New Tegu Mom Needing Assistance!:)

[jeffreescupcake]

Hey! I just got my first tegu two days ago, and the guy I bought it from said it was a monitor... I'm pretty experienced with reptiles, however I've never owned one this large, I need help knowing the difference! Also, I was wanting opinions on feeding cat food. I've read both positive and negative things, and I was just wondering because it's an easy on-the-go thing, and we travel a lot. Lastly, I need help with sexing! I've yet to find anything that has been really helpful as far as knowing the gender. My tegu (or monitor, someone please inform me), is around 18 inches long. Im unsure of weight.

 

[N8bub]

Tegu, colombian gold. Don't feed cat food, its for cats not tegus they have different nutritional requirements. Colombians should be fed whole prey, mice, chicks, dubia etc. There is some pet foods that are raw fresh frozen you can feed. They also don't require fruit like the argentine do but some like it. Check the sticky on this forum concerning diet, lots of info.

 

[Jacobhreptiles]

there is a food list in the general tegus discussion and it is a columbian gold tegu and they are sometimes known as "south america's monitors" be prepared columbians can be on the defensive side

 

[jeffreescupcake]

Thanks, you guys! She wouldn't eat live stuff when I tried, but she ate boiled eggs and fresh salmon. She is a little defensive, but not too bad. She's becoming more tame very quickly. To be honest, I think that the defensiveness of any animal is based on the handling and care of the owner.

 

[Robens]

I agree with you 100% on the defensiveness or aggressiveness being somewhat based on handling and care. I own a black and white colombian Tegu, and he's becoming more and more tame each day. He has not shown one bit of aggressive behavior towards myself or my husband. It's pretty annoying reading over and over or being warned over and over about their supposed aggression on a site specifically aimed at the care and enrichment of tegus! I don't mean any offense to anyone, but I don't agree with putting every single Colombian Tegu in one box. I've also read about Argentine Tegus being aggressive at first. I've owned all types of reptiles, I recently lost my 8 year old savannah monitor who was as sweet as can be. In the beginning it was a lot of work to build a trusting relationship, and completely worth it. Maybe there's a better way to explain to people that depending on your new Tegu's demeanor it could take a bit more work than normal to build a solid relationship.

 

[Jacobhreptiles]

well columbians are very commonly defensive by nature. a lot has to do with hey are usually wild caught or farm bred overseas, but they can be amazingly tame and all tegus can be defensive it's just columbians are known for it mostly and even the best taming doesn't work. mine was great the first month then after i upgarded his cage he never forgave me lol. they are great and deserve a clean slate but it's proper to be prepared for any animal, especially larger reptiles, for any mood they have at any time.

 

[Robens]

A Tegu, any type, is definitely not for beginners. I completely agree with you in the sense of being prepared.

 

[Ratram]

I had a Columbian that was very defensive. Always bit. Alot also depends on the animal and its individual personality. Beardies are always docile and a great beginner pet, but I found a hatchling at a show and brought her home. She never stopped hissing and biting. I think she was inbred a few generations. Like I said, it depends on the animal as well as the keeper.

 

[Jacobhreptiles]

well it was probably a wild caught which is the main reason they are usually defensive. im sure it wuldnt take long to breed columbians and have almost all tame babies in a few generations. they are almost all imports and very few are bred but i have no doubt they can be amazing

 

[Mrdeadink]

Depend on what cat or dog food you feed, I sugest if your doing can food God with merric(96% meat ) or if your wana try raw cat or dog food go with nAture vAriety frozen food (95% meat 5% veggie and bones) I understsnd that cars and lizards have different nutrition standards , but once your able to read a label it becomes real easy.

 

[rwilson9879]

My female columbian is great! They all can be great if you just spend the time and effort with them. Just show them you are the boss. If you let them see the hissing and aggressive behaviors make you leave them alone they will get worse. Columbians have a bad rep but its due to the fact the owners want a kitten not a carnivorous lizard. Put in the effort and they will be awesome. You have to learn to read the animal.