Tegu

[Thibor]

Hi all,
I've been thinking a lot lately about getting another lizard.
I was thinking along the lines of a Tegu.
Thought I'd check up a little on them first.
What are the initial setup differences from a Beardy?
I know there is a significant size and feeding difference.

[zebrajanie]

I can offer a few pointers and only because I have one in my care while her "caretakers" are out of town.
Godzilla is an argentinian black and white if I am not mistaken, she has a heat lamp and a reptisun 10.0 over her.
She is on a wood particle substrate, more like shredded, she eats heartily of insects at this very young juvenile stage, and she is very shy.

Her defensive actions are hissing, tail whipping, as well as biting.

She will eventually need a much more larger enclosure than a dragon would.

She will change over from insects to mammalian feeders by the time she grows to 12"+.

That I am afraid is the extent of my knowledge.
Perhaps you might want to contact different tegu keepers, as well as reptilian zoo keepers/care takers.

Hope that helps out !
Janie

[squinn]

Hi all,
I've been thinking a lot lately about getting another lizard.
I was thinking along the lines of a Tegu.
Thought I'd check up a little on them first.
What are the initial setup differences from a Beardy?
I know there is a significant size and feeding difference.

they can be real puppy dogs as far as lizards go especially if you can find some of Bert Langwerf's bloodlines out there, it may be possible there are still some tegu's left on his ranch that are still being sold as part of his estate. Need a lot of extra space and food compared to beardies as zebrajanie said but can be very rewarding pets if your willing devote a lot of extra time and space to them compared to beardies.

[Thibor]

Thanks for that, it's given me a few more things to consider..
Space shouldn't really be a problem (at least I don't think so)
Must start looking around now and pricing everything

[lizard_of_oz]

From what I've read he has a ranch in Alabama that is still in operation.  The web site for the ranch is http://www.agamainternational.com/.  They specialize in Argentine Giant Tegu, Australian Waterdragon, Bearded dragons, Chinese Crocodile lizard, Morrocon Uromastyx, and Jewelled lacerta. His wife runs the ranch now.

[Kazzy]

I used to have three Argentines and LOVED them. They are so intellident. I suggest going to VarnyardHerps.com and talking to Bobby. He is a great breeder! He even spent two hours on the phone with me one night after I had received my first tegu from a different breeder and she had arrived dead . He helped me through that and helped me get the other breeder to send me another tegu and the correct way.

Good luck!!

[alewis0890]

From what I've read he has a ranch in Alabama that is still in operation.  The web site for the ranch is http://www.agamainternational.com/.  They specialize in Argentine Giant Tegu, Australian Waterdragon, Bearded dragons, Chinese Crocodile lizard, Morrocon Uromastyx, and Jewelled lacerta. His wife runs the ranch now.

If your going to get a tegu, leave this place be... Bert was top of the line but his passing left his wife and son incharge. his son wants the money, and neither of them know the care... alot of them are sick and dying.


Tegus can be puppy dogs if the right amount of patients and time is put in, I know this is an older post but if your interested i can throw together a care sheet for you if youd like

[Thibor]

Hey mate,
Thanks, but I was thinking about it back then, lots has changed since and I wouldn't have the time to spend looking after a tegu and a Beardie now (wouldn't be able to spend enough quality time with them both).

As it is what with work I have barely enough time to spend a few hours a night with the beardy. A mate of mine has one too, but it's very aggressive and he's sick of it trying to bite him, so he's kind of given up on it (he still feed s and cleans up for it).

I spend a few hours a week trying to get it used to contact. I now have him at a stage where he lets you rub him without going mad, but he still won't let anyone pick him up. So between that project, and looking after my own, it wouldn't be fair to get another pet.