so i have bean doing some research and have read that argentine tegus are suposed to be the most gentle and freindly big lizard. i was wondering if anyone had any experience with these vs say a green iguana
tegu temperment ?
- Thread starter yourmylunch
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Well, b4 my son was born, I kept alot of lizards and snakes(Tiger retic, Burmese, Water Dragon, Tegu........)All I can say is put a chicken in front of it...............They can be nasty, all reptiles can be. But in the same aspect the one you get may be real docile. To put it this way, my burmese was a *****, my retic was loving. The burmese would always strike whenever you got near, where as the retic would great you and just reach out to be picked up. Alot of it depends on how young they are when you get them, and how much you handle them. They need exercise, and cannot be left in a cage. They need real sunshine, cannot be left in a cage. If you get a real young one, and keep it in a cage when you are gone, or in bed, but let it out a few hours a day, it could be excited to see you all the time, and become quite docile. If you leave it in a cage day in and day out, it can grow to spite you. As far as the Burmese goes, I have only met 1 nice one, it was 21feet long, and had just ate a 150lbs pig. Rest of them have all been strikers.
I wouldn't categorize a tegu as a gentle animal. They're more notable to be nasty, but you may get lucky. The ones I've owned were terrible. I loved them for their coloration though. The red and blue morphs are very beautiful.
Green iguanas can be nasty as well. They can bite, scratch you with their claws and whip you with their serrated tails. Again, it depends on the individual. They can also be a mess. They need a balanced diet, so the labor of making iguana salad is there too. You can't just throw in a bunch of crickets and call it a day. Also their crap is like a giant bird turd from the vegetation, so the cleaning aspect isn't too great either, lol.
Green iguanas can be nasty as well. They can bite, scratch you with their claws and whip you with their serrated tails. Again, it depends on the individual. They can also be a mess. They need a balanced diet, so the labor of making iguana salad is there too. You can't just throw in a bunch of crickets and call it a day. Also their crap is like a giant bird turd from the vegetation, so the cleaning aspect isn't too great either, lol.
Ive owned and been around both lizards and would have to say that both are variable in temperment and if not handled regularly, both have a large tendency to be ornery. You have to work with these guys.
If you're choosing between the two, then the iguana will get larger and require more space. Also, like Deathcurl mentioned, more time will be taken for food preparation.
If you're choosing between the two, then the iguana will get larger and require more space. Also, like Deathcurl mentioned, more time will be taken for food preparation.
I have owned iggys and also currently own an argentine tegu..I believe the tegus to be more tractable but I wouldn't go for the goldens as they are very skittish and the colombians are also known to take a lot more work with regards to calming down..mine is great and I know a few keepers of them whose animals are dog tame.
Here are some pics of mine http://www.captivebred.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3339
Here are some pics of mine http://www.captivebred.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3339
wow snakemanstu thats a beauty.
i was unclear before and now realize i need an argentine tegu as columbians have the bad reputation and reds are more delicate.
i have just heard of people having tegus that ran around the house even with other pets and seemed to like people. i have also heard of tegus that were evil but now realize why
the mean ones were usually columbians the cheaper ones. and they were fed live foods by hands which is a nono
i was unclear before and now realize i need an argentine tegu as columbians have the bad reputation and reds are more delicate.
i have just heard of people having tegus that ran around the house even with other pets and seemed to like people. i have also heard of tegus that were evil but now realize why
the mean ones were usually columbians the cheaper ones. and they were fed live foods by hands which is a nono