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i want a tegu

Diesel

New Member
Messages
106
i would do a lot of research. i have been looking up how to take care of them for over a year and i am barely looking on getting one...this time of year is hard to find one but this summer there will be dozens available :) i'm waiting on a breeders.
 

reptastic

Moderator
1,000+ Post Club
5 Year Member
Messages
2,798
I agree tegus are not complicated animals but they arent an easy animal either, do plenty of research before diving in, you will be glad you did
 

Khoilie

New Member
Messages
76
check local pet stores or if your lucky enough, local reptile store. from there you can try Kijiji, or craigslist, this forum has a classified section as well.

as for how to care for a tegu... Use the search bar, I'm sure theres tons of threads here about the basics of Tegu care. Youtube is a good source as well. You can always fall back on google.com.

I'm feeling a little enthusiastic so I'll give you a very quick rundown that will help you decide whether its the right pet for you.
- space. you will need space for a very large enclosure. 6-8feet long, 3-4feet wide and 3-4feet tall.
- size. fully grown, your looking at about 5-6foot lizard, 10-20lbs
- danger. most are pretty calm but they do have sharp teeth and are very powerful for there size, you or a family member could lose a finger no problem
- upkeep. They require quite a bit of attention and handling to keep tame, you'll need daily interaction. As they get bigger they eat more and more. A fully grown adult can eat a couple rats per day. As they grow, so will there grocery bill
-they need a spot to bathe, like a kitty-litter box with water, water need to be changed every other day or so
-smell, if you keep on it the smell is minimal. If you dont, your house will smell horrible. there poop stinks unless its dealt with right away
-lighting. They need a spot to bask. that spot needs to be about 100F. they also need Ultraviolet light to metabolize vitamins properly. You can get an "all in one" light called Mercury Vapor bulb for about $50-$60. Reflector is about $20.

theres a quick little bit of info that should help u figure out if a tegu is right for you. good luck
 

Diesel

New Member
Messages
106
Welcome to tegu talk by the way. :) I'm sure by reading the threads daily you could learn a lot about the care and attitude of a tegu. Don't be afraid to ask questions and i am sure within a couple hours at most someone will give advice or help. If you do plan on getting a tegu soon, do as much research as you can and have a setup ready by the time you get him/her. I'm sure if you look on a tegu breeders website they will give you an excellent care sheet for a tegu. Better than any other just randomly found on google, although those could be helpful too. Just the breeders' care sheets are more in depth. Good luck on your search of a tegu i have been looking for a month and nothing yet.
 

ilovelizards

New Member
Messages
163
Khoilie said:
check local pet stores or if your lucky enough, local reptile store. from there you can try Kijiji, or craigslist, this forum has a classified section as well.

as for how to care for a tegu... Use the search bar, I'm sure theres tons of threads here about the basics of Tegu care. Youtube is a good source as well. You can always fall back on google.com.

I'm feeling a little enthusiastic so I'll give you a very quick rundown that will help you decide whether its the right pet for you.
- space. you will need space for a very large enclosure. 6-8feet long, 3-4feet wide and 3-4feet tall.
- size. fully grown, your looking at about 5-6foot lizard, 10-20lbs
- danger. most are pretty calm but they do have sharp teeth and are very powerful for there size, you or a family member could lose a finger no problem
- upkeep. They require quite a bit of attention and handling to keep tame, you'll need daily interaction. As they get bigger they eat more and more. A fully grown adult can eat a couple rats per day. As they grow, so will there grocery bill
-they need a spot to bathe, like a kitty-litter box with water, water need to be changed every other day or so
-smell, if you keep on it the smell is minimal. If you dont, your house will smell horrible. there poop stinks unless its dealt with right away
-lighting. They need a spot to bask. that spot needs to be about 100F. they also need Ultraviolet light to metabolize vitamins properly. You can get an "all in one" light called Mercury Vapor bulb for about $50-$60. Reflector is about $20.

theres a quick little bit of info that should help u figure out if a tegu is right for you. good luck

The only thing you forgot is the claws,they are very sharp&can easly cut your arms ect up&make you and others bleed easly.

is this your first reptile?
 

Khoilie

New Member
Messages
76
I've been scratched up pretty good by squirmy Tegus but never drawn blood. I guess it could be possible if your skin breaks and bleeds really easy
 

Non Crimen Jr.

New Member
Messages
23
My hands and wrist are pretty scratched up, People at school think I have emotional problems....Just kidding! Its a small price to pay for such a great animal.
 

got10

Member
Messages
603
Don't laugh . I had gotten a phone call from my 16yr olds teacher asking about if my son has new friends and if he was talking about anything that was bothering him. SMh
 

ilovelizards

New Member
Messages
163
got10 said:
Don't laugh . I had gotten a phone call from my 16yr olds teacher asking about if my son has new friends and if he was talking about anything that was bothering him. SMh

what made her think something was wrong?
 

reptastic

Moderator
1,000+ Post Club
5 Year Member
Messages
2,798
I'm sure it was the scratch marks that probably led them to believe he was a cutter, seriouslyb I have been asked if I was one before, I have had scratches that that looked looked like I was in a knife fight and lost, I try to keep my gus nail clipped as often as possible
 

ilovelizards

New Member
Messages
163
reptastic said:
I'm sure it was the scratch marks that probably led them to believe he was a cutter, seriouslyb I have been asked if I was one before, I have had scratches that that looked looked like I was in a knife fight and lost, I try to keep my gus nail clipped as often as possible

lol they would probly be calling my parents and have a ton of questions for me if i didnt wear long sleaves.That& I get cold easy so it works,the only teacher's that would probly belive me is my vet teacher(me&my gu attended pic with santa so she has meet him)&my biology teacher maby.my gu is scarded of the clippers so I gave up cutting awhile ago..
 

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