Just got a 2' red tegu

[dirtyblacksocks]

For freeeeee - it's going to free roam the house and backyard when I get him/her up to size.

Anyone own one of these guys, have any tips? He/she just came out of a 6 month hibernation period so a bit lethargic and HUNGRY.

Pictures of the Tegu and it's future home:

He's eating raw tuna steaks and lots of different berries/fruits

 

[Louie]

Great looking tegu. I know a guy has pair outside here all year long and we had some cold nights last winter like 2 weeks worth of 40 degrees. Temp went up in day to high 70s but cold at night.

BIG diggers that I know he had to go deep with fence and cement borders. In truth after 6 inches you hit coral rock here thus not soft substrate but even than they dug.
He wound up putting them in large dog run kennel with couple of wooden tables and benches as hang outs because they will even go over a high fence .

Both are old and do great outside . Your tegu will become real HOT tempered once he gets real sun . It increases their test according to what he said. I myself never had any.

Get a female they breed but either way great looking tegu

 

[Mike D]

i would get him on a turkey and mice diet. and use the tuna as a treat.

if your going to keep him outside make sure he cant burrow under the fence or your neighbors will have a free tegu lol. and make sure you look over every square inch of that fence for ways he can get out. trust me they will find it lol.

you will notice a bit of an attitude change when keeping him otuside but i wouldnt worry about it to much. red tegus tend to be big babies when they get older anyways. some almost seem to love and thrive off of human interaction.

 

[Mampam]

lol, why not start with a baby?

 

[AW2EOD]

I see nothing wrong with giving free roam, as long as your entire house and outdoors is not the full time habitat.

Don't know if I might have skipped it, or what...but I saw no mention of an enclosed outdoor enclosure. Letting him have free roam, in the backyard, is a very bad idea.

As long as it's supervised, sure...let him outside and have free roam of the house and outdoors. But, you need to have an indoor AND outdoor, full time enclosure, that he cannot escape from.

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

Check the pics again, a section of the backyard is fenced off as a pen for him. I live in Southern California as well, so weather conditions are ideal year 'round.

I didn't start off with a baby because this one was free. Had you bothered to read the post instead of just remarking on the title you'd have seen that.

 

[coura]

i would get him on a turkey and mice diet. and use the tuna as a treat.

if your going to keep him outside make sure he cant burrow under the fence or your neighbors will have a free tegu lol. and make sure you look over every square inch of that fence for ways he can get out. trust me they will find it lol.

you will notice a bit of an attitude change when keeping him otuside but i wouldnt worry about it to much. red tegus tend to be big babies when they get older anyways. some almost seem to love and thrive off of human interaction.

Your forgeting that they tend to be on the omnivorus side Mike. Basides the already mencioned food items vegetable matter like fruit and some greens and lets not forget bugs and boiled eggs, are very important. Get some turkey, banana,turnip and water cress greens and a desshelled boiled egg, ad some reptivite, ground it all, and dinner is served. Your lucky thats a owesame rep Your backyard its good for roaming but all thouse fences defenetly need to be repaired because they are full of escaping places. I also recomend that you make him a permanent home indoors for when your not home

 

[Mike D]

Your forgeting that they tend to be on the omnivorus side Mike. Basides the already mencioned food items vegetable matter like fruit and some greens and lets not forget bugs and boiled eggs, are very important. Get some turkey, banana,turnip and water cress greens and a desshelled boiled egg, ad some reptivite, ground it all, and dinner is served. Your lucky thats a owesame rep Your backyard its good for roaming but all thouse fences defenetly need to be repaired because they are full of escaping places. I also recomend that you make him a permanent home indoors for when your not home

its true that they are on the omnivorous side but i was stating that his animal protein should be more than fish. mice, turkey and bugs should be the main animal protein that is received. as far a veggies and fruit is concerned i would give him what ever he will eat. when he gets bigger you are going to have a bottomless pit to feed lol. so the less picky you can get him now the better off you will be in the long run.

 

[Toby_H]

I’ve got an Argentinean Black and White Tegu…. Very similar to your (also Arg) Red Tegu… I have a Thread in this folder talking about her so I won’t clog your thread up with details about mine…

As mentioned, they do dig a lot and have a reputation of being very capable escape artists (though all reptiles do really).

Mine avoids mid day direct sun even in my slightly cooler climate (Charlotte, NC) so make sure she has available shade in her outdoor enclosure…

I’ve read a lot of varying reports/recommendations regarding feeing them fruit & vegetables… Some say it is an important part of an adults diet while others say they only eat fruit & vegetables to alleviate hunger pains when meat is not available… and there are thoughts/opinions in between…

This is the forum of the breeder I bought mine from. Like all forums there are a lot of youngsters (to the hobby) who are quick on the draw to give advice, but there are also several members who have kept a couple of Tegus for many years with very solid advice. Then of course the site host (Bobby / Varnyard) has been raising them and breeding them (outdoors) for a good number of years and has a lot to offer in regards to their care.

http://www.tegutalk.com/forum/index.php


Feel free to ask questions here or there (Toby_H there)… I’ll answer anything I can and will admit it when I don’t know something…

 

[Mike D]

I’ve read a lot of varying reports/recommendations regarding feeing them fruit & vegetables… Some say it is an important part of an adults diet while others say they only eat fruit & vegetables to alleviate hunger pains when meat is not available… and there are thoughts/opinions in between…

from what i have read the fruits and veggies help to aid in shedding as well. it helps them stay hydrated. i would offer them, most will take them. i have only read about a few that would not take to fruits and veggies. reds are known for being very good eaters.