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 #1689872


ACGamble
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 New!

Hi! I’m new here and very fascinated with tegus. I currently have two corn snakes (one anery, one amel), but my brother has other reptiles and is also interested. I have done some research and wanted to ask a few questions. Which is the most "tame" species of tegu? I’m trying to figure out which is the best species for me. I have the room and the money to house one, but I really want to keep it outdoors. Does anyone on this forum do this?



04/04/08  11:28pm

 #1689880


Mike S
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   Message To: ACGamble   In reference to Message Id: 1689872


 New!

Welcome to the tegu forums :)

Lets first start off by saying each animal has its own personality, meaning even you do get the ’tamest’ speicies it doesnt mean that animals personality will resemble that species stereotype.
But nontheless, i would say the easiest to handle and care for would be the black and white argentine tegu. I have had the most experience with these animals and are by far my favorite of the tegu species. Although these tegus are quite docile they can get pretty large, up to 5 feet for a male. To put things into perspective .. i have a 7 month year old b/w and he is just over two feet in length already, he is growing at an alarming rate, faster than i have ever seen any tegu, regardless.. if you plan on purchasing this type of tegu you’re going to need ALOT of room.

Keeping your lizard out doors really is personal preference. I know of people that do it, but i myself do not .. i find it difficult to keep their temperatures at a stable conidition, seeing as a live in new york, it can be 80 one day and snowing the next ... so i tend to keep my pets indoors :)
Again, with the temperatures... you’re going to have to monitor the temperatures very carefully, and adjust them in accordance to the weather.
Also, if you plan on keeping your lizards out side make sure they are secure... lizards are very valuable and could be stolen.

Hopefully ive provided you with some starting information, the population on these forums are exteremly helpful and nice... just please do your research before you purchase your animal

Mike
04/04/08  11:38pm

 #1689910


ACGamble
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   Message To: Mike S   In reference to Message Id: 1689880


 New!

Thanks for the quick response! I live in Florida so i don’t worry about cold weather except some cold nights in the winter. Could i set up a heat source with a thermostat inside a hide so that temperatures don’t drop too low? How much space would a pair require and would you recommend a pair?

Anthony
04/05/08  12:03am

 #1690219


BooByVu
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   Message To: ACGamble   In reference to Message Id: 1689910


 New!

Hi and welcome to the forum. I would also say the Arg B.W tegus would be your best choice. And yes they do grow very very fast. I bought my baby tegu in september last year as a baby but it hibernated til february. It is already now around 2feet long. So you will need a pretty large cage for it until you put it outside because a baby wouldnt do too well outside.

For you yes, i would do an outside caging. You can have more space for them to move around plus the lower cost. The starout price might be a bit high though. In winter teus hibernate so they will dig their burrows and the cold wont be a problem. florida rarely freezes but if it does you can bring them inside for the rest of their hibernation and leave them in a box. I really dont know how other species do outside but i know arg tegus can do well outside in the southern states. Ohh, go to agama international if you want a bit more info on tegus. They keep all their animals outside too so he gives instructions for it. Goodluck
04/05/08  12:52pm

 #1690323


Peter Gamble
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   Message To: BooByVu   In reference to Message Id: 1690219


 New!

Hi I’m Peter, Anthony’s older brother. I have some of my own questions. Would 10’ by 6’ be enough for 2 adult black & white tegu? When we build the outdoor cage, we will place posts 3 feet apart until we make the boundary for the cage. Then we will place corrugated plastic roofing in the ground to form a wall and secure it to the posts. How high should we make the fence and how deep should it be underground?

Peter
P.S. i don’t worry about my animals getting stolen because i keep 2 10’’ sulcattas outside.
04/05/08  02:51pm

 #1691690


BooByVu
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   Message To: Peter Gamble   In reference to Message Id: 1690323


 New!

Well as babies their cages wont need to be that large. By the time they are about 3 feet+ they can go outside. Dig down about 2 feet and place a metal sheet. Use the ones that wont rust away. Should be about 2 feet down and 3 feet high off the ground. This will keep the tegus from digging out and climbing over. Since they are big lizards, nothing will try to eat them in florida.
04/06/08  01:46pm


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