My First argentine B&W tegu! just a few questions!

[TheGodOfKahn]

Just got my first giant tegu, and he is tiny *10.25in*.
Got him from a store that got him from a supplier called Strictleys.
So i do believe he is * unfortunately* wild caught.
But he is very healthy looking. not skinny at all. no mites. also not bloated so i don't believe he has worms. Very alert * at least he was the few times i've seen him*

any way, i have him in a 20 long tank thats about half full with cocoa bark * those compressed bricks that expand*

im using a 75 watt infrared that's on constantly and a 5.0 UVB striplight that i leave on during the light hours of the day.

Heat light to extreme left, water dish extreme right. he has two hides and a log and some plants.

temp any where from 85 degrees *higher at his basking point* to 70 degrees.

Humidity no less than 50%, i mist twice a day... will probably go to three times.


okay. now for questions.

I wake up and my tegu is basking, i get ready and its hiding in the dirt for the rest of the day * thought idk what it does when im at work* possible hibernation? i've had it for 4 days and it's eaten a little bit of raw thawed chicken and 15 wax worms with calcium/vitamin powder.

seems to be active... though does hide a lot in the dirt.

i plan to start holding him on day 7, should i wait longer?

so far i haven't and i don't plan to, but IS it a bad idea to take them out of the dirt if they are burrowed maybe an inch under?

any taming tips much appreciated.
any tips of any kind appreciated really.

i want to give my little guy/girl a cool life and a great home.

How do i make this happen?
would it like a partially aquatic cage?
When is the soonest i can know if it's a male or female without probing?
any specs on growth rate from personal experience? i understand it depends on conditions and how much you feed them and all that, but any one just have a general guideline? like how big should my tegu be in 6 months if i keep him 85 degrees and feed a wide variety of quality food daily?
any tips on diet?

I've had reptiles before, *3ft female sav, 4.25ft male* 3ft iguana* 2.5 foot ornate nile* im not at newbish as i sound, but i am new to tegus and i want to do lots of research and i want to do this right..

any and all help would be awesome... links... pics of your personal setup... suggestions, etc....


thanks all!!!


P.S named my little dude/girl >>>>KAHN<<<<


:cheers

 

[myotis]

Hello and welcome,
First off, I would probably switch the infrared to a basking bulb or ceramic heater as i've heard infrared can cause eye problems to diurnal species when its meant for nocturnal.

Are you sure its an argentine? Check for solid stripes down its sides and two scales between the nostril and the eye (loreal scales) . I ask because some people's tegu's are still in hibernation. The fact that its a little bigger than a hatchling just BEFORE the mating season makes me believe it came from the southern hemisphere i guess.

i plan to start holding him on day 7, should i wait longer?

It will need to become acclimated or accustomed to its new home. Try not to mess with it for a week except for feeding/maintenance and never un burrow unless very urgent. Slow movements help. Best thing is to let it come to you, take it out and let it wonder around if safe. Let it crawl on you. Try and get it used to you before its claws get sharp haha. If they get nervous or scared they'll hiss first. maybe poop on you next. then comes the infamous tail-whip, sometimes followed by the jaw gaping bite. So far I've managed to avoid the bite but the pooping is annoying.

would it like a partially aquatic cage?

A large water dish that they can fully soak/submerge in is fine. They're not super aquatic but enjoy the occasional dip and or defecation.

When is the soonest i can know if it's a male or female without probing?

From what I read, BB's will appear on the base of the tail if its male around 1 -1.5 yrs or 3ft or whenever sexual maturity is for your species of tegu. And males will develop large jowls. Some pros can eye ball it somehow.

a wide variety of quality food daily?

A wide variety of diet is best. They will sometimes eat fruit or veggies but young ones rarely do. Research the diet because you start off insectivorous and then switch to carnivorous / omnivorous . Uhhh eggs and bananas should be used sparingly. Calcium powder made mostly of calcium carbonate without d3 is best. Bobby also has an awesome diet with a turkey cod liver oil/ beef liver mix in. <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.tegutalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1835" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1835</a><!-- l -->

How hot is the actual basking spot? Should have access to at least a 100 degree zone. and pictures would be most beneficial.

 

[Guest]

Can you send some pictures ???

I would start on a new enclosure tomorrow a 20 long isn`t going to make it for long.

When the basking light is on what is the temp at the cool end ??

If you have enough ventilation you will find that you won`t be able to keep the humidity up ..

Congratulations on your new tegu ..

 

[chelvis]

man i remember a 20gallon long... that last two weeks.

Welcome to the forum and if you could some pictures will help alot. I to wonder if you have a columbian as giants are not exported and its not yet breeding season here.

From what you discribe he/she is not hibernating, if they are eating and coming out everday than i would say they are just getting use to the new enviroment. Do not dig up a sleeping tegu, with tegus its less about taming and more about building trust. If you dig them up then your working backwards on the trust building. I just got my newtest tegu use to me, turns out she doesn't like to be picked up, so instead i put my arm out next her cage and climbs up and thats how i get her out for cleaning or feeding time. Each tegu is different it will take time to tell what your tegu likes and what it doesn't like.

The link above does a great job on foods safe for tegus, keep in mind again each tegu is different. I got one who love talapia and the other won't touch it.

If it is a true giant tegu your gonna want to start building an 8x3 cage ASAP. Also look around for used large aquariums becuase these guys grow fast. I have blues (considered the smaller of the tegus) and my male was 3 feet long in 8 months, the female is just not hitting 3 feet now at a year and a half.

If you put a picture up of the head and base of the tail some of the guys here on the forum can tell from some suddel head morphology and other thing if its girl or a boy. I'm starting to see what they are talking about but i only have two tegus, have never breed and only get to try these out when i head down to LLL after the breeding season.

Well good luck with the new arrival!

 

[TheGodOfKahn]

My tegu does have two scales between nostrils, and has... solid-ish stripes going vertically down his sides. Thicker black stripes broken up by thin white stripes... they aren't perfectly solid... kinda chopped up. and he has some spots.... He just finished a shed and he is more... gold than white on his back and head....


any guess as to what i got?

I'd post pics but being that i've only had him 6 days i don't want to handle him and start flashing photos in his face quite yet... maybe in a couple more weeks... or if i catch him basking.


i've noticed he wakes up about 4 am... basks... eats the meal i left for him in a dish while he was sleeping basks more... looks for a way out of cage... then is back asleep by 10 am and i don't see him again until the next morning early on......

 

[Bubblz Calhoun]

With the advice already given,.. no one can tell you what you have, with out a pic. Some tegus don't have 2 loreal scales on each side, there may just be one on one side and two on the other.

Especially these days with more hybrids and people selling things not knowing exactly what they are. Either by lack of knowledge and or just lying about it and calling it something else to make more money.

There are quite a few people and companies that advertise Colombians and Golden tegus as Black and whites. Yes they still have black and white tails but are completely different.

 

[myotis]

Interesting. Try and switch its schedule by putting the light on a timer. I'm really confused about the size and timing that you got it. Pics would be most helpful. Wild caught argentine eggs or baby exported from south america sounds like too much work.

 

[TheGodOfKahn]

There was a reptile show in hilsboro oregon at the washington fair groundsthis weekend * any one on here go there?*

I worked it from 9 am to 5 pm both days... saw a lot of cool things..

one guy had 10 columbian tegus.... and mine looks identical to those. so i know its a columbian.

i called the place i got it and spoke to the owner of the store and he said he ordered a columbian. and said he'd trade me for an argentine black and white when he gets one.



that reptile show was pretty awesome!!! actually it was a unique animal expo... not just reptiles


saw some pretty neat things, there was a mini horse! and a couple jungle cats! and a porcupine

haha worked 42 hours in 3 days.... so very tired.... :drool :drool :drool :drool

 

[Guest]

im in beaverton but i didnt go to the hilsboro show, do they do another in summer?

 

[Guest]

im in beaverton but i didnt go to the hilsboro show, do they do another in summer?

 

[TheGodOfKahn]

I believe they do a show every 6 months. The next show i know of is in Seattle and i think its like april 30th.... I'll be there too!

I sell stuff at the shows....... :lol:

 

[Draco D Tegu]

Do you do any good at your shows? (I'm East Coast...no competition to you) Just curious anyway

 

[TheGodOfKahn]

There was a show in wilsonville maybe a month ago... i did about $3200 in one day there,

and i did $2600 in my two days in hilsboro... the problem is i discount every thing so much, that only so much of 3200/2600 is profit....

but the shows help me move a lot of stuff that isn't moving in my store * not my store, i don't own, i just manage... im partial owner though. small percentage.*

and shows really help me build customer base.

also it makes it easy for me to see what other stores are doing, what they carry, what their prices are... all that.


Mostly i just do shows to make room in my store for stuff that is moving quickly and to build customer base.

also the extra money is nice :shock: