Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been an avid reptile collector for a little over 9 years now. Over that time, I had a female green iguana for 8 years which unfortunately passed, and I currently own 6 leopard geckos, a viper gecko, two madagascar geckos, a veiled chameleon, two ball pythons, a rough green snake, a pair of collared lizards, and my most recent addition, a Columbian Tegu. Of everything I have owned, and currently own now, I really must say that my new Tegu is on the top of my list for favorite. They honestly are very unique and beautiful creatures, and are a pure joy to own. I wouldn't be suprised if I broaden my collection with a few more tegus in the near future. Any fun facts or helpful hints would be appreciated, I want to learn as much as I can about my new baby.

Wow that's great to hear you've found tegus to suit your taste so well. I too am impressed how good of pets they make. They just seem so intuitive like when mine are in their cage they don't make any noise or scratching trying to get out. When I take them out for walks they get more active and walk around. When I lounge around with them they stay put (for awhile). They hold it and won't go the bathroom till I take them outside and I didn't "train" them to do that. Oh here's one tip put him on a leash and be prepared for a very mad tegu if you take him outside! Not all of them have a hard time coping with being outside at first. Another thing mine seem to like to go the bathroom someplace away from their house (not necessarily outside but someplace "new" ) . Is this the kind of stuff you're looking for or more husbandry stuff?

That is pretty interesting. When I had my Iguana, she would only go to the bathroom in the bath tub, which was also nothing we really trained her to do, she just did it. I'll have to see if I can find my harness and take my tegu outside when he/she gets a little bigger. Right now it is a little larger than hatchling size, but it eats like a champ. It is actually eating vegetables right now, with just a small touch of cat food or hard boiled egg yolk mixed in. Should I include pinkies in it's diet, or should I stick with the greens if that is what it is eating? I've heard from some people that most tegus will not perfer greens and such, but why break a good habit? Any input would be great.

Correction, hard boiled egg white, not the yolk. Sorry.

Sure you should throw a pinky in there too the more variety the better. Veggies are good too but don't forget tegus grow very quickly and need a lot of protein when they're young. Insects are probably one of the best sources of a high protein/low fat diet. Don't forget fruits too (if he'll eat em yet).

Did your Tegu do the "deathroll" thing when you started him out on the leash? My blue goes nuts when I take him outside and when on a leash starts rolling. Just wondering if it is normal adjustment to the leash or if my Tegu is just a butthead?? Sure freaks the neighbors out too
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Peace!
KofSeattle
Reptile-Like
Here lizard lizard.........

Yeah, I am giving him dusted large crickets two to three times a week, occasionally some superworms too. I haven't tried fruits yet, but he doesn't seem too picky right now so who knows, i'll give it a try tomorrow. Thanks for the info.

giving them fruit is important for their skin to shed properly. they need vitiman C. otherwise they can end up with dried ot skin that does not shed properly resulting in loss of tail, toes or worse

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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

One day I decided to bring my boy Taz outside. I threw a make shift leash on him and took him out. He just started curiously walkin around lickin everything, cool! So I put the leash on Jazz picked her up and was casually bringing her out until we crossed the door threshold. She got so mad at us for bringing her out there that she would literally charge us if we got close enough(5 feet or more)! After a few hours we ended up having to drag her back inside with the leash. As soon as we got in she was fine again. Then we've set her down by the door and let her go outside and back in on her own until she got used to being outside. Now she's totally fine with it. No death rolls from either of them they're fine with the leash. Have you tried putting the leash on inside the house to see if he gets used to it? At first we had put the leash on in front of their back legs you could maybe try that. We just use one of those little round cylinder clamps like on some jackets. If you look close you can see it in this pic up by his neck with a yellow string.

Amigo freaks out when he is outside, the only places that he remains very calm are our bedroom (and most of the inside of the house) and his enclosure. If you take him out in the backyard, even holding him, he gets totally hyper. I have tried the harness/leash on him, but somehow he managed to wiggle himself right out of it, he didnt go far though Maybe it is time to try again.

Ley xx

Both of my tegus are fine on a harness. The red easily wiggled her way out of standard lizard leashes sold in most pet stores, so I switched to a ferret harness. It's fully adjustable with a detachable lead, and she can't get out of it.

I put it on her before leaving the house. She walks low and drags her belly for a few minutes and tries to remove it (that worked with the last one!) then soon gives up and walks normally. She's definitely mellower in public while harnessed.

If you've got your kid eating greens and other fruits and vegetables without much persuading, way to go! I have to disguise Blake's fruits and veggies in a fruit smoothy with eggs to help mask the flavor, and some supplements to give it an extra kick. He LOVES it!

Here's a tip for ya, no matter how much you trust your tegu and not matter how good he/she seems to be for a while in the car, NEVER let them loose in the car! I learned this the hard way. Blake was being so good on the way to the pet store that I didn't mind letting him wander around in the car on the way home. 12 hours, 7 people, and a trashed car later, we got him out of the dashboard of my car. EVERYTHING had to be taken out. The glove compartment, the fan system. Oh my god, but it was quite funny AFTER I got him back to me safe and sound.

Agama International has some information on the columbian tegu. They are pretty much straight up carnivores, so if he/she's eating veggies just keep at!

Lindsay

I don't know if he was just deprived of enough food or what, but he is aggressively eating anything I put in there daily. Today I gave him a combo of bananas, grated zucchini, and some mango and it was gone in less than two minutes. Reminds me of my mutt actually, I'm not sure he even stops to smell or taste what it is he is eating. Oh well, If he is eating what is good for him, then so be it, I won't complain. Thanks for the words of wisdom.