How big of a house for a hatchling?

VARNYARD

I talked to Bert. He wanted me to make a post about the size of the tegu enclosures for hatchlings, as well as the temps. He said that he has had several people contact him about the tegus dying. He said that most of them are keeping the babies in too small of a tank (10 Gallon). And that the temps are too hot when they use a basking light. He also said they need a place to cool off to at least 70*. I recommend at least a 20 long with the basking bulb at one end. The basking bulb should not make the temps on the basking end go up over 110*, if so the temps are too hot. Tegus are well known for basking in the wild in the cooler parts of the day. They bask in the morning and evening. They spend the hottest part of the day in their hide. I have found this to be true in my outdoor enclosures as well. Tegus need a place to warm up, as well as a place to cool off. I use a 20 long as well as 40 breeders when using tanks. I put my heat on one end. I use a 65 watt bulb. I also use a strip light with a repti-sun bulb, but this gives off very little heat. It is very important to have a place for these guys to cool off. If you tegu can not get away from the heat it will die, but it is also very important to have a place for them to warm up as well. They need heat in order to digest their food.

If you have any questions on this, feel free to ask. We will do our best to have the answer.

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toxicogenic · Valued Member Joined: Nov 20, 2005 Posts: 135 Location: fl

just to get everything totally straight. i have noticed people on this forum writing about their babies from Bert dying. you wrote a 20 or 40 gallon tank. i have a 40 breeder im going to use for my baby when i get it at the show from bert. ofcourse its big enough for a young tegu but it wont get stressed out from too much space right? i dont know i read that somewhere...(seemed kinda odd)...just making sure. also a 65 watt light. what brand or kind. i recently made a trade and got my lamps for the tegu enclosure. he didnt have zoomed basking spot lamps so he gave me an exoterra 100 watt spot bulb...which i thought was a little much but i took it anyway for later use. i also got a uv strip light which is just an added thing with the cage lid. i have everything else..mulch..etc. just wanted to get the light thing straight. thanks and sorry its so long of a post. oh and how bout UTH?
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1.0.0 arg. b/w tegu
0.1.0 crested gecko
1.0.0 hogg island boa
0.1.0 southern painted turtle
1.1.0 calabar burrowing pythons
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R.I.P. Bert Langerwerf & Steve Irwin

Kilioa · Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 1:45 pm Post subject: 20

i started her in a 20 long (now in a 40 breeder)then and now keeping the temp at a consistent 90 degrees with a basking lamp heated area up on a log at 100-110 degrees her hide box and when burrowed under the substrate varies from 70-80 degrees pending on the day
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0.1.0 Colombian Black & White Tegu (Kilioa)
1.0.0 Red Tegu (Odin)
2.3.0 Black Emperor Scorpions
1.0.0 Ball Python (Lucifer)
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