Tegu-proofing?

reptilemama · #1 (**permalink**) 01-11-2005, 02:34 PM

I'm still thinking about getting a tegu, but it probably won't be any time soon. I was thinking about those of you who let them free-roam a lot. Do you have to do much tegu-proofing? Do they get into things much? My living room and kitchen are one big room, so I wouldn't be able to keep a tegu out of the kitchen. Do I need to worry about one trying to get behind the refrigerator? Or under the stove? I know they'll be too big by the time they're grown, but I'm thinking more about a juvie. What about kitchen cabinets? My cats have already figured out how to open the doors, so I have to keep them tied shut anyway, but how likely is a tegu to figure out how to get into them? I'm also thinking about my green tree monitor- his cage is in the living room, and is too big to be moved anywhere else- it won't fit through any interior doors. Will an adult tegu see a little tree monitor and think food? Will I have to worry about the tegu stressing the tree monitor by trying to get into his cage? Any other stuff new owners need to consider?
Thanks!

crush · #2 (**permalink**) 01-11-2005, 03:17 PM

Ok this might be dumb but what is a tegu?

themoononastick · #3 (**permalink**) 01-11-2005, 03:34 PM

it's a cross between a melon and a pumpkin.

NicoleRussell · #4 (**permalink**) 01-11-2005, 04:03 PM

LOL
It's a lizard...do a google or see this site under TEGUS for photos.
Reptilemama:
All tegus are experts at getting into small spaces and staying there for extended periods of time.
My tegu Nico, would go under my stove and blend so I could not see him unless I took apart the bottom and really looked. It was cooler down there so he would sleep and not come out for long periods of time---now he's very large and could not do that but you would be suprised, even at his size and with limited access to anywhere ---how he can get into things.
When he would make it upstairs in the old house, he would knock over the laundry basket and drag the dirty clothes under the dresser (which was totally impossible to move) and build a nest for himself and not come out---no matter how I tried to get him out.
I could, after a while tempt him out with a dead chick---but only when he was very hungry and even then it was a pain.
You have to worry more about other animals hurting them then the other way around---but of course I'm talking about blues, argentine BW's and reds...not columbians.

As far as going after other pets---both my tegus are so docile and well fed (on frozen thawed NON living things) that any lizard could bask with them with no problem whatsoever. They will not even acknowledge another animal--not even the rats who are alive .
As babies it's different though. You need to keep them away from anything live and get past the bug stage---keep them in a cae or closlely monitored during out time while they are small.
But the good news is they grow fast....really fast.

Dbutton · #5 (**permalink**) 01-11-2005, 05:43 PM

Hmmmm, running free eh? I used to keep a gold tegu loose in my room when I was a teenager. he was about 2-3 ft. in length and took up residence under my gun cabinit. Every time I came into my room he would run out and look around to see if I had brought him any food and if not he would tear around the room once and shoot back under the gun cabinit. If food was available he would grab it and run back under the cabinit after giving it a few good shakes to make sure it was dead. Unfortunatly he also pooped under there too which was a real pain. Needles to say this didn't last too long. It got to where anything under 12 inches high was a target and that included feet! After the second time he "Treed" me on top on my arm chair it was back into the cage for him. I personally would say that your monitor and your cats would be targets with a tegu. I know that they can be tamed down and handled easily, but when it comes to food items, or what they deem to be food items, watch out because they are a lizard on a mission.

Dbutton · #6 (**permalink**) 01-11-2005, 05:46 PM

oh yea, one more thing. Mine was a wild caught gold. So that may have made a difference.

NicoleRussell · #7 (**permalink**) 01-11-2005, 08:20 PM

gold=columbian (see my original post)
wildcaught=not good with any lizard.

Totally different.
I have two around the same age. Both black and white agentines, both captive bred. Both the most docile animals that ever walked the face of the earth.
I have a rhino that attempts to push them out of the way while they sleep and they won't even open their eyes to look at her much less "target" her for lunch LOL
Columbians are the nile monitors of the tegu world. I have heard here and there stories of tame ones but I have yet to see it with my own eyes. Even the CB ones are notorious for being crazed and nasty---or at the very least NOT docile or pet material.
The blues, BW's and reds however make wonderful pets and share their home graciously with other animals. Maintaining a nice room for them and keeping them wellfed on dead food is a must though.

Dbutton · #8 (**permalink**) 01-11-2005, 08:59 PM

Well I steered away from lizards after the tegu and a pair of niles that were in the 7ft. range. After one of them climbed up me one time too many I had enough of reptiles with razor claws. I still like to look at them them, but prefer not to handle them any more.

David

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