Columbian Tegu

[siz]

We have been offered a juvi Columbian Tegu. Does anyone on Ssnakess have one? I noticed Coy posted about one last year. I'd like some opinions on housing and temperment and stuff. I've checked out a few care sheets but I haven't been able to find an exceptional one, if you have any links they would be much appreciated. We have an 80g we can put it in, and have a mesh 6'x3'x3' which is perfect size for an adult. Would it be stressed in the 80g due to its large size? Offhand I can't remember the length of the tegu, probably about...5"?
We have some spare things lying around. We would be using cocohusk for substrate. We have a hot rock, ZooMed I think - should we use this? I've heard a lot of bad things but this one doesn't really get too hot to the touch, although I can't even estimate the temp. Obviously I would have a basking spot too, just curious about the hotrock.
And what do you feed yours? I've read a few different things so I'm not to sure on that. I've read that half of their adult diet can consist of fruits and as youngsters they should eat mostly a large variety of insects and pinkies.
I think that's all for now, thanks.

[Chu'Wuti]

Very cool, siz. I hope somebody else has some info--I've never had one of these animals. I just googled them and saw some u-tube video. They appear to be pretty omnivorous.

Re length--the one you were offered is pretty young, I guess. Do they need to be put in a full-size tank right away, or can you begin with a small tank and increase the tank size as the tegu grows? IDK, but hopefully someone will have lots of info for you!

[siz]

I was wrong about length, haha. I had only seen him once. He/she is about 6", 7" not including the tail.

[Aaron_S]

I would go with a smaller enclosure for the little bugger. Much easier to maintain humidity levels and heat.

Secondly, hot rocks are terrible. It isn't just because they get to a certain temperature it's because they tend to get "hot spots" which is just a spot on the rock that gets waay too hot. Also, I've heard they tend to malfuction a lot. Lastly, about hot rocks, it's such a localized heat source, it's a terrible design. Basking spot is better.

Umm look up Agama International. It was started by the late Bert Langerwarf (RIP) and he's probably the KING of tegus. His site probably has some interesting husbandry care on them.

Also, gold colombian tegus tend to have a terrible attitude. I also think a screen enclosure wouldn't last long with one.

[Smilts]

screens are a bad idea, they like to dig and are very good at it. Also they need higher humiditys. I will try and locate the site where I got most of my info on them, and post it in a bit. A smaller tank to start with is best but if fed right they grow fairly fast. When they are grown a wooden cage with a plexiglass front would be best to hold humidity and give plenty of room. From all the info that Ive found Columbians tend to be less omnivorous and more carnivorous than there larger aregentinian cousins. They prefer hides that they can kinda dig into and get out of site but still fill the sides and top of the hide. I use two smaller rocks about 1/2 inch thick with a larger diameter 1/2 inch thick rock spanning them she just digs into the substrate to get under and loves it. The top is large enough to make for a good basking spot when she is out. I agree with Aaron S on the heat rock besides all of its own faults tegu's seem to be pretty rough on there home, mines always moving things around and digging stuff into her little pond. They like water she spends a little time every day basking in or around her pond. They have a very flightly attitude and take alot of work and time to calm down. At that size a pinkie or even a hopper a week would be suitable but be carefull not to over do it, crickets and meal worms and other feeder inverts should make up most of there diet from what Ive read. Be prepared they can and will put down alot of crickets other invertebrates as well.

Sorry its late so my post kinda skips around alot.

tegus - Care Sheets Information about Columbian Tegu Lizards tegus ,characteristics and sexing, Description of Diet, Diet-Omnivorous,Supplements, Nutrition and Usage - calcium and vitamins, Lighting and UVB,Tempatures and Humidity,Caging, Substrate a (http://www.repticzone.com/caresheets/611.html)
This is one that I was directed to.

[siz]

Thanks Aaron, I won't use the rock then. We got it for free so I was just wondering. I've seen posts where other people ask about them and the general response seems to be "THROW IT AWAY!"
I have taken a quick look at Agama International but as far as I could see they only had info about Argentines.

Coy: The mesh is very strong but I hadn't taken into account the fact they are diggers. My boyfriend is a carpenter and I looove building enclousres so we will definatley do that when the time comes. We have a tupperware filled with water for it to bathe in - should it be big enough for it to swim, or do they just chill in it?
I'm not totally clear on the feedings..Do I feed a hopper a week plus crickets/worms daily?
And will they drink from the still water or do they only drink droplets of water from mistings?
Can you post a picture of your enclosure? :)
Thanks for all the help!

In comparison to iguanas, does anybody know if they are more or less work to tame? Generally speaking of course, there's always the friendly ones, and there's always the jerks. I've found young igs are very flighty and older ones can be a pain in the a$$ if you get them when they are older. Rewarding though when they finally come to.

[Smilts]

I mist once day but she drinks from here pond so I change it every day also. As far as feeding I think I fed crickets every other day and hoppers once a week she has moved up since then to 2 small mice a week and will hardly touch crickets or hissing roachs and will not touch super worms or any other type of worm. Ill post a pic of her enclosure in a little bit, but its a transition home untill I get her cage finished. I cant help with how easy or hard they are to tame as this is my first one. It seems that everyone I talk to has a seperate opinion on the subject. Oh and with the feeding every other week she gets some liver she loves t and I feed it to her dusted. There may be some flaming of this practice but what to feed Tegu's is also a open ended argument.

[siz]

Cooked liver? I've also read you can feed them ground turkey - I assume this should be cooked?

[Smilts]

nope raw fresh liver, also some people do feed raw ground up turkey lots of times with additives like can oh cricket and other mixes such as vitamin supplements.

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss233/smiltstomb/101_1646.jpg

It usually has a plexiglass cover over the majority of the top.

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss233/smiltstomb/101_1654.jpg

Side view she does most of her own landscaping.

[siz]

Side view she does most of her own landscaping.

Hahahah. Cool, thanks for all your help!

[mystical]

Incase you dont know columbian black and white tegus are not the most tame you would be much better off with an argentine black and white tegu they are so much more docile.
They are alot harder to tame and more unpredictable then an iguana

[siz]

we've already had it for a month lol, old post

[Smilts]

well hows it going witnh it?