Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi i dont have a tegu yet but im planning on getting one and i was wondering what size cage should i build, and what materials to use to build it. I have kept 2 leopard geckos for 3 years and a beardie for 1.5 do you think that i'd be ready for a tegu or monitor, i know that they may bite, but i'm 14, 5'8", and 205 lbs. i can take being bit/tailwhipped. Also i have heard everywhere that B&W tegus are very docile and inteloligent is that true? also for an adult and baby how often would i feed it and what? thanks for reading

-matt

Age doesn't really matter as much as maturity. Your a good size and that helps with Tegus. Getting whipped stings and can leave a welt but its nothing compared to a bite from a 4' tegu. I dont care how big or mach someone is, if a Tegu thinks your hand is food, grabs a finger and does a deathroll until it comes off, it will hurt! Most Tegu bites are superficial but you do have to make sure NOT TO PULL AWAY. Grab the Tegu and hold on until he lets go. I have not been Tegu bit, but I have had some large Igs tear me up and one hospital visit because the bite went to the bone.

Anyway, it's a big step from Leos and BDs to Tegus and you need to make a comitment to a long lived big lizard both in husbandry and time. Your cage will have to be big (4x8 recommended) and you will need lots of food (rodents, bugs, fruit...) and you cannot ignore tegus. They need social interaction to be handleable.

If you want more info on common Q&A check here:

Beardiedragon- tegu page

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Bennett

beardiedragon.com
Home of the Florida Orange

i know i just listed my size so that you would know that if i were to be bit i wouldn't go and harm the animal. hopefully i wont get bit badly if i get one. what would i do if it started to "death roll"? you an another guy are scaring me a bit about the biting a finger off,and death roll stuff but that's ok i know you're trying to warn me. also i can handle the length for the cage but 4 ft wide is a bit much how about 3 ft? also can you tell me what materials to use for building the cage alone i can find out for all the other stuff.

thanks for your help
-matt