Tegu Informaton

[AlexiTLO]

I wrote a little "care sheet" for another site but have been adding to it here and there. I've just copied and pasted it for you. I hope it helps.


This is just a brief care sheet. It doesn't go into handling/taming/behavior, it's more about how to care for and provide for your tegu. This is the first one I've attempted; please feel free to give your input.


Cage Size:
A hatchling tegu may be kept in a 40-gallon aquarium with a locking lid or custom enclosure of the same size. It is not uncommon for a tegu to exceed 3 feet in a year. If you choose to use a smaller enclosure for a juvenile be prepared to upgrade within the first 6-8 months. An adult will require a minimum of 6’x3’x3’. I personally recommend 8’x4’x4’. A good rule of thumb is to have an enclosure that is twice the length of the tegu in length and the length of the tegu in depth. Tegus should never be housed in an aquarium as an adult.



Substrate:
Cypress mulch (with or without potting soil) is highly recommended. Cypress mulch also holds humidity very well. Hemlock mulch, orchid bark, eco-earth and coco husk may also be used. Under no circumstances should cedar or pine be used. Tegus are burrowers; they should be allowed to have enough substrate to create a burrow. Care should be used when selecting a substrate, especially with hatchlings and juveniles, as tegus have been known to ingest substrate which can lead to impaction.

Temperature and Humidity:
Tegus come from a warm climate, the ambient temperature should be around 85*F with a basking spot of 100-110*F. Ideally the night temperatures should be in the mid-70’s. Temperatures must be measured with a digital probe or temperature gun. The dial-type gages are known to be very inaccurate, sometimes by 10*. Humidity should be 60-70% to encourage proper shedding.

Lighting:
Tegus require full spectrum UVB lighting or natural unfiltered sunlight. If you cannot provide natural unfiltered sunlight, Mercury Vapor Bulbs are highly recommended because they can be used as a heat bulb as well as source of UVB. You may also use UVB fluorescent tubes such as a reptisun 10.0.

Water:
Fresh water must be provided daily, preferably in a dish large enough for the tegu to soak in. Tegus will often defecate in their water dishes so it is very important to clean and disinfect the dish daily.

Food:
Hatchlings and yearlings should be fed daily. Sub-adults and adults may be fed every other day. Hatchlings are carnivorous, as your tegu gets older it may start to take fruit. You can feed your tegu just about anything but that does not mean you should.
A few acceptable meats include: crickets, mealworms, mice, rats, chicks, hamsters, feeder frogs/lizards, ground turkey, eggs, fresh fish/fillets, chicken, organ meats,crab/scallops/shrimp, etc. Ground beef is not recommended due to the high fat content. All meat must be offered raw, eggs are debatable.
Fruit may include: Strawberries, melons, bananas, blueberries, grapes, mango, papaya, apples, pumpkin, etc.
Tegus may eat veggies such as squash, green beans, mustard greens, zucchini, bok choy, etc. I wouldn’t worry if your tegu does not eat these; it is not very common for them to be big veggie eaters.

Supplements:
Tegus are large, fast growing reptiles. It is recommended to use a calcium supplement at every meal except whole prey. Whole prey items will likely meet vitamin and mineral needs but you can choose to add a multivitamin a few times a week or as necessary.