Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i can't wait to go to the next ny expo to get a black and white tegu very excited. i have a 40 gal breeder tank which is pretty big so he can walk around with no problem. need some tips on which uvb lighting i should get and when to feed him and any other helpful tips

thanks

Others may have different opinions, but a mercury vapor is the highest quality UV and it puts out heat, too. However, it is more expensive at the outlay. The other benefit is that it doesn't have to replaced as often as the others.

The next best is the long tube fluorescent UV like ZooMed makes. A 10.0 or 8.0 should be OK and you want it be no more than 12" away from the tegu's basking spot. Also, if you rest it on top of the screen, the mesh will filter out something like 30% of the UVB. These bulbs need to be replced every 6 months, even if they are still working.

There are coils and compact bulbs, but I prefer not to use these. Some only emit UVA and others emit harmful UVC. They just don't seem to have the same high quality output as the other two types.

As for feeding, feed a hatchling/young tegu every day as much as he will eat. Since crickets, other insects, and pinkies have a poor Ca balance, supplement once or twice weekly with a calcium supplement that does not contain phosphorous.