Activity level question Extreme and Black And whites

[jjohnson32]

Hello,

I am doing my research before i get what i want and i am really leaning toward the extreme. I do have a concern though, and is witht the activity level of an extreme. Are these lizards very inactive or do they explore their cage and move about.

Comparison
argus monitor
or
Blue tongue skink

these two are on both ends of the spectrum, which is the argentine more like? or is it somewhere in the middle?

also hybernating do they always require 6 months of this every year?

thanks

lastly is a 8x4x4 cage large enough for an extreme?
Thanks

 

[mr.tegu]

I HAVE A YOUNG ARGENTINE BLACK AND WHITE TEGU LESS THEN 3 MONTHS OLD AND HE/SHE IS MORE ACTIVE WHEN SEARCHING FOR FOOD, ONCE FED ITS ALL ABOUT BASKING GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT MEAL. I HAVE OWNED ALL KINDS OF REPTILES FROM WHITE/BLACK THROAT MONITORS, SAVANNAHS, UROMASTYX, ALL KINDS OF PYTHONS, AND TEGUS GROW FASTER THEN ANY REPTILE I HAVE EVER OWNED. MY TEGU WAS 8 OR SO INCHES WHEN I GOT IT AND IS NOW ALMOST 20 INCHES IN 2 1/2 MONTHS, THATS 1 FOOT OF GROWTH IN 10 WEEKS, JUST OVER 1 INCH OF GROWTH A WEEK, SO MAKE SURE YOUR READY FOR THAT KINDA GROWTH RATE WHEN BUILDING OR BUYING YOUR ENCLOSURE. ALSO TEGUS WILL ROAM AROUND WHEN YOU GET THEM OUT TO HANDLE SO I THINK THAT THEY ARE PRETTY ACTIVE FOR REPTILES. HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTIONS OK!!

 

[jjohnson32]

yeah that helps, it will probably be next years cycle of tegus (2010) before i get one. Yeah i would have the cage built before i buy. I have several cages now that are good for young ones. I still have a year to decide but i think the extreme is the route i am going to go.

thanks

 

[mr.tegu]

sounds good just remember bigger is not always better, although i dont blame you bobbys extremes are awsome!!

 

[mr.king]

My roommate has an extreme she so different compared to my red, a lot more active. Her eating habits are also very different a bit more aggressive eater and she also won't eat fruit. Funny story she actually just bit me in the eye last week broke a bunch of blood vesicles in my eyeball and left teeth marks on my eye lid it was hilarious yet painful.

 

[jjohnson32]

Bit you in the eye? how close do you get your face to the tegu's mouth?

I keep bluetongues and i would not even let the little bluetongues close enough to have the chance to bite my eye. That sounds horrific, do you have any permanant vision loss?

I kinda live by the old Ronald Reagan saying "trust but verify"
with wild animals there is no verifying so I don't plan on getting my face or any vulnerable parts close to him. I know the risk of hands and feet i am referencing eyes, ears, genitals, nose, neck. things like that.

It is good to hear that they have a good activity level

 

[mr.king]

I'll put my red tegu on my face and he doesn't do anything except lay down on my face haha. I was actually laying down in bed and she can up to my face so ya. I had a little vision loss for like 15 minutes but after that I had continuous headaches for like 2 days haha, it was and experience.

 

[hoosier]

Hello,

Comparison
argus monitor
or
Blue tongue skink

Compared tto an argus tegus stand still. argus's are one of the most "hyper" varanids out there lol
my tegu is nowhere near the activity level of an argus but luckily they are not as huffy puffy as they are too. 8) or food agressive