Building a unique tegu enclosure

[JAWs001]

Hi im new to the forum and recently bought a new tegu, i have already started build its enclosure for when it gets bigger because i like to be prepared hahhaha. well im turning an old play house that was my sisters, she is 14 now haha. and making it into a "shelter" for my tegu, its going to be heated inside and will stay there at night and during winter, since i live in california the cold is more like a cool heat haha. The rest of the time the tegu can walk around a closed off portion of the backyard freely, please leave me any suggestions or concerns so i can make the place better for him, ill be updating with pics as i progress.

 

[Curtis T]

That is nice and big what are you going to use for heat? Curtis

 

[JAWs001]

im just going to put in a couple basking lights in lol im thinking of putting a small insulated cage inside about 60 gallon that ill keep warm, really i have no need for heating, its still 90 here :/

 

[BlacknWhite]

Great idea mate, I would consider very carefull what product you use to make the joints and the inside weatherproof, wouldn't want a basking light blowing up. I am still learning about tegus myself but I have always made my own enclosures for all my reptiles, looking at it I would say maybe build a flooring for its base and get some glass to put in the windows. Them wendy houses over here are hollow plastic so I would take into consideration some element of insulation just incase the weather takes a bad turn for a few days and also at the fixtures and positioning for your basking light so you don't melt any plastic. Anyhow great idea looks like your tegu has a large outdoor natural enviroment and it will benifit from the sun good luck with it mate!

 

[brutus13]

Where in Cali are you because I'm in riverside area and our nights can get into the 50's we still get "some" rain. Just make sure your gu doesn't get too cold. I know San Diego area is warmer but it's still not warm enough at night. Thats a great summer/spring/fall house!

 

[kaa]

Careful with the fencing, my tegus are awesome climbers, and when they want out, they can climb the wood in there cage.

 

[JAWs001]

the fencing is being replaced, it has holes and i mangled, im planning on putting a board down on the lower half of the cage, inside the house like i said will have an insulated cage, the house can get very hot thats why i didnt want to insulate it, the windows are small and doesnt get much air, just enough for circulation, and i didnt want to cook the poor guy, i will however have an insulated cage inside which will be around 60 gallons, mayb ill make it larger, but that will have automatic timers and what not to keep the cage at the proper temps, this area will look nothing the same when i am finished with it.

 

[Guest]

I think you would be better off with a structure Made from plywood .Like is recommended in this forum ..All the retro fitting you really have little more than a cardboard box there .. Haul that thing to the dump ... Then look at that wonderful empty space and say what if I had some scrap plywood ..

 

[JAWs001]

Montana, i really like projects, i think it will be i nice piece in the backyard and will be interesting, much nicer than a plywood shack. It would be easier to throw some plywood together and say done, but doing this i actually have i nice functional home for my tegu.

 

[Guest]

If you like it thats cool ..good luck Take care of and love your critter ..

 

[JAWs001]

haha ok will do thanks for the input

 

[Guest]

Thats a great place for your tegu, I wish I still had mine from when I was little!

 

[romanmark]

Tegus are mainly carnivores but will take some fruit in their diet. They need a variety of meat items including frozen, thawed mice (soon to be rats), ground turkey (with bone meal added), chicken gizzards, fish such as tilapia or smelts, chicken or beef liver, beef heart, chicks, quail, eggs, etc. Insects such as crickets, superworms, mealworms, and roaches are also relished; particularly by hatchlings and juveniles. Variety is key. Many people believe in feeding only rodents but I think a bit more variety is needed. Some tegus readily eat the fruit portion of the diet. Jasper is not one of these tegus so I play "hide the fruit" on a daily basis. I make ground turkey balls filled with various fruits including but not limited to blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, papaya, mango, pear, apple etc. He wolfs it down like plain old turkey.