LL Blog is now over HERE.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
B.J. & The Tegu
This week's Member/Animal of the week is B.J. Sneed and her beautiful Tegu.
• Argentine Red Tegu (scientific name: Tupinambis rufescens.)
•red
•Female
•6 months old
•Argentine Tegu's are known for their placid, inquisitive, and friendly nature when given the adequate amount of attention.
They can grow up to five feet in length, making housing these animals rather difficult.
Tegu's come from Argentina, where it is hot and humid in the summer, and cold in the winter. They hibernate through the cold winter months and can adjust to major temperature changes quickly.
It is recommended to keep a basking spot of 100-110 (can safely be up to 120 for argentine red Tegu's)
Ambient temperature of 80-85
Cold side 75
Warm side upper 90's
Humidity of 70% or higher, with a extra humid hide space.
A lot is not known about the Tegu, they have not been studied a lot in the wild. The actual bite force is not even known.
• Tegu's will eat a wide variety of things: rodents, chicks, ground turkey, fruits, shrimp, fish, livers, gizzards, vegetables
Pros: they are smart, and amazing. When handled correctly you can end up with a dog-tame giant lizard. Tegu's can actually learn behaviors, such as eating out of a certain bowl at feeding time or their name.
They have A LOT of personality
They're beautiful!
They can actually CRAVE interaction with people.
Cons: housing can be difficult
Proper temperature and humidity is hard to achieve
Irresponsible owners (example: the ones who let them go free in Florida) make it a bit hard on tegu owners
They get big fast
When not handled properly they can become aggressive, they have large teeth and a bite force that could take a finger or two.
They go through a "tegu puberty" when they are 6months-1year old. It can happen any time between then, and they become grouchy for a little bit. (just like a person haha)
When you have an animal as smart as the tegu you have to expect them to be escape artists
They're expensive
• Argentine Red Tegu (scientific name: Tupinambis rufescens.)
•red
•Female
•6 months old
•Argentine Tegu's are known for their placid, inquisitive, and friendly nature when given the adequate amount of attention.
They can grow up to five feet in length, making housing these animals rather difficult.
Tegu's come from Argentina, where it is hot and humid in the summer, and cold in the winter. They hibernate through the cold winter months and can adjust to major temperature changes quickly.
It is recommended to keep a basking spot of 100-110 (can safely be up to 120 for argentine red Tegu's)
Ambient temperature of 80-85
Cold side 75
Warm side upper 90's
Humidity of 70% or higher, with a extra humid hide space.
A lot is not known about the Tegu, they have not been studied a lot in the wild. The actual bite force is not even known.
• Tegu's will eat a wide variety of things: rodents, chicks, ground turkey, fruits, shrimp, fish, livers, gizzards, vegetables
Pros: they are smart, and amazing. When handled correctly you can end up with a dog-tame giant lizard. Tegu's can actually learn behaviors, such as eating out of a certain bowl at feeding time or their name.
They have A LOT of personality
They're beautiful!
They can actually CRAVE interaction with people.
Cons: housing can be difficult
Proper temperature and humidity is hard to achieve
Irresponsible owners (example: the ones who let them go free in Florida) make it a bit hard on tegu owners
They get big fast
When not handled properly they can become aggressive, they have large teeth and a bite force that could take a finger or two.
They go through a "tegu puberty" when they are 6months-1year old. It can happen any time between then, and they become grouchy for a little bit. (just like a person haha)
When you have an animal as smart as the tegu you have to expect them to be escape artists
They're expensive
Who We Are and What We Are About.... Love Lizards?
Here's what Lizard Lovers on FaceBook is all about.
It's a place for those who live outside the norm of owning a cat or a dog. We love the COLD BLOODED variety of the pet population. As well as the eight-legged and stinger kinds. And we take in those that love their turtles and tortoises, too!
Open to *EVERYONE! (*13 years old and up)
** Reptile/Amphibian Breeders are accepted to join. But please post your ads in the DOCUMENTS area only.
*** Reptile/Amphibian PRODUCT reps... you are also allowed to join. Please post ads/information (detailed) about your products within the DOCUMENTS area.
**** Reptile/Amphibian Breeders *and* Product Reps, you ARE allowed to post a LINK (with a light description) to your website, FB profile page or blog.
Do you own a reptile or amphibian? Be it a gecko, a frog, a snake or even an iguana. Then come on in and join us!
If you own/breed turtles, tortoises, spiders or scorpions, you also are PERMITTED to join the group.
* Open to EVERYONE world wide!!
** Remember, you MUST be 13 (AT LEAST) to join us.
*** Post pictures, stories, ask questions about caring for your reptile or amphibian.
**** We are just all lovers of the not-so-typical household pet, having fun, sharing and conversing.
And we hope that you will join us on FaceBook (link in first paragraph), as well as follow us here on Blogger.
It's a place for those who live outside the norm of owning a cat or a dog. We love the COLD BLOODED variety of the pet population. As well as the eight-legged and stinger kinds. And we take in those that love their turtles and tortoises, too!
Open to *EVERYONE! (*13 years old and up)
** Reptile/Amphibian Breeders are accepted to join. But please post your ads in the DOCUMENTS area only.
*** Reptile/Amphibian PRODUCT reps... you are also allowed to join. Please post ads/information (detailed) about your products within the DOCUMENTS area.
**** Reptile/Amphibian Breeders *and* Product Reps, you ARE allowed to post a LINK (with a light description) to your website, FB profile page or blog.
Do you own a reptile or amphibian? Be it a gecko, a frog, a snake or even an iguana. Then come on in and join us!
If you own/breed turtles, tortoises, spiders or scorpions, you also are PERMITTED to join the group.
* Open to EVERYONE world wide!!
** Remember, you MUST be 13 (AT LEAST) to join us.
*** Post pictures, stories, ask questions about caring for your reptile or amphibian.
**** We are just all lovers of the not-so-typical household pet, having fun, sharing and conversing.
And we hope that you will join us on FaceBook (link in first paragraph), as well as follow us here on Blogger.
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