Argentine black and white tegus are large impressive, interesting lizards that have been available as pets for many years. Recently they have caught my interest and I was thinking maybe one could be my next pet lizard. So, I decided to do a little research.
So, do Argentine black and white tegus make good pets? Here’s a summary of what I found.
Argentine black and white tegus are a large, beautiful impressive lizards from South America. They have a reputation of becoming “dog tame” if handled often. If you are looking for a big pet lizard, many people believe an Argentine black and white tegu is the very best choice.
Wow, a big pet lizard that is tame like a dog? Sign me up!
I’ve always thought it would be fun to have my own pet dragon. I’ve owned other large lizards in the past including iguanas and even a monitor lizard. Still, I wonder what it would be like to own a tegu and if they would make a good pet. If you are reading this article you may be wondering the same thing.
First let’s learn a little more about Argentine black and white tegus then we’ll dig into all the reasons they make a good pet lizard and some things to consider before actually buying one.
Facts About Argentine Black and White Tegus
- Where do they come from? – Argentine black and white tegus are large heavy bodied lizards from where else? Argentina. They can also be found in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
- How big do they get? – They can get up to 4 1/2 feet long and can way 10-15lbs or more. Some have been known to reach 5 feet and weight as much as 35lbs!
- How long do they live? – Argentine black and white tegus can live 15-20 years in captivity.
- What do they eat? – Tegus are omnivores and in the wild they will eat a wide range of foods including many kinds of insects, spiders, mollusks, eggs, birds, rodents, various kinds of fruit and other vegetation. In captivity they can be fed a wide variety of similar foods. Some owners even feed them canned dog food.
Now that we know a few interesting things about Tegus let’s look into why they make great pet lizards and some things to consider before adding one to your family.
Why They Make Good Pets
Argentine Black and White Tegus:
- Are big impressive lizards
- Easy to feed
- Very hardy
- Can be very tame
- Unlikely to bite
- Can be friendly and affectionate
Considerations
- Can be expensive
- Can be a big responsibility
- Need a very large cage
- Can be aggressive if not handled regularly
- Be sure it’s an Argentine black and white tegu
- Watch your cat or other animals
Why Argentine Black and White Tegus Make Good Pets
Are Big Impressive Lizards
If you’ve ever wanted a dinosaur or dragon as a pet but just haven’t been able to find one, an Argentine black and white tegu could be a great alternative. Even better than iguanas or monitors.
They have a long, angular, armored head with large scale covered jowls. They can be very fast but usually lumber around walking side to side driven by their big powerful legs and long sharp claws.
They explore their environment with confidence as they probe the air and surroundings with their long snakelike forked tongues.
Argentine tegus have spots like a leopard and stripes like a tiger. Their long, banded tails add to the total overall length of this great big lizard.
About the only thing an Argentine black and white tegu doesn’t have is the ability to breath fire or fly. They are large magnificent beautiful lizards!
Easy to Feed
The great thing about tegus is that they are easy to feed and will eat a wide variety of foods. This is good news compared to some reptiles that are very picky eaters. You can even get all of their food from your local grocery store!
Some owners feed their tegus only protein. This is not recommended. Even though they can be fed on a protein-only diet, expert reptile keepers and veterinarians that specialize in reptiles, suggest that it’s better to feed them a variety of foods.
One third of their diet should be protein items such as:
- Ground turkey
- Ground beef,
- Eggs
- Fish (not breaded)
- Chicken
- Canned cat food or dog food
Two thirds of their diet should be comprised of veggies including:
- Various kinds of squash
- Collard greens
- Turnup greens
- Dandelion greens
- Beet greens
- Swiss chard
- Green beans
- Peas
Very Hardy
Tegus are considered a very hardy lizard and this makes them great pets. They can tolerate some mistakes in their care and not develop significant health problems.
Of course, it’s always good to learn as much as you possibly can and give them the best care you know how. Still, it’s helpful to know they aren’t going to die if you forget something or don’t quite get their diet right.
Probably one of the biggest health concerns is obesity. They can become overweight just like humans can. If you notice this just put them on a diet. Try Beach Body or Atkins. Or maybe take them to your yoga class.
All joking aside, all you have to do is just back off the food a little until they lose some weight.
Can Be Very Tame
Who doesn’t want a huge pet lizard that can sit with you on the couch and roam free in your house! Argentine black and white tegus have a reputation of being “dog tame”. They aren’t quite like dogs. They won’t greet you at the door, wag their tails and jump with excitement, but you get the idea.
Can be Friendly and Affectionate
Though tegus aren’t quite like a dog, many owners say they can be affectionate and actually seek their attention. Some owners even put their pet tegu on a leash and take them for walks.
Some Things to Consider
As good as all of these things sound, no pet is perfect. And though there are many reasons a tegu makes a great pet lizard there are also several things to consider before adding one to your family. Let’s look at some of those things next.
Can be expensive
Argentine black and white tegus range in price from about $250 to $450 U.S. dollars or more especially if you buy them in a pet shop. This is relatively expensive for a lizard but the cost doesn’t stop there.
You will need to buy or most likely build or have built a very large enclosure. You will also need to provide full spectrum UVB lighting as well as a heat source.
These special bulbs and fixtures can be expensive not to mention the cost of electricity to keep them on 12 hours a day.
The total cost of keeping and taking care of a tegu is much more than just the price of purchasing one. This should be a big consideration before you buy one.
Big Lizard Big Responsibility
Speaking of big, any pet is a responsibility but a big lizard takes a lot more than say a leopard gecko. The kind of care and attention required for a large lizard isn’t that much different from a small one mind you.
There are some small lizards that have far more specific requirements to keep them healthy, like a Jacksons’ Chameleon for example.
It just means that everything is at a much larger scale. In some ways this can make things more difficult. You need more space and a lot more food.
This is something that should not be under estimated. Don’t be that person who buys a baby lizard and is not prepared for how big they can get and how much responsibility it can really be.
Need a very large cage
Keeping with the theme of “big” you will need a very large cage. Hatchlings will need a 40-gallon tank just to start with. While adults will need at least a 6ft by 3ft by 3ft cage and bigger is recommended.
For some people this just isn’t feasible. If that person is you then a tegu is not a good choice. A blue tongued skink however, could be an excellent alternative.
If you can accommodate such an enclosure you are well on your way to owning your very own pet dragon!
Go Through a Slightly Aggressive Stage
Assuming you want to buy one as a baby and raise it up, which is always fun, it’s important to understand that tegus go through puberty just like humans do. What? My lizard is going through puberty? Yep!
This happens when they are about 18-24 months old and can last as much as a year.
During this stage they can be grumpy and a little aggressive but it will pass as they age. Just be patient and keep working with them.
The great thing is that they will become more and more tame as they get older. Of course, you need to handle them regularly. The more you interact with your tegu the more they will become accustomed to it, and to you.
Just like other pets, (or humans for that matter) the more time you spend with them, the better your relationship will be.
Be Sure it’s an Argentine Black and White Tegu
If you want a big tame pet lizard and have decide a tegu is the right choice for you it’s important to be sure to get an Argentine black and white tegu.
Other tegus are not as easy to tame. Columbian tegus, for example, are cheaper but are harder to tame. If you want another kind of tegu just be aware of this.
Watch Your Cat or Other Animals
Your tegu may be a big, amazing tame lizard, that can wander freely in your house but he is still a lizard, and a predator. They are still driven by instincts so it’s important that you keep a very close eye on any other pets you have when your tegu is out of its cage.
It’s best just to keep them separated. You definitely don’t want your dog putting his nose in your tegus face because he just may end up losing it!
Conclusion
I have to say I have really enjoyed learning more about Argentine black and white tegus. I’ve enjoyed writing this article and I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed reading it.
Argentine black and white tegus are quite possibly the very best large lizard you can have as a pet. Some would even go as far as saying they are the best pet of all.
I can’t say that I’ve always been interested in tegus but lately I am finding them more and more appealing. The more I learn about them, the more I like!
I can honestly say I’m seriously considering one as my next pet reptile. If you feel the same way, I hope this information helps!