Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If this forum is anything like the monitors forum everyone will yell at me for posting this, but i am just wondering the basics of tegus A) How big on average do they get full size? B) Can you handle them/ how is their temper? and C) What about housing? do they like humidity?
I have quite a collection of reptiles and have been thinking about tegus for awhile just wondering if I can properly own one with the requirements met.

Thanks,

Dan

I'm not familiar with the monitor forum, but anyone who is seeking answers should be commended and not chased away.

A) How big on average do they get full size? Males are bigger than females, but an average length is 3-4ft and can be 6-12 pounds. Colombian tegus are smaller and Chacoan tegus can reach 5ft.

B) Can you handle them/ how is their temper? Tegus are easily 'tamed' and conditioned to handling with consistent effort. I find that they are curious, 'intelligent' (for reptiles), and fairly docile. Of course, they have their unique personalities and some can be more territorial or more food aggressive than others. Colombians are more flighty than the others and take longer to get accustomed to handling.

C) What about housing? do they like humidity? Housing for adults is usually a 6ft or 8ft enclosure. Tegus are active and like to explore. They also like to burrow, so deep substrate is a good idea. They do like humidity, so cypress mulch is a popular bedding. It is easy to clean and holds moisture well with daily or frequent misting.

They do require some time for regular handling, space for an enclosure, and like to eat!

Buy one asap!

I have quite a collection of lizards too and i have been raising them for almost 10 years now.But im so happy with my new tegus i sound and feel like a newbie.

First of all he is GORGEOUS! His skin is shinner and softer than most of my other lizards.The scales are perfect and the black and white pattern is incredibly well designed.His appearance is striking!

Besides that he is sweet, calm, confident, let me pet his head and handle him without afraid.And his eyes are almost human!They are big and dark and he doesnt have lizard eyes but human being eyes. A tegus will for sure be a plus to your lizard colletion. The problem is that all the other lizards fade comparing to it.

I still dont know what he likes/dislike to eat.I gave him raw eggs yesterday and he licked at it.His tongue is loooong! He has a ant-eater tongue.I wonder wether he likes cooked chicken, raw meat, or cats food.Ill have to check on INTERNET which food i should offer him.

;D