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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject: thinking of buying tegu
Hello everyone. My names Trevin and im thinking about buying a tegu. On thursday, me and a friend went to the local reptile store just to look around. The second i walked in i spotted a b&w tegu. I've been researching them ever since because im so interested in buying one. As of right now, i have my mind set on an Argentine Red Tegu. I do have a few questions about them. How much, roughly, will one of these cost me. What is there diet like. i read somewhere that you should feed the reds alot of fruit. also, how large of an enclosur am i looking to get. the one i saw in the store was quite small and i felt a little bad for him. Would it be better to buy as a baby or as a year or two old. I would like a male so thats the only reason i would buy an older one. Thank you in advance for answering all of my questions.
Joined: May 16, 2007 Posts: 856 Location: Connecticut
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject: Re: thinking of buying tegu
RON1X wrote:
Hello everyone. My names Trevin and im thinking about buying a tegu. On thursday, me and a friend went to the local reptile store just to look around. The second i walked in i spotted a b&w tegu. I've been researching them ever since because im so interested in buying one. As of right now, i have my mind set on an Argentine Red Tegu. I do have a few questions about them. How much, roughly, will one of these cost me. What is there diet like. i read somewhere that you should feed the reds alot of fruit. also, how large of an enclosur am i looking to get. the one i saw in the store was quite small and i felt a little bad for him. Would it be better to buy as a baby or as a year or two old. I would like a male so thats the only reason i would buy an older one. Thank you in advance for answering all of my questions.
A male will get to be approx. 10-20 pounds and 4 feet long. You'll need a 8ft x 4ft custom built enclosure.
That thing about them needing alot of fruit is a bunch of cr@p. Our 7 year old male Red Tegu is over 9lbs and would be 4 ft long if he had all of his tail (lost it before we got him). He will eat what ever we put in front of him (with in reason). We do give him fruit to vary his diet. He gets fed every other day with various sources of protein (rats, tilapia, raw ground turkey, chicken hearts/liver, etc.) mixed with fruit (blueberries, strawberry, grapes, etc) and greens. They require about 70% humidity to have a decent shed, proper humidity will have more to do with their shed than the diet. _________________ 1.1.16 Blue Tegus, 1.0 Red Tegu, 0.1 B&W Arg. Tegu
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa, 0.1 Dumeril Boa, 1.0 Suriname Boa
1.2 Ball Pythons, 1.0 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Cuban Rock Iguana
2.1.3 Bearded Dragons, 1.0 Veiled Chameleon, 0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
Thank you for the information Dave. As of right now i have enough money to purchase one. However, there are currently two things that are keeping me from buying it. One, my mom. My sister and I have a crested gecko right now and she doesnt even like that. I told here I was interested in purchasing one and she laughed and said no after i told her how large they get. The second thing is that my bank account is locked and my mom is the only one that can get money out. However, today she told me that we might be able to work something out, if i get good grades or something like that. Back to the tegu's. Are there any behavior differences between the reds and all of the other tegu's? Also what should i do? Purchase a hatchling or an older tegu? Thank you for the help so far.
Dave, I just noticed that you have, or have had a tokay gecko. Are these as mean as everyone say? Before the Tegu's caught my eye i was looking at tokay's since i have a crested and i love geckos. Everywhere i go almost laugh when i ask if they ever carry tokays. they all say the same thing. They had them once never will get them again.
I say go for it!Idk the red looks burned and faded to me...But some are really nice, and the tokay wow um, i held one got attack...But i have seen tamed one!And when there tame there just dolls =)
Joined: May 16, 2007 Posts: 856 Location: Connecticut
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:25 am Post subject:
RON1X wrote:
Dave, I just noticed that you have, or have had a tokay gecko. Are these as mean as everyone say? Before the Tegu's caught my eye i was looking at tokay's since i have a crested and i love geckos. Everywhere i go almost laugh when i ask if they ever carry tokays. they all say the same thing. They had them once never will get them again.
-Trevin
We got him as a rescue. He shredded the guy we got him from! I've never handled him yet. My wife has taken him out 3 times with gloves on. He bit her the first time but hasn't been too bad the last couple of times. He tends to eventually fall asleep in her hand (they're nocturnal and he's only been taken out in the day time). I've heard the worst way to pick them up is to pinch them, they should be scooped up. He is in a 30G hex tank in our living room so he sees alot of activity. That may have made him a little calmer. _________________ 1.1.16 Blue Tegus, 1.0 Red Tegu, 0.1 B&W Arg. Tegu
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa, 0.1 Dumeril Boa, 1.0 Suriname Boa
1.2 Ball Pythons, 1.0 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Cuban Rock Iguana
2.1.3 Bearded Dragons, 1.0 Veiled Chameleon, 0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
Joined: May 16, 2007 Posts: 856 Location: Connecticut
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:42 am Post subject:
RON1X wrote:
Thank you for the information Dave. As of right now i have enough money to purchase one. However, there are currently two things that are keeping me from buying it. One, my mom. My sister and I have a crested gecko right now and she doesnt even like that. I told here I was interested in purchasing one and she laughed and said no after i told her how large they get. The second thing is that my bank account is locked and my mom is the only one that can get money out. However, today she told me that we might be able to work something out, if i get good grades or something like that. Back to the tegu's. Are there any behavior differences between the reds and all of the other tegu's? Also what should i do? Purchase a hatchling or an older tegu? Thank you for the help so far.
-Trevin
If you have the money to purchase the Tegu, you also will need more money to get a tank and the proper UVB lighting, maybe another $150. He will need a larger tank in a few months, and a full size enclosure at possibly a year old (if he doesn't hibernate). Then there's the cost of feeding him, lots of crickets and raw ground turkey, maybe another $20 a week. They eat alot every day for the first year, reaching nearly their full size. If he hibernates that will cut down the food bill for a few months, but you won't see him.
So, there are alot more expenses than just buying the Tegu. And you may not see him for 6 to 8 months if he hibernates.
I think the B&W's and Reds are about the same, but their personalities can vary. The Reds tend to get a little bigger.
We have a B&W that we raised from a hatchling, the other (3) were purchased as adults. I personally don't like having to deal with the nervous hatchling stage, a 2-3 year old adult is much more predictable. But you need to have a full size enclosure (ours are 7ft x 3ft) and be able to handle a 3.5ft to 4ft lizard. _________________ 1.1.16 Blue Tegus, 1.0 Red Tegu, 0.1 B&W Arg. Tegu
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa, 0.1 Dumeril Boa, 1.0 Suriname Boa
1.2 Ball Pythons, 1.0 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Cuban Rock Iguana
2.1.3 Bearded Dragons, 1.0 Veiled Chameleon, 0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
Ok adding up all of the expenses i have enough to buy a cage, everthing needed for the cage, the tegu, and food for a few weeks so im going to have to get a job again. The only thing keeping me from getting the tegu is my mom. Im thinking of telling her that the type of tegu im getting will only reach 1-2 feet...if any store near me had hatchlings then i would just drive there myself and buy it, but im going to have to order one. im not sure what to do im somewhat screwed...i guess im going to have to do alot of kissing up and chores around the house
Joined: May 16, 2007 Posts: 856 Location: Connecticut
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject:
RON1X wrote:
Ok adding up all of the expenses i have enough to buy a cage, everthing needed for the cage, the tegu, and food for a few weeks so im going to have to get a job again. The only thing keeping me from getting the tegu is my mom. Im thinking of telling her that the type of tegu im getting will only reach 1-2 feet...if any store near me had hatchlings then i would just drive there myself and buy it, but im going to have to order one. im not sure what to do im somewhat screwed...i guess im going to have to do alot of kissing up and chores around the house
There might be a problem when the Tegu reaches 3 feet in the first year. At that point he's outgrown a 75G tank and you'll need a custom BIG enclosure. It sounds like you're setting yourself up for some trouble. But what kid doesn't. Unfortunately there are many second hand reptiles available because their owners didn't realize how big and powerful they will become. Choose wisely! _________________ 1.1.16 Blue Tegus, 1.0 Red Tegu, 0.1 B&W Arg. Tegu
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa, 0.1 Dumeril Boa, 1.0 Suriname Boa
1.2 Ball Pythons, 1.0 Coastal Carpet Python
0.1 Cuban Rock Iguana
2.1.3 Bearded Dragons, 1.0 Veiled Chameleon, 0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
No i do realize how large these lizards get. Im fully aware of the resposibility of owning and taking care of them. Thats why im not going to just surprise my mom with one. She told me today that she would take it right back to the store/ ship it back where it came from, and i would be in trouble as you said...which im in as of right now...which really sucks. So now i dont really know what to do she said id have to take care of ALL of the animals in the house for a year before i could get one. So now im trying to work a deal out with grades. A's and B's only and if i have that at first report card i can get one...hopefully. I starting to think that she would be a little more understanding about letting me get a sandfire bearded dragon...then when i move out ill be able to purchase a tegu(unless i kiss up enough to my mom)
yea I know. Im 16. So far its still a no. Its really gay she wont let me get it...its not like se would be paying for it at all...and it would be in my room...i dont know what her problem is she lets my sister by guinepigs, hermit crabs, crested gecko, and a hamster but you know i guess me asking for just one lizard is just asking way too much...
Joined: Oct 16, 2007 Posts: 2553 Location: San Antonio,TX
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:11 am Post subject:
Hi Trevin.Welcome to the Tegu forum family.The reds and the black/whites do get very big.I just want to let you know that I understand why your mom is worried about getting such a large lizard.I was the same way.I have a 14 year old son and my boyfriend wanted a Tegu since 3 years.Finally I did some research here on this forum and I started to like the Tegus.So I ordered a hatchling black/white Tegu.He was 2 1/2 weeks old.I fell in love with him the moment I saw him and the bonding between me and the Tegu grew stronger and stronger.They are the best lizards I ever had and I wish I would of got them sooner ( we have two of them ).If you are going to get one I do recommend getting a hatchling and hold him/her as much as you can.They do eat allot and they need a very big enclosure and they grow very fast.If you want to you can check out the links below to let your mom see how great Tegus can be.Hope that helps.
thank you txrepgirl. All of those links were very helpful, interesting, and educational for me. I read/watched all of them. Today I asked my mom again if I could get a lizard. She then asked why I want a tokay soo bad since everyone has told me how aggressive they are. So I told here that I didn't want a tokay. She said good...wait are we talking about the huge one you want? So I said yes and she replied by saying "your f*ing crazy" LOL I just laughed. She then said as long as you get good grades and are respectful you can get one. So if all goes well I should have one towards Xmas. I'm pretty excited. Thank you again txrepgirl for all the information.
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I'm pretty excited. Thank you again txrepgirl for all the information.
