Tegu Questions

[ReptileAlchemist]

Hi. I've been on this forum and have read lots of great info but I need some opinions/care questions that I have not yet found so here they are:

What are some good building materials for an enclosure besides wood?
Do I have to feed whole prey to babies such as pinkie and bugs or can I feed stuff like eggs, ground turkey, etc.
Are they strictly terrestrial and do not climb or do they climbable décor and stuff like that
How much do you feed them (be age specific please)
Is there a meat/vegetable/fruit ratio if there is please include it
Supplements? How much and how often (age specific please)
Is hibernation necessary for a non-breeder?
What tegu should I get if I want one extra white and still tame and at a decent size

Thanks and I do not yet own a tegu but Plan to own one eventually.

 

[marydd]

Hello! Welcome. I can help you with a few of these questions. I hope I get the info right. If not I'm sure another person will correct me.
As far as I know wood is the most popular used. They do sell pvc cages but I have not seen any large enough for an adult tegu.
Whole prey is really important in having a healthy tegu. A couple times a week you should feed whole prey. This includes mice and insects. I prefer dubia roaches to crickets. Try whole ground Turkey rather than grocery store. I hear quail eggs are healthier than chickens. But I can't find any at my local asain good mart. They are pretty much terrestrial. They will climb a bit. Mine will climb on the couch but that's about it. They are not tree climbers.
I believe babies you feed almost once a day. Ratio 1:3 vaggies to meat. Adults every other day or every couple days. Their ratio is more 1:2. I do a kind of meat loaf with my turkey and veggi/fruits. Fresh water every day. If I am giving insects I always dust with calcium. Vitamins I give once a week. Depending on how many mice I feed in a week I do Calcium dusting maybe 2 times and vitamins once.
If you are not breeding the tegu does not have to brumate. Unless new studies have come out saying otherwise, it doesn't hurt the tegu. If they do not brumate feed a bit less than if they do. Watch for obesity. Very common with tegus.
I read the argentine tegus are easier to tame than Columbian. I think they are better looking. They also get bigger.
Tegu's are very pricey pets. Make sure you are up to the task financialy also. They are pretty great! Hope I answered some of your questions.

 

[ReptileAlchemist]

Hello! Welcome. I can help you with a few of these questions. I hope I get the info right. If not I'm sure another person will correct me.
As far as I know wood is the most popular used. They do sell pvc cages but I have not seen any large enough for an adult tegu.
Whole prey is really important in having a healthy tegu. A couple times a week you should feed whole prey. This includes mice and insects. I prefer dubia roaches to crickets. Try whole ground Turkey rather than grocery store. I hear quail eggs are healthier than chickens. But I can't find any at my local asain good mart. They are pretty much terrestrial. They will climb a bit. Mine will climb on the couch but that's about it. They are not tree climbers.
I believe babies you feed almost once a day. Ratio 1:3 vaggies to meat. Adults every other day or every couple days. Their ratio is more 1:2. I do a kind of meat loaf with my turkey and veggi/fruits. Fresh water every day. If I am giving insects I always dust with calcium. Vitamins I give once a week. Depending on how many mice I feed in a week I do Calcium dusting maybe 2 times and vitamins once.
If you are not breeding the tegu does not have to brumate. Unless new studies have come out saying otherwise, it doesn't hurt the tegu. If they do not brumate feed a bit less than if they do. Watch for obesity. Very common with tegus.
I read the argentine tegus are easier to tame than Columbian. I think they are better looking. They also get bigger.
Tegu's are very pricey pets. Make sure you are up to the task financialy also. They are pretty great! Hope I answered some of your questions.

Thankyou for all the great information that covered almost all of it Is there a way to tell if they're getting overweight and how often should I include fruits?

 

[marydd]

I don't know the exact way to tell if a tegu is obese. Mine will get bloated after a meal but after she 'does her business ' she doesn't look quite so fat. If they are looking chubby cut down a little on the food. I usually do fruits every other time I do veggies. Mine loves fruitsn I try not to give to much.

 

[Thependers4]

where can you get whole ground turkey?

 

[marydd]

You can get it from 'hare-today' but you have to buy in bulk or from 'my pet carnivore' I'm sure you can find it else where also but those two I know of. I had a bad experience with the hare-today but everyone else seems to like it

 

[Thependers4]

What about breeding my own mice ? They're so expensive any other way .