Iguana Vs. Tegu

[Virus]

Fight!

But seriously, I'm preparing to get a large lizard, and I'm just trying to think out my options before I begin pulling triggers.

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This is a relatively long post, but it is serious, and honest. I would enjoy, and appreciate any input and conversation.
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I quick background of my herp history:
I've owned multiple reptile species through my youth. Including a green iguana when I was younger (passed away due to step mother). I currently have four bearded dragons, two ball pythons, and a snapping turtle. Also, while in Afghanistan, I spent a large portion of my time reading books and information over various species (including the Green Iguana Ultimate Owners Manual).

Now, I am putting into consideration such topics as diet, enclosure, temper, light/heat, and size of course.

While deployed I originally had my heart set on a Cyclura iguana. Mainly due to discovering the blue iguanas, and appreciating their story. Though I later discovered the Argentine Black & White Tegu, which further led me to Varnyard and their Giants. Due to temper and diet, I began to believe that a tegu would be more manageable.

I've been working on warming my wonderful girlfriend to support the idea of another addition to my 'zoo', but hey she said no snakes at first, and she just bought me a bee last week! Well, we went to a herp keepers 'zoo' in the region and looked at all the nifty animals they had. Heck, they even had Gaboon Vipers!

But in the large lizard department, they also had both tegus and iguanas! The tegus were regular B&W, but were feed aggressive, and so now the girlfriend has the wrong impression with them, but she did fall in love with an adult red iguana.

Then again, I think the red iguana fell in love with her as well, because whenever she was near him, he would look at her chest, and then whenever I walked in or by the room, he'd start bobbing his head at me!

So now, I'm trying to figure out what would be best.

An Argentine Black & White Tegu (specifically a Varnyard Giant or All American) for their calm demeanor, and omnivorous diet.

A Cyclura iguana, for the hidden gem they are in the herp society, and how unique they are.

Or a red iguana because I've had experience with iguana iguanas before? Not to mention the girlfriend expressing interest in one?

[purplemuffin]

I vote argentine black and white tegu! Personally, I am a bit afraid of iguanas. I have seen first hand what even the tamest ones can do if they suddenly have a bad day. I know a girl who had 32 stitches in her face from her baby who had never hurt a soul in his life! A tegu can hurt too, but they don't lunge at your face!

[Virus]

Thanks for your timely response!

I haven't experienced any hostility first hand with iguanas, but I do recognize their strength and danger. They are, however, still a very impressive collection of animals.

I am leaning towards a B&W Tegu as well. Though I would get one of Varnyard's Extreme Giants, or their All American hybrid. The Giants get to at least 5', and the AA's are pretty interesting, being 1/2 Giant, 1/4 Red, and 1/4 blue.

Do you or have you had a tegu before?

[purplemuffin]

I haven't, but I am close friends with a lot of people who do and I am looking to get my own! I do have experience with iguanas though. We had one who was great...until breeding season. Warning to your girlfriend, I have found from personal experience(as well as experience of others) that iguanas respond poorly to certain hormones while in breeding season. Some people have found that when their iguana is in breeding mode and their wife is at a certain point of a womanly cycle () the iguana can sometimes react very negatively to said person! Now this is iguana to iguana basis, some don't change at all, some take down the MEN in the family during breeding season. Even perfumes can make a male randomly furious. Random lizards! Our iguana chose to wage war against everything that was male in the house. He struck at me a few times but nowhere as bad as he went after the boys! That's just our own experience though. I know someone who's never noticed breeding season cause her male just doesn't act all that different.

[waltah!]

My favorite lizard is a friend's red Tegu. I apologize that I don't know a ton about them, but will say that this particular one is amazingly tame and just an impressive dinosaur to look at. Iguanas are cool, but they also always freak me out a little bit.

[mainbutter]

and so now the girlfriend has the wrong impression with them, but she did fall in love with an adult red iguana.

I'd much rather deal with a food-aggressive tegu than an adult iggy who just is pissy in general.. Has she ever had the 'opportunity' to experience an unhappy iguana?

[wolfy-hound]

I have had tegus a while.

I had a B&W and pair of reds, now(due to theives and poisoners) I have just the red female(the infamous Groo). I had a blue for a brief period of time until I could place her into a different home.

The reds were/are placid and easy going, the B&W was easy going until maturity when she turned aggro. (All were argentine) The blue was a jerk at first but settled really quickly.

I would not put a lot of focus on any particular breeders per se, but make sure you don't end up with a Columbian or a gold tegu. The B&W and reds and blues all seem okay, but they're individuals.

Food aggression is actually pretty easy to deal with. Just feed and leave them along while they eat. Otherwise, most are pretty placid. Even Groo will jump at food, and if your fingers were in the way, I'm certain she might chomp you. When the tegus were not full size, I got bit a couple times, mostly mistakes, not aggression really. The bites were very minor, a little bruising and a little scraping. They don't tend to tail whip as effectively as iguanas either.

However, tegus tend to hibernate and you could very well end up with the exciting sight of your "pet pile of mulch" for up to 6 months. I don't mind much, as they eat a ton of food when they're awake and I feel kind of like, it's a break from wrangling all that food!

Also, iguanas are herbavores, and probably a LOT easier to feed than the tegus(meat and fruit). Both need a large cage, but tegus don't need the height for climbing and so they might be easier to house, although the deep substrate they like might be a bit cumbersome.

Myself, I'd never own a iguana(and I've had tons of offers over the years) but I do love my tegu. If you check out my youtube, you can see videos of the tegus and also videos of the tegu hatchlings I produced one year here(obviously prior to the theft).

[Don]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz5mvOpCnvI

I would vote Tegu!

[Redneck_Crow]

My experience with the two species is that the tegus start out as pissy younguns and mellow out as adults.

The iguanas start out as mellow youngsters and become more difficult as they mature.

Those are just my experiences. I've had niles and B&W tegus. You couldn't pay me to take in an adult male iguana.

[purplemuffin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz5mvOpCnvI

I would vote Tegu!

That video is adorable!