New Tegu color confusion

[Yinepu]

We recently adopted a tegu "Nibbler" from a friend. We thought he/she (we aren't sure which so I'll refer to Nibbler as "he") was a regular argentine black & white, but our friend swears he's a juvenile blue. From the (mostly mislabeled) pictures I have found upon searching the internet the little guy could be a red, blue, black & white or even a gold.
The thing that seems to cause the most confusion (for me at least) is that Nibbler's back is tan and he has tan spots mixed in with the white spots on his legs. Nibbler is about 21" long (was hatched sometime last year), but was being fed a poor diet (only crickets and superworms with an occasional egg and no calcium) for the two months that out friend had him. So his growth may have been stunted a bit.

I'm still betting on black & white, but the juvenile blue pics have me wondering.

So can the "tegu color experts" please check out the pics and give me an idea of what we actually own? Nibbler is an absolute sweetheart and is only laying on the towels for photos.

 

[dpjm]

Color is a bad indicator of species - too variable. Don't try to make a distinction between b&w and blue, they are the same species (Salvator merianae). You have that or a red (Salvator rufescens), but I'd bank on b&w. It's definitely not a gold/Colombian (Tupinambis teguixin).

 

[Justin]

Tough call you should have a better idea in a couple months.

 

[Yinepu]

Thanks for the info. I guess we will wait a bit to see what he looks like in a few more months. Either way it doesn't matter what color he is since we love the little guy

 

[Walter1]

Looks like a black and white. Handsome.

 

[Yinepu]

Thanks again for the replies.

I've attempted sexing (Nibbler was NOT fond of that at all). Didn't find the BBs or the larger scale; so I may have to start calling "him" Her. Either way doesn't matter since we aren't planning to breed.

We are planning to get at least 2 more Tegu before the year is out. One or two from Rodney Irwin plus I would eventually like to get a blue from a breeder (it's on my wish list).

 

[Justin]

Looks like a black and white. Handsome.

Yeah I was going to rule out any red but after looking at mine as a baby I wasn't sure. But he does look to be black and white for the most part.

 

[Justin]

Thanks again for the replies.

I've attempted sexing (Nibbler was NOT fond of that at all). Didn't find the BBs or the larger scale; so I may have to start calling "him" Her. Either way doesn't matter since we aren't planning to breed.

We are planning to get at least 2 more Tegu before the year is out. One or two from Rodney Irwin plus I would eventually like to get a blue from a breeder (it's on my wish list).

Hector's habitat has some beautiful animals as far as blues go.

 

[Yinepu]

Hector's habitat has some beautiful animals as far as blues go.

Hector's is one I was looking at

 

[Walter1]

Hector's is one I was looking at

Please post photos as you get them.

 

[Yinepu]

Please post photos as you get them.

I plan to (just have to figure out how to make an album in the gallery).

 

[Roadkill]

Looks to have a whole lot of similar traits as this little lady

 

[Yinepu]

Looks to have a whole lot of similar traits as this little lady

Pretty!
Nibbler is shedding again, loving her food from Hare-today and soaking up the mist from her humidifier. She still seems to prefer my husband (even though I am the one who feeds her). So it looks like the second tegu will be mine (from Mr Irwin) and the third or fourth (a blue from Hector's) will be up for debate as to who gets to spoil it.