What do i need?

[Dana71]

Hey everyone;
I'm going to be getting a "baby" Argentina black + white tegu. What do i need as far as the size "tank" or as I would perfer to call it "home". They're refering to it as a baby.
I thought it would be better to get a baby to be able to tame it and not have to worry about how it was treated or possibly neglected.
All input is greatly welcomed.

[NicoleRussell]

Where are you getting him?
How old is he?
Are you willing to get a very large cage now or do you want to buy a smaller cage and get a larger one later?
Tanks are ok for babies but for an adult you will need something much larger.

[Dana71]

Not sure where she's getting him from. It was suppose to be a gift! LOL
I was told that it was the first hatched; does that help? LOL sorry
How big of a cage will it need?
How fast do they grow?
I tried looking them up on the computer and all i find are adults.
I need some major information here as you can tell.

[NicoleRussell]

I got mine at Agama International--if you go to their website they have alot of info. Do you know how large it is?
Also, look under the Tegu forum here at RedTailBoa---there you find alot more information.
They get to be between 3-4.5 feet with most of them reaching adulthood at around 4 feet. Chacoans are larger---and males are larger...this is not always the case just most of the time. They take about 3 years to reach this size--if you choose to keep the tegu warm in the winter he iwll grow at twice the rate but will live a shorter life...whether this is a bad thing is debatable.
Many people feel this is a huge husbandry error (keeping them warm) and many feel that letting them stay awake is like keeping a light bulb on all the time instad of just at night----it is not particularly bad for the bulb --it just makes it last half as long.
Temps--brumation--uvb--and diet all play a role in size.
Mine have a 6 x 3 x 3 cage---but they are free raoming with the cage opened all the time in a herp room. If you allow them to roam at least a hour a day then this is the size you will need for one or two adults. If you plan on keeping them in a cage most of the time then look into an 8 foot cage.

[Dana71]

How long will a 10gal last and would it be big enough for a baby?
She told me that it was going to be christmas present. LOL SSSSo much for that suprise! LOL
As far as the size go I'm not sure; I think she's getting it from the same place you mentioned. I think she said first hatchling $70. I think.
Does this help?

[NicoleRussell]

no LOL
Butok ---even if it's a green headed baby you really need to start with a 20 gallon...and depending on genetics and a few other things that won't last long at all. A ten gallon is for tegu eggs
From what I have been told the cost depends on how many hatch or more to the point at Agama--how many eggs are laid. He has had a large surplus of eggs th last 2 years.
If you get a tegu over the winter be prepared for him to be sleeping until march or april at least. They start brumating in sept and get deeper until the weather break. The tegus at agama are on alabama time so they are in sinc with mine.

[Dana71]

OK I need at least a 20gal long...
What should I do? Should she wait until after the holidays?
I'm in Georgia......
I respect your opinion; you have them I don't! You have experience; I don't! LOL
As you know; I know nothing about them other than what I have read here and on their web-site.
Need your opinion GREATLY!

[NicoleRussell]

Well--I bought Nico my male over the winter and starred at a mound of dirt for months ---I thought he was dead a couple of times. I mean I really was wracking my head as a new owner wanted to interact with my animal. I then out of pure annoyance bought Rocco, the female because I asked for a female who was awake.
You can get the animal anytime you want---just be prepared some tegus do not respond to temp changes articfical in nature---some are on a biological clock--espcially argentine BWs.
There are always exceptions though. He hatched out in August most likely--still pretty small. You'll be shocked at how fast he will grow