Just bought a new buddy
- Thread starter dougefresh
- Start date
Yup Tupinambis tegixin (hope Im spelling rigth) the golden or columbian tegu
Sweet purchase by all means, just remenbar that they indeed are more unpredictable and be ready for possible bites and tail whips. But you did purchase on the rigth time, bigger then this and you got a nigthmare on your hands. The temper its similar to a green igs, can be tame but has its moddy days, dont try to tame him down on thouse, just leave him alone and try next day. Just remenbar that this is a tropical species so a open air enclosure isnt good, heat and moist are essencial, house it and warm it like if it was a "ground level iguana" so to speak. They dont hibernate and outdoors only in the summer. I would say a 100w bulb its way overkill, this aint dezembar, a 60w will sufice and later a 80w. My igs get a copple of 60w for heat most of the year and they are perfectly fine (both plus the uv only come on simultaniously in the morning, later one of the heat bulbs automaticly shuts down as temps increase). You will also need as winter comes a ceramic heater on termostat for it to sleep nice and warm. This guys are mainly carnivors but you really should try to ad some fruits and veggys for variety, mixed with ground trukey. Superworms, roaches, chicken, locusts, boiled eggs, mice, etc
Sweet purchase by all means, just remenbar that they indeed are more unpredictable and be ready for possible bites and tail whips. But you did purchase on the rigth time, bigger then this and you got a nigthmare on your hands. The temper its similar to a green igs, can be tame but has its moddy days, dont try to tame him down on thouse, just leave him alone and try next day. Just remenbar that this is a tropical species so a open air enclosure isnt good, heat and moist are essencial, house it and warm it like if it was a "ground level iguana" so to speak. They dont hibernate and outdoors only in the summer. I would say a 100w bulb its way overkill, this aint dezembar, a 60w will sufice and later a 80w. My igs get a copple of 60w for heat most of the year and they are perfectly fine (both plus the uv only come on simultaniously in the morning, later one of the heat bulbs automaticly shuts down as temps increase). You will also need as winter comes a ceramic heater on termostat for it to sleep nice and warm. This guys are mainly carnivors but you really should try to ad some fruits and veggys for variety, mixed with ground trukey. Superworms, roaches, chicken, locusts, boiled eggs, mice, etc
Very nice I have seen some nice tegus in MFK. the one's I see in pet stores around here are emaciated . Lots pet stores are but yours is healthy and nice.
I wanted a pair for big backyard enclosure but my wife afraid of lizards so fish will have to do.
I wanted a pair for big backyard enclosure but my wife afraid of lizards so fish will have to do.
Thanks for all the advice guys I truly appreciate it. Went and got him a UVB bulb today to go along with the UVA. I do not feed any of my reptiles in tank so today I had to move him in a tub to feed. He was quite alright getting him out of the tank and putting him in the tub. He intially tailwhipped when I first opened the tank and reached in, but afterward was fine to hold and take into the other tank. Altough putting him back in, as i guessed, was quite a challenge.
He ate one large pinkie today, offered him another but did not like it. So I gave him some freeze dried mealworms which he ate without hesitation.
He seems to be settling in quite well, his hot side is around 95 degrees with the cool down around 78. Watching him burrow is quite awesome too I must admit. I'll hopefully have some more pictures up tommorow.
Thanks again for the advice and support guys.
He ate one large pinkie today, offered him another but did not like it. So I gave him some freeze dried mealworms which he ate without hesitation.
He seems to be settling in quite well, his hot side is around 95 degrees with the cool down around 78. Watching him burrow is quite awesome too I must admit. I'll hopefully have some more pictures up tommorow.
Thanks again for the advice and support guys.
I've had personal experience with Columbians, as well as the Argentine species. I have never seen a tame Gold teg, but many tame Argentines (especially Black and whites). The difference is like between a Nile and a Savanna monitor.
Good luck with yours!
Good luck with yours!
make sure you start now with the handling...once you break em in and he gets calm they turn out to be like puppys haha. tegus rock i have one too
