Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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first you should post up why you think an igg isnt right for you..

the care of all big lizards are about the same. the only things that realy vary are heat, humidity and diet.

other big lizards are monitors and tegus. but they all eat meat and monitors can become pretty mean i belive and my old tegu was very mean..
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1.0.0 adopted iguana
Hopefully getting another in a few weeks..

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well:
1. they arent as easy to tame as tegus and can give you some pretty nasty bites.
2. they arent very hardy and can need veeeeery expensive surgery.
3. i can provide floorspace but height and all those branches can be really expensive.
if you ask me a tegu would be eisier than a igg for me.

do you think those are are good reasons?

>>well:
>>1. they arent as easy to tame as tegus and can give you some pretty nasty bites.

Tegu bites can be alot worse than iguana bites.. iguana teeth are meant for leaves and such. a tegus teeth are meant for meat and they can give very nasty bites.. trust me on this one..

>>2. they arent very hardy and can need veeeeery expensive surgery.

I belive that iguanas are very hardy if tehy are taken care of propely. if trhey arent than they become weak..

>>3. i can provide floorspace but height and all those branches can be really expensive.

6 feet high isnt really alot of height. and tegus need bigger caegs than iguanas because they need more floor space to roam.

a few other things to think about.. tegus will get to be 4.5 feet long or around that and they eat all meat pinkies, adult mice and rats and other meat. that will get expensive.

they need higher temps around 120 degrees if i remeber right.

Like iguanas some may never tame down it is a risk you run into when you get any amimal.

And other that diet and heat wise a tegu is pretty much teh same as an iguana...

Its up to you.. but i know one thing i would never trade my iguana for any other reptile

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1.0.0 adopted iguana
1.1.0 Hedgehogs

My Email

ITS NOT ABOUT YOU DYING FOR YOUR COUNTRY, ITS ABOUT MAKING YOUR ENEMY DIE FOR HIS.

HAPPINESS IS LIKE PEEING ON YOURSELF, EVERYONE CAN SEE IT BUT ONLY YOU CAN FEEL THE WARMTH

also about the surgery a tegu could need surgery as well... so just think aboiut it before you buy something.
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1.0.0 adopted iguana
1.1.0 Hedgehogs

My Email

ITS NOT ABOUT YOU DYING FOR YOUR COUNTRY, ITS ABOUT MAKING YOUR ENEMY DIE FOR HIS.

HAPPINESS IS LIKE PEEING ON YOURSELF, EVERYONE CAN SEE IT BUT ONLY YOU CAN FEEL THE WARMTH

oh did i mention im ten? but ill research for months if i get an igg or tegey

well:
1. they arent as easy to tame as tegus and can give you some pretty nasty bites.
I think you have a very valid point here. I have some years of experience with both species and I would say that the Tegus definately tame easier and quicker with less effort. With minimal interaction Tegus seem to tame naturally as they acquire some size to them. I have Tegus here that get handled once a month at the most and they are still calm, reliable animals to handle. They can pack quite a bite if they want to but I still think an Iguana bite is worse.

2. they arent very hardy and can need veeeeery expensive surgery.
Tegus can require expensive surgery also if not cared for properly but my opinion is that they are less complicated to maintain correctly. Since they are carnivores feeding is pretty simple...thaw some meat (rodents, chicks, turkey diet, etc.) and feed it out. As adults they can be fed less frequently, maybe 3 times a week. It may be a little more expensive than feeding an Iguana but it's easier and less time-consuming.

3. i can provide floorspace but height and all those branches can be really expensive.
Floor space is a necessity. For an adult Tegu the minimum cage size should be 7x3x3 but bigger is better. The general consensus is that adults don't require UVB but I have seem MBD in juvies that were getting improper care and diet. Basking spot is much hotter than an Iguana...about 130 degrees..but can be attained with inexpensive halogen flood lamps from the hardware store. High humidity is required but easier to maintain if you use a good substrate like Cypress or dirt.
One drawback is that Tegus may hibernate for part of the winter so your pet may not be much of a pet during that time. The advantage to this is the food savings.

I, for one, would not discourage you from acquiring a Tegu rather than an Iguana. If you stick with an Argentine B&W or a Blue Tegu they are pretty easy to raise. Reds can be a little more complicated as adults. Check rescues in your state to see if there are any looking for a new home. We don't see many but occasionally will run into one.

if you ask me a tegu would be eisier than a igg for me.

do you think those are are good reasons

teggs do seem eisier.

i ahve ahd both and for me my igg has been easier for me.. i guess it depends on the person..
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1.0.0 adopted iguana
1.1.0 Hedgehogs

My Email

ITS NOT ABOUT YOU DYING FOR YOUR COUNTRY, ITS ABOUT MAKING YOUR ENEMY DIE FOR HIS.

HAPPINESS IS LIKE PEEING ON YOURSELF, EVERYONE CAN SEE IT BUT ONLY YOU CAN FEEL THE WARMTH

tegus would be better for me, i want a tame animal.

The thing you have to remember is not all lizards read the rules and not all of them become tame. i had a tegu and he was far from tame... and my friends isnt really tame either...
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1.0.0 adopted iguana
1.1.0 Hedgehogs

My Email

ITS NOT ABOUT YOU DYING FOR YOUR COUNTRY, ITS ABOUT MAKING YOUR ENEMY DIE FOR HIS.

HAPPINESS IS LIKE PEEING ON YOURSELF, EVERYONE CAN SEE IT BUT ONLY YOU CAN FEEL THE WARMTH

well, i can get a tame adult or live with it.