Tegu lizards can be good pets, but they aren’t recommended for first-time or novice reptile owners. Due to their large size and high intelligence, they require a lot of space and enrichment to thrive in captivity.[1]
What Are The Requirements For Pet Tegus
Ideally, an adult tegu’s enclosure should be at least 30 square feet. Tegus also require fairly high humidity and temperatures. Their enclosure must have a temperature gradient with a warm side and a cool side for thermoregulation.Feb 28, 2022[2]
What Do Tegus Need In Their Tank?
Tegu enclosures need a cool spot, warm area, and a basking spot. A cools spot must be about 80° F, the warm area should about 90° F and the basking spot should be about 95° F – 100° F.[3]
What Do I Need For A Tegu Lizard?
Tegus require about 75 to 90-percent humidity, and these substrates are the best at retaining moisture in order to provide humidity. Mist the substrate as needed to maintain the recommended humidity level in their enclosure, but also be careful that you aren’t keeping your tegu on an overly saturated substrate.Oct 5, 2017[4]
Are Tegus Good Pets For Beginners?
Answer: Even if you do not have experience taking care of a lizard, a Tegu is still a good animal to start out wtih. You do need to make sure you have adequate room for a cage, so some beginners will prefer a Leopard Gecko or Bearded Dragon since they are relatively small.Apr 27, 2022[5]
Where Can You Find Argentine Black And White Tegus Today
Native Range
The Argentine black and white tegu is native to South America where it can be found in Brazil, Paraguay, eastern Uruguay and northern Argentina.[6]
Where Are Tegus Found In The Us?
There are at least three established populations of tegus in southern Florida and one in Georgia, all likely resulting from escaped or released pets. The Argentine black and white tegu is a large omnivorous lizard native to South America and is common in the international pet trade.[7]
Where Are Tegu Lizards Now?
According to the Smithsonian, these are the states where the tegu lizards have been spotted: Florida. Georgia. South Carolina.[8]
How Much Does A Argentine Black And White Tegu Cost?
How Much Do Argentine Black and White Tegus Cost? Argentine Tegus from a breeder will often cost around $200 for a hatchling. You will often need to find a reputable breeder because these reptiles are not typical to find in a pet store.[9]
How Did The Argentine Black And White Tegu Get To Us?
The Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae, formerly Tupinambis merianae; Harvey et al. 2012) was introduced to Florida through the pet trade and has established breeding populations in Hillsborough County (central Florida) and Miami-Dade County (south Florida).[10]
Why Are Tegus Necks Large
So basically, the jowls are the pterygoid muscles and a layer of fat that surrounds them. These muscles let them CHOMP and helps them eat things like snails and hard bugs and things with bones. But in males the neck is especially fat because there’s sexual selection for males with bigger jowls.Sep 22, 2016[11]
Why Do Tegus Have Jowls?
Tegus exhibit sexual dimorphism. Males display greatly expanded and prominent ‘jowls’ along the base of the lower jaw. These jowls are the result of extensive growth of the ventral pterygoideus muscles (a prominent jaw closing muscle in reptiles).[12]
Why Are Tegus Cheeks So Big?
Their beaded skin is made up of black and white dots and stripes, however, their most unique feature is their “chubby cheeks”. This feature can only be seen in males and it is because of sexual selection (i.e. stronger jowls equate a stronger male).[13]
Do Tegus Recognize Their Owners?
Tegus are known as very intelligent animals. When kept in captivity, they are able to recognize their owners and form a close bond with them.[14]
Why Are Tegus So Smart?
Because of their impressive cognitive abilities, one of the most interesting aspects of tegu care is the ability to train your tegu. Much like dogs and cats (and unlike hognose snakes), these extraordinary lizards can be conditioned to perform certain behaviors through the power of positive reinforcement.[15]
Where Is Tegus Located
The Argentine black and white tegu is native to South America where it can be found in Brazil, Paraguay, eastern Uruguay and northern Argentina.[16]
Where Are Tegus Found?
Tegus at a Glance
The Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae), largest of all tegu species, is native to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. Black to dark gray with white speckled bands across the back and tail, these reptiles can weigh 10 pounds or more and live 20 years.[17]
Where Are Tegus Originally From?
Tegu is a common name of a number of species of lizards that belong to the families Teiidae and Gymnophthalmidae. Tegus are native to Central and South America. They occupy a variety of habitats and are known for their large size and predatory habits.[18]
What Part Of Argentina Are Tegus From?
Argentine Tegus are native lizards to eastern and central South America. They are a product of convergent evolution and live in tropical rainforests, deserts and savannas.[19]
Are Tegus In Florida?
The invasive species are known to eat the eggs of important animals in Florida, like American alligators and rare birds, which are biological indicators for Everglades restoration. Tegus have been reported in 35 Florida counties, including nearly every part of the greater Tampa Bay region.Dec 8, 2021[20]
How Much Does A Grown Orange Tegus Weigh
9 Types of Tegu Lizards With Pictures – Everything Reptileswww.everythingreptiles.com › Lizards[21]
How Much Does A Full Grown Tegu Weigh?
Their adult length can vary from 2.5 feet (76 cm) in adult females to sometimes even longer than 4 feet (122 cm) in adult males. Unlike other lizards, these are very heavily built animals, ranging from 7 to 12 pounds (3.2 to 5.4 kg) or more when fully grown.[22]
How Much Should My Tegu Weigh?
The Tegu is a Large Lizard
An average female is around 3 to 3½ feet long and 6- to 8-plus pounds. An average male is about 4 to 4½ feet long and 8- to 12-plus pounds.Dec 5, 2017[23]
How Big Is A Full Grown Tegu?
Their life span in captivity seems to be 15 to 20 years They grow up to about 5 feet in total length and can weigh as much as 35 pounds. They often become very docile when kept in a stable setting and with the attention needed.Oct 5, 2017[24]
At What Age Is A Tegu Full Grown?
Tegus are fast growing lizards, often reaching sexual maturity in 3 years or less. Males grow larger, sometimes exceeding 4 feet in total length with a thick, muscular build. Females are slightly smaller, usually in the 3 foot range, and are more slightly built than their male counterparts.[25]
What Are Tegus
TegusReptiles[26]
Are Tegus Poisonous?
Are tegus dangerous? Whether as a pet, or in the wild, tegus are not dangerous to humans.[27]
Why Is The Tegu A Problem?
Potential impacts of tegus include competition with and preying upon Florida’s native wildlife, including some imperiled and protected species. Tegus prey upon the nests of other animals, and researchers have documented tegus eating American alligator eggs and disturbing American crocodile nests in Florida.[28]
Is A Tegu A Good Pet?
Tegu lizards can be good pets, but they aren’t recommended for first-time or novice reptile owners. Due to their large size and high intelligence, they require a lot of space and enrichment to thrive in captivity.[29]
Do Tegus Lizards Bite?
Lizards of the Teiidae family are large reptiles measuring up to 2 meters long. If threatened, they can demonstrate aggressive behavior by whipping their tail and occasionally biting.[30]
Resources
[1]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/do-tegu-lizards-make-good-pets/%23:~:text%3DTegu%2520lizards%2520can%2520be%2520good,enrichment%2520to%2520thrive%2520in%2520captivity.
[2]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/do-tegu-lizards-make-good-pets/
[3]https://reptileslounge.com/blogs/care-sheets/care-sheet-for-tegus
[4]https://reptilesmagazine.com/tegu-lizard-housing-and-care-information/
[5]https://pethelpful.com/reptiles-amphibians/why-tegus-are-the-best-pet-lizards
[6]https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/argentine-black-and-white-tegu/
[7]https://www.usgs.gov/programs/invasive-species-program/science/science-topics/black-and-white-tegus
[8]https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/04/21/florida-traps-over-100-invasive-tegu-lizards/7393744001/
[9]https://petkeen.com/argentine-black-and-white-tegu/
[10]https://crocdoc.ifas.ufl.edu/publications/factsheets/tegufactsheet.pdf
[11]https://kaijutegu.tumblr.com/post/150781469538/why-do-the-tegu-have-fat-neck-is-muscle-storage
[12]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvator_(lizard)
[13]https://www.everythingreptiles.com/argentine-tegu/
[14]https://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/tegu_facts/281/
[15]https://reptilinks.com/blogs/news/how-smart-are-tegus-understanding-tegu-intelligence
[16]https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/argentine-black-and-white-tegu/
[17]https://georgiawildlife.com/tegus
[18]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegu
[19]https://www.everythingreptiles.com/argentine-tegu/
[20]https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/environment/2021-12-08/florida-tegu-lizards-migrating-north-what-invasion-means-for-state-wildlife
[21]https://www.everythingreptiles.com/tegu-lizards/
[22]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_black_and_white_tegu
[23]https://reptilesmagazine.com/is-a-tegu-right-for-you/
[24]https://reptilesmagazine.com/tegu-lizard-housing-and-care-information/
[25]https://www.lllreptile.com/articles/119-argentine-black-and-white-tegu/
[26]https://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/tegu_facts/281/
[27]https://regardingreptiles.com/are-tegus-dangerous/
[28]https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/argentine-black-and-white-tegu/
[29]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/do-tegu-lizards-make-good-pets/
[30]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18513108/