About Tegus
This tegu species is the largest of the tegu lizards, and males can grow up to 4.5 ft. long. Their coloration varies based on their age, but they are generally mottled black and white with varying amounts of other colors.
They have large, thick heads, and “chubby” looking necks that have fat deposits in them. Though they usually walk on four legs, when threatened they can run on their rear two feet to look more intimidating! Tegus are not Monitor Lizards.
Tegu Husbandry
Daily Chores
● Fresh water daily
● Spot clean daily
● Spray Daily (Full clean once a month)
● Use F10 Veterinary Disinfectant
Vets and Insurance
● Exotics Vets are not easy to find, here in Brighton we use Coastways in Kemptown as they have an exotic vet called Celine. It is essential you find an exotic vet.
● There is insurance you can get for your reptile through Exotic Direct.
Tegu Diet
They are omnivores and will eat a very wide range of foods including plant matter and live insects.
Tegus eat a diet that consists of insects, eggs, fruits, and small animals such as rodents and other lizards. Since they have such a varied diet, they are considered omnivores. However, their main diet consists mostly of fruits and leaves. Still, they will also feed opportunistically on invertebrates, carcasses, and animal tissues, including those of other lizards and birds.
In captivity food options include – Locust, snails, earthworms, fruit, veg and frozen thawed mice and chicks.
Arcadia Reptile Omnigold is a great food source for Tegus. EarthPro-OmniGold contains the correct ratio of approx. 50% vegetable/plant, 40% whole meat/insects and 10% Fruits, vitamins and minerals.
You also want to ensure your feeder bugs have been gut loaded (fed) before offering to your reptile. We use Arcadia Reptiles Insects Fuel.
At a glance:
Fruit and Veg – Daily
Bugs – Every other day
Frozen prey – Once a week
Supplementing your Tegu’s Diet
The use of high-quality reptile supplements in the correct amounts at the correct frequencies will help to ensure optimum bone health and skin health for your reptile, and help to avoid a plethora of nutrition-related illnesses such as metabolic bone disease.
EarthPro-A at every feed on all food items, CalciumPro Mg at every 4th feed, A quality full-spectrum powder with D3 and A can be offered at feed 6 or 8. We then carry on with this cycle.
Check out the feeding schedule using the link: https://www.arcadiareptile.com/earthpro/feeding-programme/omnivore/
Minimum rehoming Requirements for a Tegu
You can source all enclosures, equipment, electrics and decor from us as we run a shop.
- 8ft x 3ft x 3ft Vivarium
- Arcadia Reptile ProT5 54W 12% Kit £75
- 100W Arcadia Reptile Halogen £15
- 80W Arcadia Reptile Deep Heat Projector £21
- Dimming thermostat £55 (you will need 2 thermostats)
- Arcadia Reptile Ceramic bulb holder and plug £15 (you will need 2 bulb holders)
- Habistat Heat Cage £15 (you will need 2 cages)
- Substrate and decor is up to you. We advice a Sand X Soil mix as substrate and a minimum of 2 hides and a
water dish.
When installing the electrics in your enclosure, you want to create a warm side and cooler side.
The halogen and UVB create the warm side. While the ceramic provides a boost to ambient temps when needed
When you buy everything from us, we can set up your enclosure free of charge