This is a generalised care sheet for Tegu Lizards, a genus titled (Tupinambis). For more in this femily see Category:Teiidae, or for a more detailed species care sheet see Category:Tupinambis.
Tupinambis is a lizard genus which belongs to the family of Teiidae. These large, South American lizards are commonly referred to as tegus; Tupinambis merianae (Argentine Black and White Tegu), Tupinambis rufescens (Red Tegu), and Tupinambis teguixin(Colombian Black and White Tegu, Gold Tegu, or Common Tegu) are all common in the pet trade. Tegus that have escaped or been illegally released have adapted to life in the wild in some of the more remote areas of South Florida.
Tegus are usually primarily carnivorous, except for T. rufescens (which is primarily herbivorous) and T. merianae (which is debatable 50/50). Tegus fill the same ecological niche as monitor lizards and are an example of convergent evolution.
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nb. All of these can be purchased from an online pet store |
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In captivity
The two most docile and easiest to handle species are the Argentine Black and White Tegu and the Red Tegu. Additionally, a new variety has been recently introduced, called the Blue tegu due to the tendency of males to become bright blue upon maturity. These variations grow from just under 2 feet to a larger 4+ feet (gold and blue tegus being the smallest and the red and Argentine black and white being the largest) and have a pleasant nature, making them popular pets. Tegus are also recognized for their intelligence, and have an impressive ability to remember details.
Most tegus are opportunistic feeders, accepting a wide variety of foods. Tegus’ diets can consist of crickets, mealworms, an occasional mouse, fish, hard boiled eggs, chicken, etc. Certain fruits and vegetables may be offered as well (for example, strawberries, mangoes, papaya, banana) but usually will only be eaten by the red or Argentinian black and white tegus. The Colombian tegus tend to be almost entirely carnivores/insectivores. Dairy products should never be given to reptiles, since they lack the ability to digest lactose (only mammals can). Also, dog food should only be offered in strict moderation to thin, underdeveloped, or sick animals, and only for a limited time. Dog food contains many ingredients that are not meant for lizard consumption, and is also very fatty. In addition, all tegus need size-appropriate housing with UVA and UVB light setups, maintaining a steady enclosure temperature of 80 F–90 F during the day and at about 75F during the night. Because tegus, like all lizards, are ectothermic, a temperature gradient will allow them to find the perfect location for their needs, so they also need a spot for basking with a temperature of 100F-110F.
Hibernation
Tegus naturally go into a hibernation cycle. It has been discovered that this is not needed to maintain their health, but it may have adverse effects on sexual development if their first years’ hibernation is skipped.