Want to purchase my first tegu?

[Frankb1]

Does it make a difference between a red, black and white or blue tegu as a first tegu? Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have had various reptiles in the past including anoles, bearded dragon, ball pythons and an 8 ft red tail boa. Currently have 3 Egyptian tortoises and a baby Ornate Uromastyx.

 

[laurarfl]

I don't think it makes a huge difference. People have preferences for different reasons, usually based on appearance. What are you looking for in a pet tegu?

 

[Frankb1]

I'm looking for one that will be a tame adult that can hangout and free roam somewhat. Looking for higher contrast color/pattern so I guess I lean more towards a black and white or blue.

 

[tegus4life]

Like Laura said, people have different preferences for different reasons. In my opinion all three are gorgeous animals, and you can find high contrast reds too. Blues tend to be harder to find (and often more expensive) than B&Ws unless you look during breeding season, but still definitely not impossible. Also, some people prefer Argentine B&W to Columbian B&W because they say they are nicer/easier to tame (However, I can give no advice on the highly debated matter because I don't have any experience with Columbians). You can always look for an already tame adult, which may be easier than raising one up yourself and trying to get it to tame down. The adult B&W are usually much easier to find for sale than adult blues, since adult blues tend to get snatched up quickly. Looking for a nice rescue might also be a good option. Any of them (Columbian, Argentine, Red, Blue) would make a great pet, it just really depends on the amount of time you spend with it and how dedicated you are to your tegu.