Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I'm certain that I now have the ability, space, money, and time to buy one later this year, but I still have a few questions about them.

1. What do you guys generally use to heat your cages? I was considering a heat rock, overhead UVB, Cobra heat mat (large)... however I'm pretty open to suggestions, because up to now I haven't needed to keep my animals that warm (around 80)

2. From what I've heard if you spend time with them, they get very tame... how tame is that? Do they mind being picked up and put on the floor? I want an animal that I can take out of the cage and show to people, not necesarely holding it, but allowing people to pet it and come in close contact with it.

Also, do they bond with people in general, or just the keeper? I want other people to enjoy the tegu as much as I will.

3. Diet: When they are large, you guys feed them turkey... what exactly is your recipe for this mix? My plan is to primarely feed my adult turkey, rats/mice, and possibly fruit if he/she will take it. Any other things that I should plan on?

Thanks
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£v£®LïGh†

Currently have: Antherystic Corn Snake, Amelanistic Corn Snake, Oakatee Corn Snake, Leucistic Texas Ratsnake, and an Eastern Fox Snake

Have had:
Ghost Corn Snake, 2 Japanese Firebelly Newts, 3 Green Treefrogs, Cuban treefrog, Eastern Box Turtle, 3 Leopard Geckos

Saving for:
Jungle Carpet Python, Monitor or Tegu

I am a rookie to tegus, mine just came out of hibernation last week, but he is eating just fine. I will regurgitate some things I have read and experienced. As far as heat, heat rocks are always a bad idea. They can get too hot in one spot and burn the animal. Heat pads are also no good because you will need a thick layer of subtrate, and the heat will not make it to the surface. As far as heating, you should get a good thermostat and hook it up to 1 or more ceramic heaters (if you hook it up to a light/heat source, the bulb may flicker on and off and disturb the tegu). Get a good UVB (reptisun 5.0 seems to be the most popular). Make sure the UVB lamp is less than 12 inches away from the basking spot, or the UVB will not reach the tegu. I have mine about 6 inches away from the basking spot. You will also want a basking lamp that is on a timer with the other light sources. Everything I have read says they need pretty warm temps. I keep mine at a 120F basking, 90 warm side, and 80 cool side. Their burrows will always be several degrees cooler than the suface temp, both due to the insulation and the moisture that must be in the burrow. I also feed raw ground turkey. I dice up some strawberries and kiwi and mix it with the turkey. I then roll it into little balls and put them in the freezer. I just thaw out a bag when I need to. When feeding this ground turkey I also dust it with vitamin and mineral powder. Some people say mix bone meal in with the turkey, but I think this is only necessary if you don't offer a variety. Of course you probably know you should feed them a large variety of food (mice, insects, fruit, etc.) They say tegus (except the colombian) are like puppy dogs with scales! They can be potty trained, learn their names, walked on a leash, and can even have free roam of a house like a dog or cat! Mine still doesn't quite trust this 6 foot predator looking at him and following him around! When I reach for him he puffs up like he's ten foot tall, but then I pick him up and he calms down. I don't know yet if he is really this calm or just scared. But anyway, yes they are supposed to be one of the most tame reptiles you can own, and this is said to be true because they are supposed to be the most intelligent reptile on the planet. I don't know if this is true or not, but there is definately some depth behind those eyes. You will find as many different practices for tegu husbandry as you will find tegu owners, and since these animals have an abundance of personality, what works for one person may not work for you. You kind of have to just get the pre-requisites (cage size, heat, subtrate, etc.) ready, then get your tegu and go from there. Any of the more experienced keepers please correct me if anything I said is inaccurate. Good luck!

So, hypothetically, if I were to use a ceramic heater and a UVB lighting, that would be enough heat and light as long as it stayed hot enough in the ambient temps.

That was very helpful, thanks for all that useful information.
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Currently have: Antherystic Corn Snake, Amelanistic Corn Snake, Oakatee Corn Snake, Leucistic Texas Ratsnake, and an Eastern Fox Snake

Saving for:
Jungle Carpet Python, Blue Tegu

Your quite welcome. You should probably also include a basking lamp to get them an extra warm spot just in case.

You will get many differing opinions on heating your Tegu and most of them will be acceptable. There is no one right way to do it. I use a combination of ZooMed PowerSun mercury vapor bulbs, halogen flood bulbs and regular household bulbs for my Tegus. Some of my Tegus have light on 24/7, some do not. I don't see any difference in behavior, health, eating habits, or growth rates in the different enclosures.
We've owned probably close to 20 Tegus at one time or another. I've yet to have one that didn't tame down nicely, whether it was held frequently or as little as twice a month. I have an Argentine B/W that freeroams my house and comes in contact with the dogs, cats, Bearded Dragons, Iguanas, and Cyclura. He's a big old baby that likes to sleep on the foot of my bed at night. He's the cuddler of the bunch and likes to be held and stroked. We have several other B/W's and a few Blues that are used for educational purposes. They are rotated so that no one gets tired or too stressed but even after not being out in public for a couple of months they are still reliable, tolerant animals.
IMO, you can't beat a Tegu if you want a tolerant, entertaining, beautiful, large lizard. Just be forewarned that they will eat you out of house and home! LOL
This is a photo taken at a herp show of Thalia, one of our female Blues, and Loofah, a young male Rhino iguana.

I use ceramic heat emitters, a Reptisun UVB tube and a spotlight like you would buy at home depot to light your driveway. The heat emitters are set up on an Alife thermostat for the sole purpose of keeping the night time temps above 70F. If you let it get cooler your Tegu may have appetite problems. There is one emitter on each end of the enclosure. The Reptisun UV tube is for UV and ambiant lighting. The spotight is on a rheostat and is used for the basking spot. I use a 75Watt in the summer and a 125Watt in the winter and just use the rheostat to reduce or raise the basking temps accordingly. Best of luck!
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Peace!
KofSeattle
Reptile-Like
Here lizard lizard.........