They can reach up to four feet in length. Argentine Tegu Size And Appearance. However, as with most reptiles, if they are not handled regularly, they show more aggressive behaviour; their bite can be painful and damaging due to strong jaws (1000 N bite force, stronger than a dwarf caiman, partly due to the short, deep skull) and sharp incisor teeth in the upper jaw. GGRF $249. Adult Argentine black and white tegus also can have a variety of fruits and vegetables added to their diets. The Argentine black-and-white tegu is a stout lizard native to South America. Sometimes Argentine tegus are also called giant tegus or big-headed tegus. [6], The skull is heavily built with a large facial process of the maxilla, a single premaxilla, paired nasals, a single frontal bone, and a single parietal bone. When a tegu reaches the age of eight months, the beginning of their juvenile age, their sex can easily be determined visually; their vent at the base of the tail will bulge when it is a male, and lie flat when it is a female. Tegus also eat fruit, vegetables, plants, pet food, carrion and the eggs of chickens, ground-nesting birds and other reptiles, including American alligators and gopher tortoises, both protected species. Misting the enclosure with water will also aid in keeping the environment the way your tegu likes it. Like most lizards, fresh water should be provided daily. Having this large water dish will also help you achieve the ideal 60 to 80 percent relative humidity in your tegu's environment (a hygrometer will help you monitor the humidity level). They are largely terrestrial, and spend copious amounts of time in deep burrows which afford protection from dehydration and extreme temperatures. Breeders generally inform the buyer on the sex of the animal before the purchase. The species is the largest of the "tegu lizards". If they are not allowed exposure to UVB on a daily basis, they can experience severe pain and/or deformities from diseases such as Metabolic Bone Disease. Website: www.petcoach.co. Raw avidin immobilises biotin, so excessive feeding of raw eggs may cause fatal biotin deficiency. Tegus are becoming … As hatchlings, these tegus have an emerald green color from the tip of their snout to midway down their neck with black … [12], Salvator merianae has recently been shown to be one of the few partially warm-blooded lizards, having a temperature up to 10 °C (18 °F) higher than the ambient temperature at night time. There is much controversy about the correct scientific classification of this animal. Het Albino Tegu '20. These symptoms are all red flags but are treatable if caught early. Last accessed 10th June 2018. The Argentine black and white tegu, Salvator merianae, largest of all tegu species, is native to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. Available are these 4 month old baby Argentine Black and White Tegu . They need UVB to produce Vitamin D in their bodies, as well as metabolizing calcium. Juvenile tegus can be kept in a large glass aquarium with a locking lid, but adults will need a larger specialty terrarium or a custom-built cage. It's painful for the animal and can lead to weakened bones. They have beaded skin and stripes running down their bodies. Reptile Magazine (2018) Tegu Lizard Housing And Care Information. If its eyes are cloudy or it seems lethargic, these may be signs of a sick lizard. For adult Argentine tegus, plan on at least a 6-foot by 3-foot by 2-foot enclosure. In Florida, tegus can be seen on roadsides or other disturbed areas. As pets, tegus can be one of the most rew… This means it eats both plants and animals. The Argentine Black and White Tegu. They're also prone to respiratory infections, which usually happens when there is not enough humidity in the animal's enclosure. While it is true that tegus can tolerate cooler temperatures, for proper health and digestion, daytime temperatures should be between 80 and 85 degrees, with a basking spot between 100 and 110 degrees. Tegus have been documented eating young gopher tortoises. Go follow me on instagram reptilelovers98! They only lay between 18 and 25 eggs in a 'clutch', sometimes more dependent upon animal size and husbandry as well as individual health of the gravid female. Vitamin deficiencies can lead to trouble shedding skin, lethargy and weight loss; a calcium deficiency can lead to metabolic bone disease, which can be fatal.[20]. They are … GGRF $249. They may continue to grow to lengths of 4.0–4.5 ft (120–140 cm). Chances are your tegu will spend most of its time in this hiding spot. This is definitely a pet you want to acquire from a reputable breeder. In 1839, this species of tegu was originally described as Salvator merianae. Baby Ghost Tegu $ 599.99 Read more. Most owners use Cyprus Mulch mixed with Coconut Fiber, as it retains humidity extremely well, and is commercially available. In captivity, tegus commonly are fed high protein diets that include raw or cooked flesh such as ground turkey, canned & dry dog food, commercial crocodile diet, chicken, eggs, insects, and small rodents. by Bert Langerwerf. Tegus are sometimes kept as pets. Size is relative to genetics as well as husbandry and diet. They must have a lot of floor space. At times the scale pattern on Colombians can resemble big cat … Never allow water level to be above shoulder height for a tegu, as many tegus commonly drown when left without supervision. Photo taken by José Carlos Merino Mombach and uploaded to iNaturalist. The Argentine black and white tegu lizard is an omnivore. Baby Albino Black Ice Tegu $ 2,999.99 $ 999.99 Read more. The Argentine Black and White Tegu has beaded skin and a distinctive pattern of white and black dots and stripes. In adulthood tegus continue to eat insects and wild fruits, and it is assumed that such components include desirable or essential nutrients. This is so they can regulate their body temperature by going to whatever temperature works for them at the moment. Argentine Black a… [30], Species of lizard which is the largest of the tegu lizards, drop a section of its tail as a distraction, http://www.uco.es/organiza/servicios/publica/az/php/img/web/17_12_32_15NotaRendimientoBasso.pdf, "The biomechanical role of the chondrocranium and sutures in a lizard cranium", "A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes", "Seasonal reproductive endothermy in tegu lizards", "Control of invasive tegus in Florida | The Croc Docs", "Tegus - Georgia Invasive Species Task Force", "Argentine Black and White Tegus | Department Of Natural Resources Division", "Invasive Tegu Lizards Are Eating Their Way Through Southeastern US", "First sighting of black and white tegu lizard confirmed in Midlands - South Carolina Department of Natural Resources", "Invasive tegu lizard spotted in Berkeley County, DNR monitoring", "Review of teiid morphology with a revised taxonomy and phylogeny of the Teiidae (Lepidosauria: Squamata)", "Hybridization and hybrid zone stability between two lizards explained by population genetics and niche quantification", "Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata)", "This dog-size lizard is spreading through the southeastern U.S.", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Argentine_black_and_white_tegu&oldid=1005871808, Taxa named by André Marie Constant Duméril, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2018, Taxonbars using multiple manual Wikidata items, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 February 2021, at 21:09. Housing. Unscrupulous or incompetent pet dealers sometimes pass off gold tegus as black and white tegus. Multiple species are found in the international pet trade: Salvator merianae (Argentine or giant black and white tegu, blue tegu), Salvator rufescens (red tegu), andTupinambis teguixin (Colombian black and white or gold tegu). Despite their large size compared to other tegus, Argentine black and whites enjoy a reputation for being more docile than their smaller counterparts. The Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) might just be the best pet lizard on planet earth. For the first year of life, both require a high-protein diet of meat and insects to fuel rapid growth — about 90% protein and 10% vegetables, with occasional fruit.Due to the smaller size of a young tegu, insects can and should make up most of the protein offered. [19], As adults, they have blunted teeth and exaggerated lateral pterygoidal muscles which allow them to be generalist feeders. The gold tegu belongs to the family Teiidae, genus Tupinambis. If your pet stops eating, seems lethargic, or shows any swelling or dry skin, consult a veterinarian who specializes in lizards. Be sure to feed your Argentine tegu their mice with a bowl or tongs to prevent accidentally getting bitten by your hungry lizard. AHP Exotics $400. Unlike other lizards, taller cages are not necessary for tegus as they do not stand on their hind legs or climb trees.
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