Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so I have acquired a baby columbian black and white tegu in exchange for a sick albino leopard gecko. He is about eight or so inches with his tail, and is living in a 20 gallon long critter cage. I have a hidebox for him, and a water bowl as well. He really loves wet cat food, and eats about 3 crickets every two days. He is pretty active, and is also quite tamed already. I was wondering if anybody could possibly give me some advice on my new lizrd.
Thanks,
Joe

(1) Get a bigger cage
(2) Cat food I've heard is bad for lizards. Way too much fat and protein. Stick with dusted crickets, pinkies, veggies, fruits, and ground turkey with calcium suplement. Low fat dog food works too, but I wouldn't feed it that regularly.
(3) Make sure your tank temperatures are ok. Expecially in a 20 gallon tank, it's hard to keep an ambient temperature of 80-85 and a basking temperature as high as 120.
(4) UVB lighting.
(5) Soak him/her regularly in tepid water.
(6) Other cage decorations help.
(7) Columbians are known to be fiesty. Hold him/her a lot.
(8) Cypress Mulch and I like to get dehydrated cocunut fiber earth bricks. He/she needs atleast enough substrate to completely burry himself if he/she chooses.

Good Luck.

Mikal

I heard cat food is good reading care sheets about them. I am planning on getting a larger care, but first i need to ave some more money so i can get it. i tried to give the lizard fruits and veggies, but so far, he hasn't even touched it.

Definately ditch the cat food. If you must, feed him dog food. Cat food is so high in fat your tegu will have fatty liver disease faster then you would know. The cage is fine for his size, right now. He should grow very fast and can get to 3.5 feet or more. Also hold him as much as possible, especially right now while he's a young one. I have a Columbian and they are very flighty and not very trusting. I would recommend at least a 6 foot long cage for adult size, but wait until he gets bigger for that.
-Beth