Hi everybody. My name is will and I live in Madison wi. I have been considering a monitor and was pointed in the direction of the tegu. I am not much of an internet guy but i decided to join to make sure i know what i am doing. Now I want one, badly,but I want to make sure I am ready for the commitment. I have kept a few lizards like beardies, leapard geckos, and a savannah monitor who died last year. If I decide to get a tegu it will be mine until it dies (or I do) and I have read up on these animals quite extensively, but I need some clarification. How big is a good cage, I have read too many conflicting numbers, and I am planning on my tegu being male.I know its difficult to sex them young, but I want to be prepared if it was a male, and that is what I would prefer anyway.I can afford to take care of it, so no problems there I need to be warned about, but I am concerned about the need for constant mice. What is the healthiest amount of mice for a tegu to consume weekly/monthly? Also, does anyone know of a good place to get a tegu? I can buy babies locally for 200, any other options I should know of? Varnyard won't hatch til a year from now btw, so no luck there. Thanks in advance for the responses.
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first post newbie questions
- Thread starter wford84
- Start date
nessanicolle
Member
- Messages
- 175
I would say 200 is a bit pricey but then again it depends on if your getting an Argentine or Colombian. Juvi's could be kept in a 55 gallon tank for awhile but WILL outgrow it within a year i would say. As for the mice.. i'm not sure and you don't always have to feed them mice, I'm sure it would love a variety and as long as your providing proper calcium it would be appropriate to feed it a mouse/fuzzy twice a month. Then again it depends on the type of tegu, I have a Colombian and he eats a pinkie or fuzzy 2 times a month at least and its only about 5 months old. Of course this is just my opinion. 
How big was your savannah? just wondering
How big was your savannah? just wondering
nessanicolle said:I would say 200 is a bit pricey but then again it depends on if your getting an Argentine or Colombian. Juvi's could be kept in a 55 gallon tank for awhile but WILL outgrow it within a year i would say. As for the mice.. i'm not sure and you don't always have to feed them mice, I'm sure it would love a variety and as long as your providing proper calcium it would be appropriate to feed it a mouse/fuzzy twice a month. Then again it depends on the type of tegu, I have a Colombian and he eats a pinkie or fuzzy 2 times a month at least and its only about 5 months old. Of course this is just my opinion.
How big was your savannah? just wondering
Thanks for the response. He was a little over 3 feet. I sold his enclosure on Cl though so that won't work. It is a bnw Argentine by the way.
larissalurid
New Member
- Messages
- 322
Argentines are around $150, columbians around $50. A 55 gallon tank should NEVER be used for any reptile, it is MUCH too think with little floor space and only for fish. a 50 gallon wide provides much more space for a hatchling, but they grow fast and will need an 8x4x4 foot cage.
Please read the tegu food list, they should not just eat mice, it's not healthy and they aren't carnivores. Turkey meat is a good staple, but they need supplements and other foods as well.
http://www.tegutalk.com/showthread.php?tid=6452#axzz1xwJoFFr9
They need proper care or they can get sick easily, just as many savannah monitors die young due to improper husbandry as well.
Also here is a care sheet. There is a lot of info to know so be sure to do much research when it comes to temperature gradients, uva and uvb, d-3/non d-3 calcium supplementation, multivitamin supplementation, diet (very important), substrates, humidity levels (ones that are off can cause major shedding problems where they lose ends of tails or toes, respiratory problems, etc) temperament+taming, etc.
http://www.tegutalk.com/showthread.php?tid=7712#axzz1xwNRYerZ
Please read the tegu food list, they should not just eat mice, it's not healthy and they aren't carnivores. Turkey meat is a good staple, but they need supplements and other foods as well.
http://www.tegutalk.com/showthread.php?tid=6452#axzz1xwJoFFr9
They need proper care or they can get sick easily, just as many savannah monitors die young due to improper husbandry as well.
Also here is a care sheet. There is a lot of info to know so be sure to do much research when it comes to temperature gradients, uva and uvb, d-3/non d-3 calcium supplementation, multivitamin supplementation, diet (very important), substrates, humidity levels (ones that are off can cause major shedding problems where they lose ends of tails or toes, respiratory problems, etc) temperament+taming, etc.
http://www.tegutalk.com/showthread.php?tid=7712#axzz1xwNRYerZ
Dana C
Member
- Messages
- 633
There is a XL tank, 90 gallons that is 4x2x2. I think it is a Zilla. That will suffice for at least 6 months depending on your Tegu's growth rate. it comes with a heavy screen, which if mostly covered with plastic food wrap will hold moisture well. However, it is around $250 or more. It is not a fish tank or a turtle tank and is not meant to hold water. It is intended for fairly large reptiles.
I am not a fan of putting a very young Tegu in a very large enclosure early in life as in an 8' or even 6'. The closeness of a smaller home is less stressful and gives the Tegu a sense of security and gives you an easier time of interacting early on.
Think "size appropriate". Bigger is not always best.
I am not a fan of putting a very young Tegu in a very large enclosure early in life as in an 8' or even 6'. The closeness of a smaller home is less stressful and gives the Tegu a sense of security and gives you an easier time of interacting early on.
Think "size appropriate". Bigger is not always best.
Thank you for the responses everyone, and Dana: I fear I left out an important part. I have a 75 gallon tank and stand all ready to go except for reptile parts I would need like heat pad/bulbs/substrate/wire top. I would keep him in this until he grows up, then build him a cage. I am wondering what size the cage will need to be that I build for an adult. I went to a local reptile shop today and met the owner, who suggested I get just a mercury light (or something, forgot what its called) some substrate and when I build the cage I'd be able to use the lights I used for the tank. I have decorations already like caves and wood for him to climb, will I need anything else?
I bought my b/w locally for $150 as a hatchling. There is another herp shop near by that sells theirs for $250+. Obviously varnyard is a well known breeder but I don't think there is anything wrong with buying locally. Just make sure that the tegu you are purchasing is healthy and is being cared for properly. I have a 2 year old male in an 8x4x4. He has been in this enclosure since the day I brought him home.
It is possible to use a 75g aquarium for the time being and gradually increase enclosure size. I think it is a waste of money if you are constantly having to buy larger and larger enclosures. If you happen to have one laying around, use it! A tegu will do just fine in an adult sized enclosure as long as you are maintaining proper temps/humidity and as long as you are providing multiple hides. Mine did not hibernate his first winter, he was just shy of 3' when he was one year.
There are some people who feed a diet entirely of whole prey. I feed mine 2 35-45g mice once a week. It really depends on who you ask. The biggest concern is impaction.
Mercury vapor bulbs (mvb) are the way to go. NEVER EVER EVER EVER USE A HEAT PAD. They can cause burns.
It is possible to use a 75g aquarium for the time being and gradually increase enclosure size. I think it is a waste of money if you are constantly having to buy larger and larger enclosures. If you happen to have one laying around, use it! A tegu will do just fine in an adult sized enclosure as long as you are maintaining proper temps/humidity and as long as you are providing multiple hides. Mine did not hibernate his first winter, he was just shy of 3' when he was one year.
There are some people who feed a diet entirely of whole prey. I feed mine 2 35-45g mice once a week. It really depends on who you ask. The biggest concern is impaction.
Mercury vapor bulbs (mvb) are the way to go. NEVER EVER EVER EVER USE A HEAT PAD. They can cause burns.
Yeah, I think these may actually be varnyard stock, but I'm not sure. I asked where he got them and he told me it was a a big breeder so maybe. I held one today and it was extremely calm, and I have no problem spending a little extra to support a local business I respect. Beautiful animal as well. He has two, and I like the bigger one more cuz I think it has a better chance of being male.
