New Giant + Introduction

[Bedlam]

Greetings, I'm new to the community and new to Tegu's as well and I'm expecting my 1st ever in the coming weeks from Bobby Hill, I'm beyond excited. It'll be an Extreme Giant and preferably a male but will be perfectly content with a female aswell.

Of course like any logical human being I contemplated for a bit on whether I really wanted a Tegu after I had taken in a good amount of knowledge on the care. I am up for the challenge and quite confident that I can give the Tegu everything he/she will need.

I'm going to keep him in a sectioned off 150 gallon until the time comes to move him into his personal enclosure. I have done a ton of research but information is scattered and would like to have some fairly detailed answers all in one place. Take note that I'm receiving him as a juvenile from the '11 season.

Appropriate amount of food (avoiding obesity)?
How often to feed?
Lighting (Don't want to cook the fella)?
Can I keep him on Eco-Earth temporarily?
During acclimation is it ok to collect him to feed him in the tub?
How often to soak?

Like I mentioned previously, I have collected a good deal of knowledge about the care. I was just hoping to get perhaps even more detailed answers or to just hear what others have to say. Thank you in advance

 

[reptastic]

First of all "WELCOME TO THE TEGU FAMILY" to answer your questions:

Appropriate amount of food
(avoiding obesity)
i fed my hatchling all they wanted to eat within a 10 min period, If i feed pinkies i feed 2
How often to feed
i fed mines 1 time everyday, sometimes i would offer a light second meal if the tegu seemed hungry still later in the day

Lighting (Don't want to cook the
fella)
Basking temps shouls be around 110*, warm side i the 90's, cool side in the low 80's, i have my lights on a timer, 12/on 12/off

Can I keep him on Eco-Earth
temporarily
i see no reason why not, just as long as you supply enough for him to completely burrow

During acclimation is it ok to collect
him to feed him in the tub
some do and some dont, personally i dont want to stress a new reptile so i feed for the first few weeks in the enclosure, i put the food in a large enough dish, and place it on a large slate towel, then i move to tub feeding after a few weeks

How often to soak
I see no reason to soak a healthy tegu, however i do let mines swim in water almost daily so they can poop, they refuse to go in the enclosure, it also gives them a bit of exercise, but they dont stay in more than 5-10 mins before they poop

 

[Bedlam]

Thank you for the greetings and answers 'Reptastic.'

More questions seem to have arisen. As a juvenile I know they are carnivorous. When feeding insects such as crickets should I kill them 1st or no? I'm aware of feeding dead pinkies and mice when they are older. Also do I give them their calcium supplement every meal?

My Intentions for soaking were of that to routinely have him use the bathroom in the tub.

 

[Rhetoric]

I feed my '09 tegus daily. For most foods, I just feed them however much they'll eat in a 10-15 minute period or until they loose interest. For rats, they get 2-4 ASF rats once or twice a week depending on the size of the rat and what else they have been eating that week.
Guru, my '10, eats every other day. He will seldom eat daily no matter what I offer him. I feed him the same way I feed the others.

Lighting, I wouldn't worry too much about. Some members keep their temps around 115*F. Personally, I would go 110*F. The tegu will let you know if its too cold or too hot. If the temps are too cold they will generally spend most of their time in the basking area and will not be moving around a ton. If the temps are too hot, they will spend less time basking and more time towards the cooler end or out of the direct heat. For summer, I have my lights on a 13/11 schedule. My tegus stayed up all winter and they had a 10/14 schedule.


For substrate, yes that is fine, the '09 are on an eco-earth/soil mix. Make sure you are providing enough for him to burrow and that you are able to moisten the substrate to help with humidity.

I don't see issues feeding him in the tub. I would feed mine in the tub but other family members would prefer I didn't. If you're going to do this you must make sure there are not any holes or fixtures your tegu can get into. Some tegus have ended up under houses, behind cabinets, etc. Do not underestimate the size of the hole lol.

I used to soak my tegus every day, recently its been every other day or every couple days. I have big cat litter pans in their enclosures. They poop in them and soak when they feel they need to.

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I do calcium w/o d3 on everything but the rats. I also use a multi vitamin 2-3 times a week, depending on what they've eaten. I wouldn't kill the crickets/roaches/worms/etc, the tegu might not go after them as much. To be honest, Guru never showed any interest in crickets. When I got him (at 10 inches) he mostly ate ground turkey, pinkies and fish.

 

[Bedlam]

Thank you 'Rhetoricx.' That's pretty much all I was a bit hazy on, thank you again guys.