Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,

An update on my Tegu, now after a week of owning him.
He is thriving to best of my knowledge, eating well, clearly growing and spending his waking hours making elaborate burrows in his enclosure.
I did discover today that I did mis-identify him. My "Argentine" B&W Tegu is in fact a Columbian.
You see, I got my Loreal scale counts backwards, in my mind it was 1 scale for Argentines, 2 scales for Columbians. That'll teach me to rely on my faulty memory next time I buy a herp
Anyway, I've noticed that alot of you folks who post here tend to keep Argentines, anyone here keep Columbians AND Agentines?
I'm aware that the husbandry requirements for both Tegus is similiar, except that Columbians tend to favor meats to fruits, the Columbians are generally smaller than the Argentines, and of course the Columbians tend to have the nastier disposition.
So for those who keep Columbian Tegus, is what I wrote above true? Are they truely the monsters people make them out to be? What are your experiences?

Thanks again for your contributions,
-Kit

PS: I'm without a camera, otherwise I'd post pics. That will be changing in a few weeks.

here is a website that someone made with an argentine and a colombian http://cs.alfred.edu/~lansdoct/my_pet_tegu/

I've only had one tegu before my current Paraguyan, and that was a female Colombian who I had for bout two years. The first 6-10 months she lived up to her "reputation" grabbing and chomping whenver she got the chance and drawing copious amounts of blood in the process. Also didn't hesitate to tail whip either. But by the time she hit about 2.5 feet she mellowed considerably and became an awesome lap lizard. Unfortunately, I lost her to a nasty viral infection that also took a baby water monitor and a baby nile. Came from a batch of bad beef I fed them all. That was way back in the mid-nineties and I now have my Paraguyan who is a total jewel. Pretty high-strung when I try to get it out of it's cage, but super mellow once out. Good luck with your Colombian, and remember to just be patient and persistent and you'll be rewarded with a great lizard pet!

Billy

My Colombian gold used to do that, too. He bit me so often I had bandaids on at least one finger for several weeks when I first got him.

I worked with him a lot, and now he's about 1.5 yrs old and very handleable. He's still a bit fiesty, but a welcome (and non-biting) member of the family. And a nice contrast to my mellow adult red.

As far as diet, my gold is mainly a carnivore but readily eats the fruit my red ignores, when mixed with turkey, chicken, egg, etc.

Good luck with your new little guy, Kit!

Hey there! I just recently acquired a Columbian, and while he tends to be a little fiesty when he's first approached,(huffing and puffing) he settles pretty quickly as soon as we actually have him "in hand". I just make sure to handle him as much as possible every day, even going so far as to stop and just pet him when I pass his cage - which I do frequently. I take him out in the evening and let him hang out while we're watching TV or some such. He hasn't bitten me - but in my opinion, when you keep reptiles - and I keep several - it's only a matter of time before it happens. (Usually something stupid done on my part. ) Enjoy your lizard! They are truly something else!

Brightest Blessings!

-----
Lady Stefanie

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

in response to that I say no. I knew ONE TAME Columbian tegu. He was SUPER TAME...but for the most part they're, shall we say, "fun". Hell I've seen a tame nile monitor so that doesn't mean much.