Adoption Details For Tegan!
Name:
Tegan
Animal Id:
12472
Date Created:
9/11/2023 10:05:01 PM
Age:
12 Year(s) 2 Month(s) Old
Type:
Lizard
Gender:
Female
Primary Breed:
Black and White Tegu
Spayed / Neutered:
No
Secondary Breed:
Microchip:
Primary Color:
Black
Markings:
12472, EW, T1, K1
Secondary Color:
White
Pattern:
Weight:
6 lbs
Hi! My name is Tegan and I am looking for a forever family.
I require a home that has large lizard experience and I require a large usually custom made enclosure.
In love taking a warm bath, especially when I am shedding.
I can be temperamental if you wake me up and hard to take out of my enclosure and to handle but if you wait till I am awake on my own then I am handleable. I also can get a little hangry so regular feedings are important to me.
The females are much smaller, but may grow up to 3 feet (91 cm) in length from nose to tail. They have beaded skin and stripes running down their bodies. Adult females can reach a weight of 2.5–7.0 kilograms (5.5–15.4 lb). Most Tegu's like me live to be 10-15 yrs old.
I was owned by one person for my entire life but an unavoidable move meant that I was not able to go with them, so luckily they brought me to the experienced people at SBRSC until I can find my new home.
If you think we may be a good match, or you would like to get to know me better, please click the Adoption Application button below and an adoption counselor will reach back out to you!
PLEASE NOTE:
1- We can only accept applications from interested parties who are in or near San Diego County, California at this time.
2- We do not ship reptiles but we may be willing to work with you if you are willing to travel if you are still in Southern California.
3- #2 will depend on the animal that you are applying for and is at the discretion of the board of directors.
I require a home that has large lizard experience and I require a large usually custom made enclosure.
In love taking a warm bath, especially when I am shedding.
I can be temperamental if you wake me up and hard to take out of my enclosure and to handle but if you wait till I am awake on my own then I am handleable. I also can get a little hangry so regular feedings are important to me.
The females are much smaller, but may grow up to 3 feet (91 cm) in length from nose to tail. They have beaded skin and stripes running down their bodies. Adult females can reach a weight of 2.5–7.0 kilograms (5.5–15.4 lb). Most Tegu's like me live to be 10-15 yrs old.
I was owned by one person for my entire life but an unavoidable move meant that I was not able to go with them, so luckily they brought me to the experienced people at SBRSC until I can find my new home.
If you think we may be a good match, or you would like to get to know me better, please click the Adoption Application button below and an adoption counselor will reach back out to you!
PLEASE NOTE:
1- We can only accept applications from interested parties who are in or near San Diego County, California at this time.
2- We do not ship reptiles but we may be willing to work with you if you are willing to travel if you are still in Southern California.
3- #2 will depend on the animal that you are applying for and is at the discretion of the board of directors.
Quick Reference Guide
Animal Type
Lizard
Breed
Black and White Tegu
Introduction
Tegus are diurnal, terrestrial lizards found throughout eastern and southeastern South America. Argentine tegus are omnivorous, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. Colombian tegus are carnivorous, meaning that they eat primarily animals. Tegus are very active opportunistic hunters, hunting their own prey as well as scavenging carrion where it is available. Depending on the species, tegus grow to be between 24”-60” long, weighing 8-15 lbs. They are considered “large” lizards, and have special care considerations owing to that size. Tegus have an average lifespan of 15-20 years.
Difficulty
Advanced
Difficulty Notes
Tegus are expensive to feed and house, and they go through a “puberty”-like adolescent phase where they become thoroughly unpleasant to deal with. They can become “dog tame” with time and persistent effort, but even dogs and cats occasionally bite and scratch, and even a tame adult tegu will bite/scratch/tail whip if it feels scared or threatened.
Basking Temp
125-135
Ambient Temp
90-95
Lowest Temp
75-85
Temp Notes
Because yearling and adult tegus are so large, it’s more efficient to use a series of halogen flood lights clustered together, creating a proportionally larger basking zone.
Diet
Omnivore
Diet Notes
60% protein, 30% vegetables, 10% fruit - In the wild, tegus enjoy an extremely varied diet dependent on what is seasonally and regionally available. Aside from providing a variety of flavors and textures, a varied diet more importantly supplies a greater spectrum of nutrients than can be accomplished with a diet of “staples.” Therefore, it is your job as a tegu owner to provide as many different kinds of tegu food as possible.
UVA Intensity
Tropical
UVB Intensity
Strong
Ferguson Zone
3
Lighting Notes
Fergiusson zone of 3-4 is preferred. These lizards need lots of lighting and heating.
Enclosure Size
Large Custom
Enclosure Notes
These animals require a lot of space, like a small room in your home type space. Floor space of 8ft x 8ft is not uncommon, with large water access and deep substrate. This can complicate heating and lighting.
Substrate
Forest Floor
Substrate Notes
Coco Chips also make for a safe and enriching substrate to burrow in.
Humidity
High (70-100%)
Humidity Notes
Although Argentine tegus generally do well enough with a large water bowl, Colombian tegus like to have the opportunity to soak. Use a large but shallow Rubbermaid tub, and keep the water clean at all times. Note that tegus often drag substrate into and even poo in their water, so be prepared to clean and replace the water daily.
Animal Reference Material:
| Category | Title | AnimalType | Breed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Care | Black and White Argentine Tegu: Feeding, Housing, and Handling | Lizard | Black and White Tegu | |
| Animal Care | Lizard UVB Lighting: What you need to know! | Lizard | ||
| Blog | [Video] Is an Argentine Black and White Tegu the best pet for me? | Lizard | Black and White Tegu | |
| Blog | Custom Enclosure for a Tegu | Lizard | Black and White Tegu | |
| Blog | Custom Large Lizard Enclosure Considerations | Lizard | ||
| Ambassadors | Ambassador Atlas - Our Argentine Black and White Tegu | Lizard | Black and White Tegu |