Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Am consolidating my livestock- 2 pythons, 1 sulcata, 1 horned frog, and 3 firebelly toads equal too many mouths to feed. The local herp store is willing to take trade credit on my long term pets. Fell in love with a beautiful RED tegu that has pattern like a B/W but red coloration. She is FAAT and at least 2.5ft long, really a good looking lizard. I'm not really into those solid rust-colored ones, is the patterning a juvenile trait??? Anyway, it seems everyone here thinks the BLUES are more easily hand-tamed and generally easier to care for. The same store also has nice looking BLUE, not as big, and I didn't look for M/F sign. Both lizards are the same price and both are excellent looking animals. I'm really leaning towards the RED.
This is a pretty major purchase of a very large lizard, and probably the last herp I'll own(I couldn't live without at least one cold-blooded creature in my room, you all know how it is)
I guess my question is: In the long run, not minding adult size or color, would I be happy/unhappy with one or the other AND WHY?

IMHO you will be happiest with the one you like the best. I've got two reds. I think they are beautiful, intelligent and friendly. The juveniles all have the patterning. As they get older, the males turn that solid rust, and the females keep the patterning.

As far as keeping, the reds are more in need of fruit. Other than that, the husbandry is pretty much the same, as far as I've read. All tegus have their own individual personalities, so see which one's personality attracts you more.

Leslie

thanks for the info about the patterning. Idid go with the red, and am very happy so far. She is a good 3ft long and really fat. She is so docile you'd think she was a dog. She ate oranges and bananas off a fork from my hand. The store manager had no history on her, but she had to have been hand-raised and given up because of size. she did have quite a bit of shed stuck to her, so I soaked her(she did not mind) and with a little gentle scraping, 90% has come off. Her tail still has about 3" at the tip, but must be tender as she doesn't like me to peel there. All in all, I am glad I went with my gut feeling on this one because I got a great lizard.

Congratulations! Welcome to the wonderful world of tegu ownership! Your girl sounds great. That she's eating her fruit is good; mine still have to have it hidden in turkey. But then, mine are smaller. Loiosh is not quite 2 foot yet...wait...I haven't measured him yet today...he may be 2 feet. Little Rocza is lagging behind at about 14 inches. She is a 'discriminating lady' when it comes to feeding. Loiosh is a pig.

Just remember that she is still growing and will eat like crazy and grow like crazy. I don't know how big an enclosure you have her in, but unless it's huge, start your plans for a bigger one right away. You won't believe how fast they can grow!

Glad you went with your gut feeling. That's always the best way to choose.

Leslie

I'd say red...because that's what I have. That's what I like (and B&Ws...not a big columbian fan...any of them)...I find reds really tame (except mine...kind of ironic...she's nice when she's not hungry...but she's red tegu...she's always hungry)...and mine at like 35 or whatever inches has the same pattern...I'm not sure...but I think it may be locality with females...I find all males have that gross colour...but I know two paraguay females (mine and a customers) that stil have a lot of white on them...A LOT...looks exactly like a b&W but all two-toned red with with the white speckles...REALLY NICE...and yeah...C'est tout I guess...my two sense