Group housing?

[Draco D Tegu]

Hi. Forgive me for my newbie question....the answer is probably here somewhere and I just haven't found it.

I was wondering, can tegu's be group housed? I know some species of reptiles can be group housed without issue as they mature. Are they one of them? I got my guy from someone on Craigslist. Apparently he's from agama international stock, and was sold to him as a male. Since I don't know yet what the sexually dimorphic traits are to look for to make sure he's a male, I'm going with what I was told.

But the crux is.....now I want another tegu cuz ....well I love the one I've got!.......and want to know if I can find one roughly his size, can they be housed together and grow up together? Or if this guy is a male, will he get territorial when he gets older?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Toby_H]

My first suggestion would be to sloowww doowwwnnnn... lol

Being the proud owner of a 4' 12 lb Tegu, wow keeping a group of lizards this size would easily become overwhelming.

I suggest you enjoy the one you've got. They grow and change so fast I'm quite sure a single specimen will easily hold your attention.

Once you become familiar with what it takes to keep an adult, then consider getting another.


In the meantime, the short answer to your question... yes, Tegus can be house together in a group. Naturally it will require providing ample space for all of the animals, proper food for all of the animals, adequate variance within the enclosure for all fo the animals... but long story short, if you remove stress points, a group of Tegus will get along fine.

Bobby Hill has shared some of his experience of housing groups in large enclosures.


To sex your Tegu, feel the bottom side of the base of the tail. Males will have two small hard lumps (testicles) that are the size of a bb. Females (and undeveloped males) will lack these lumps.

 

[Draco D Tegu]

Thanks for the advice! LOL yeah I guess I better wait and see.

I was more curious than anything else

 

[JohnMatthew]

Also bear in mind the possibility that despite your best efforts the 2 tegus you have do NOT get along. You would have to provide separate accommodations, do you have room for such a venture? Like Toby was saying, group housing is possible and done quite successfully by many people, but not all tegus will get along 100% of the time. So, if you do get another tegu, just be prepared to house them separately if need be.

 

[Draco D Tegu]

Thanks Yeah I have a 4BR house and just two of us living in it. So space wouldn't be an issue.