Should I buy a tegu?

[kgrah1]

I have one ball python, and I've decided that in 1-5 years or so, I'd like to get a lizard, and I've heard tegus are really popular. But I haven't found a whole lot of information about them, so I'm here. What I'd like to know is:

Are there size or temperament differences between different breeds of tegus? Would it attack my snake if left near her(she's as shy as they come)? Being my first lizard, would I be better off with something different? Are there caresheets? Are they aggressive? What is an expectable size for the tegu and acceptable size for its enclosure? How long do they live and how often do they eat?

It's a lot off questions, but any input at all would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[John1982]

Are there size or temperament differences between different breeds of tegus?

The reds(T. rufescens) and black and whites(S. merianae) are your larger choices with adults typically maxing out in the 3-4 foot range with the occasional animal breaking the 5 foot mark. Blues(generally considered a morph or locale of merianae) are usually a foot or so smaller than the reds and B&Ws. Then you have the gold tegus(T. teguixin) that max out at about 2 feet. Teguixin tend to be tougher to tame down but this could also have something to do with their not being bred at all in captivity.

Would it attack my snake if left near her(she's as shy as they come)?

Very likely. These are smart lizards and can be trained to respond to different stimuli but putting a snake(prey item) in front of one is just not a good idea. One munch and head shake and your snake is shredded meat.

Being my first lizard, would I be better off with something different?

Tough question, I don't know you well enough to answer. Tegus can make wonderful pets but you need to be able to handle a larger lizard with confidence. They often go through a bit of a grumpy stage when they hit puberty and may charge or even attack anything that comes into their territory.

Are there caresheets?

http://www.tegutalk.com/threads/tegu-care-sheet.7704/

Are they aggressive?

Not inherently, you need to build trust with your animal though. I don't even handle mine until they hit about a year old and have some decent size on them. Just coming in and spot cleaning, changing water, feeding for that first year gets them pretty used to my presence. Going from that to positive handling sessions is usually a breeze. Depending on how hard puberty hits them, you may have to start over from scratch at this stage.

What is an expectable size for the tegu and acceptable size for its enclosure?

Size for the reds, blues and B&Ws tend to be in the 3-4 foot range - males are typically larger than females. Generally, you'll want a cage in the 8x4 foot range, larger is always better in this regard. I keep mine in an 8x8 outdoor enclosure.

How long do they live and how often do they eat?

Feed every day as much as they'll eat in one sitting while they're growing. These animals grow at incredible rates and it's extremely important to offer quality food and lighting. MBD is one of the biggest killers of tegus because they grow so fast. If they aren't able to synthesize D3 through adequate UVB exposure then you are going to have a very ill lizard, very quickly. It's nearly impossible to overfeed a growing tegu if they are being kept properly. You can feed one to where it looks near bursting then the next day they will have somehow grown 1/4 inch and look half starved. Adults need to be monitored as they can become obese more easily and tend to do best fed 2-3 times per week. Cared for properly, these lizards can live 15 years and beyond.

My best lizard buddy, Boon:

[kgrah1]

He looks so adorable! This is a lot to think about, so I don't know if a tegu is the right choice for me. If I do, I will probably go for the smaller ones.

[frostysBP]

Blue tounge skinks are a great first lizard and much more manageable then a tegu.... Tegus need a lot of time to get to be puppydogs...not to mention ıa they do get fierd up they can do some real damage to skin.

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[jclaiborne]

He looks so adorable! This is a lot to think about, so I don't know if a tegu is the right choice for me. If I do, I will probably go for the smaller ones.

As John said it is hard to say without knowing you, but I will throw in my 2 cents. Looking back now I would not recommend them as a first lizard. I am constantly still learning with mine, and I made a ton of mistakes when I first got her. I am on here bugging John at least twice a week trying to still tweak things with my setup. My personal opinion is a Tegu isn't something to jump into, their power is so incredibly amazing, that being said I absolutely love mine and working with her is very rewarding, but she is going through her angry stage now and keeps me on my toes, when she darts at me with an open mouth it still makes me jump. Their care requirements are a little more difficult than other lizards. While there isn't much in the way of other lizards that can prep you for their strength and intelligence, I would agree that blueys are a step in the right direction. If you get an Indo species they require high humidity, UVB, they eat the same types of food as a Tegu and they get heavier bodied than a beardie, and are still considered smart lizards. They are a lot slower, but working with them is very rewarding as well.

[John1982]

..not to mention ıa they do get fierd up they can do some real damage to skin.

Hard to explain, just something you have to see and hear. One shake of the head is enough to send entrails flying if they feel like eating smaller pieces. When they're munching on prey you can hear bones, especially skulls, crunch and pop.

[frostysBP]

Oh yea say goodbye fingers ıf they get you the right way...

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[sapphira80]

If someone already mentioned this forgive me, but I didn't see it...

Another deciding factor for getting a tegu is the enclosure size. You pretty much have to custom build an enclosure for them. Everything I've read says a minimum of 8' long x 4' deep x 3' high as a minimum.

[wolfy-hound]

And don't forget, they like dirt, which is heavy and a real PITA to move around.

I love(d) my tegu(s). They are a lot of work, and they eat fruit and meat, so there's a bit more to it than things like a once a week FT rodent eater like a BP. They can also be kind of destructive to a cage, so it's got to be really strong(no aquarium with a lid here).

I have owned a blue(took as a rescue and found a good new home for it), a pair of reds(still have my Groo) and a black-and-white(stolen). The reds were always by far the best. The blue was also a very good lizard.

When they are aggro, they tend to be really fast and really good at attacking. Groo is currently extremely grumpy and has been since she woke up from the last hibernation. Prior to this year, she's always been the most sweet and adorable tegu ever. She even played on the floor with the dogs and plays with a big rubber ball... but this year, she got up on the wrong side of the hibernation nest! Makes for exciting feeding times.

[Daniel.michelle]

Just my little 2 cents. I dont recomend a tegu as a first lizard, but obviously if you do your research and are prepared (and have a lot of patience ), then you will have a blast. Just be prepared for anything if you get one.

I dealt with angry monitors before getting my first tegu, and i couldnt believe how mean and nasty it was. Ive also seen very nice tegus that are calm. Be prepared and ready for anything.