so it looks like actual furniture.

My question to you John is how much do you feed your little guy, and how often??

[kevinb]

Oh also, the measurements are as follows for the enclosure.


6.5' Long
4' 6" wide
2' 6" tall...

[Jonzin4BallPythons]

That size would be great for sub adult - adult Tegu. A baby may get stressed in something that big. And in an enclosure that high you should build a basking platform half way up with a ramp.

Also keep 2 things in mind with the bed idea .... 1) That much heat under ur bed, even at night it retains alot of heat. 2) The smell right under ur bed. No matter how diligent u are with cleaning, they will have burrows under ground that you only get access to when you do a complete substrate change which prolly be once a month. And with 6-10" of substrate you won`t always get it all when spot cleaning. And let me tell ya .... Tegu poop stinks like nothin i`ve ever smelled b4 in my life!!!!!!!



I offer food to mine daily right now. Usually a mixture of a small turkey ball split into half, raw beef strips and hard boiled egg cut in half ( he seems to only like the yolks ). Most days he`ll just eat one piece of something then go about lookin for a way out lol. I`m in the process of gettin him on rodents (F/T rat pinkies) which i`ll offer every 2nd or 3rd day when he starts takin them.

Cheers,

John

[kevinb]

I have a garter snake and had 4 ferrets at one point in time. If their poop is anything like that then I should be good. The heat under the bed might actually help me out as it gets cold cold cold in New York this time of year. Ill be getting a baby if I get one so I'm thinking a 4x2x2tall should be okay until I can get the finalized plans for the bed done. I guess I will need to run to the store and check food prices.

How much would you say you spend a week on food?

Also can tegu have dubia roaches? I used to breed them back when I had leos and they loved them.

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[Jonzin4BallPythons]

So far Kevin i`ve been lucky with food costs. He came with a bag full of pre frozen small turkey balls, had old beef in the freezer. But i would imagine it would be more then the average ball python cost/feed ratio. You`ll never throw anything away in the meat dept even if it`s freezer burnt it`ll be alrite for the Tegu. Fruits and veggies shouldn`t cost that much in season. You`ll spend a bit to figure out what he/she likes but then it shouldnt be that bad.
In some areas you can even talk with local food places, some may give or sell for cheap stuff they plan to throw out. Also be a good idea to invest in a small meat grinder for makin turkey balls and such. Just make sure anything you feed is raw and unseasoned.

And yes roaches are part of thier diet if the`ll eat them. If they`ll eat it .... feed it to them.

Cheers,

John