Help! Should I buy him?

Aero · Member Joined: Aug 20, 2008 Posts: 36

Hi All,

Sorry for the repost on this (also over at another forum) - I'm a little pressed for time and wanted to try and get some input.

About a week ago, I spotted a black and white Tegu in the local herp store and was drawn to two things that seemed rather unique from all of my research and reading about tegus:

1_ As soon as I put my hand in the viv, he (or she) just walked right on and loved being held.

2_ Really active - if I put my hand one-in-front-of-the-other like continuous stairs, s/he'll keep climbing and climbing. I've never seen such an energetic animal. In fact, I was a little worn out just trying to hold it! Not really, but I wanted to get the point across... this guy moves.

It's an 8 inch long juvenile.

My question(s) are:

_ Is this behavior normal for a baby, but they get more skittish as they get older? In other words, is this unique behavior that is a sign of a good start?

...and

_ Is the highly energetic behavior of constant hunting and climbing a sign that this is going to be one tough customer later?

I have no idea if this is a male or female, and won't for some time they say... the pet store suggests male, but no guarantees. So far, I'm in love

However, I don't want to get in over my head or make a rash choice - and I'm really curious about these behaviors. I can always take my time and buy from a good breeder as well, but it's also nice to have local support from this reputable place.

Is this a good'un?

Thanks for any assistance,
-Dan

angelrose · Moderator Joined: Jan 05, 2008 Posts: 1470

Hi Aero, what kind of tegu is he/she ? first thing, do you have the space required. in time, he will need an enclosure of about an 8x4x4 (argentine tegu). they are very, very curious with a healthy appetite. tegu proof your home if you intend to let him roam around. they do like to hide too.

how does he look ? all toes, nails ? base of the tail a lil' chubby ? is he alert looking ?

tegus are very social and active lizards. I would say your off to a very good start already. he shouldn't become more skittish later; just better. you can always get him/her probed by the vet or at about 24 months if it is a boy the jowls should start to kick in (get big).

they can be great lizards with proper care. so, without me seeing him myself he sounds like a winner

jayskuh · Valued Member Joined: Jun 21, 2008 Posts: 97

I say go for it, will not become "Skittish"!Some baby tegu are calm and very social right off the bat!You found a good tegu in anyones book!

txrepgirl · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

Hi Aero ( Dan ).Welcome to the Tegu forum family and it is nice to have you as a new addition here.I say,too,that you should go for it

.Allot of Tegus need some time to trust you so since he/she alreddy trusts you I would het him/her.Like angelrose sad please make sure that you have the room for him because they do grow very fast.I found out with both of our Tegus that they are males when they were about 8 months old.I could feel the two beeds under the vents.Good luck with him ( you alreaddy do ).If you get him/her please be so nice and post some pictures for us or a video.Thanks.Oh,one more thing.They do become calmer when they get older.I take naps with both of our Tegus

.

laurarfl · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:49 am Post subject:

He/she/it sounds very friendly and sociable. They do have different personalities. There may be a chance that you could get it home and it would hide for a bit if it were scared in its new habitat.

I have a young tegu that is real active like that one. The only thing I found is that she is prone to nose rubs because she is so darn active. Keeping her in any size glass enclosure was a disaster because she paced, rubbed, and jumped for the screen. She's in a 4x2 wooden enclosure and seems much better.
_________________
Laura R (FL)
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
0.2.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
1.0.0 Red Tegu
1.0.0 Green Amevia (yet another teiid)
8 other lizards
1 little gator
13 snakes
4 frogs
some bugs
and a partridge in a pear tree

Aero · Member Joined: Aug 20, 2008 Posts: 36

I think the nose rub is happening here too. He's in a very small enclosure and his nose is rubbed on the left side. At his size (see picture), he's just a baby!

Thanks for the tips all - I think I have the go-ahead to get him... we worked out some details today

Now to get his enclosure!
-D

laurarfl · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:07 am Post subject:

Cool, keep us posted!
_________________
Laura R (FL)
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
0.2.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
1.0.0 Red Tegu
1.0.0 Green Amevia (yet another teiid)
8 other lizards
1 little gator
13 snakes
4 frogs
some bugs
and a partridge in a pear tree

agallegos37 · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject:

Any pictures yet?

Aero · Member Joined: Aug 20, 2008 Posts: 36

Whew, long night! Our new boy arrived safely - Nathan, AKA Noodle!

We have his temporary viv setup with some EcoEarth coconut fiber, since that's what he was on in the store. He crawled right into his hide and dug around a bit, then peeked out at us to watch - and then he hit the sack. Tomorrow will be the real adapting period.

I don't know what the future holds with this little guy - hopefully a happy, healthy and tame pet that lives with us in harmony for many years to come. He handled the 15 minute car ride without any issue - the shop put some crumpled paper into a cardboard box and he crawled and dug underneath. He was so sleepy (we woke him up to bring him home).

In the meantime, the Animal Plastics folks are building us a T25 enclosure with all the trimmings, our Herpstat setup is on the way and we have some quail eggs, superworms, and silkworms on tap for breakfast. Yum! No feeding in the viv though, and no hand feeding.

I'd love to find a good, bacteria and bug free solution to these substrates. I can't imagine that high humidity pete moss, orchard bark... Reptile carpet is a no-no, plus he can't dig... Oh well, we have houseplants that are no issue so...

More pics on the way...

laurarfl · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:39 am Post subject:

Awww.....

Hmm...Bacteria free. All you can do is spot clean and keep your hands as clean as possible. I use Healthy Habitat at times which is supposed to have beneficial bacteria that keep the 'bad' bacteria under control. I also wash my hands a lot during the day and try to keep the animals away from food, etc.
_________________
Laura R (FL)
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
0.2.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
1.0.0 Red Tegu
1.0.0 Green Amevia (yet another teiid)
8 other lizards
1 little gator
13 snakes
4 frogs
some bugs
and a partridge in a pear tree

Aero · Member Joined: Aug 20, 2008 Posts: 36

Healthy Habitat, I'll get some - thank you! Do you just spray it directly onto the substrate?

This morning he's dug into his substrate in his hide and sleeping away. We're just leaving him be. That's his "safe" place.

-D

agallegos37 · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject:

Congrats he looks awesome!

laurarfl · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject:

Yep...spray it right onto the substrate.

Here's a link:

http://www.petco.com/product/13344/Natural-Chemistry-Healthy-Habitat.aspx
_________________
Laura R (FL)
0.1.0 Colombian Tegu
0.2.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
1.0.0 Red Tegu
1.0.0 Green Amevia (yet another teiid)
8 other lizards
1 little gator
13 snakes
4 frogs
some bugs
and a partridge in a pear tree

Aero · Member Joined: Aug 20, 2008 Posts: 36

Thanks, picked some up of the cleaner this a.m. at petco (even though they are evil)! Also, I picked up some 100% organic turkey and made the San Diego diet. Man, he loves that.

This morning was better - came out at noon on the nose, I popped him in his 50 gal tupperware tub and he ate one silkworm, some organic turkey dogfood (the real meat stuff) and some hard boiled quail egg. I guess that's not bad for his size. We'll try again later.

Question: Where do your tegu's poo, and where do the eat? So far, I take him out and he poo's and eats in the same tupperware. I'd like it to separate them somehow... Maybe pick him up after he eats and then he'll know?

Best,

-D
[/b]