Tegus, egg laying etc.

[Anthony]

Do tegus lay eggs regardless of whether they have mated or not? Or do they only lay eggs if they have mated?
I asked agama international and he says that he's not sure and would think that if they develop eggs they will reabsorb them all the time.

If the former is true, do they lay eggs if they do not brumate? I ask since their breeding cycles depend on the brumation period and schedule.

I don't want mine (I will get one or two in august) to lay eggs as I don't want any egg binding issues. If brumation affects it, I may as well keep them awake year round, as I don't really see how I can brumate them anyway. It gets insanely cold here for a few months, but cold at all not until like end of november. In october and early november its still summer hot. In fact, real cold weather doesn't start until like mid december. It gets warm again like end of march.

By the way, if they don't brumate, I know they supposedly live only half as long. Right? Is the normal 15 years figure for one that brumates or doesnt? If the former, does that mean that a tegu that is kept warm in the winter will only live for about 7 years???

[NicoleRussell]

Mine stay awake year round...and do not lay eggs.
Brumation will affect mating and mating will obviously affect egg laying..but IMO eggs will get absorbed if infertile...I'm with Bert on this.

	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[wreckwriter]

I have a uro that lays every year. My theory is that if they're mated once they'll lay forever after (slugs, not fertile). Don't know if tegus are same as mine is male.

[NicoleRussell]

My tegus have mated (against my better judgement) yet never any eggs..........

[Anthony]

Are there any resources with definitive answers? I don't think Uros would be a good standard to judge tegus, because for example, iguanas lay regardless of whether they mated ever, without fail, while other species do not at all. So I guess it would be great to know specifically for Argentine B/W tegus.

[NicoleRussell]

Bert has told me that they get absorbed--and that has been my experience...but you can ask the other breeder...bluetegu.com (the St.Pierre's) and see what they say.

[nomadbean]

Stella St. Pierre is the expert like Nicole says. She is AWESOME, just give her a buzz and she is very helpful and sincerly a nice person. My tegus have never laid eggs either, so I am tempted to say they reabsorb, or I just can't breed tegus.. your call, lol.
Trina
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