I want a tegu

mpgt · #1 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 05:01 PM

It's for my daughter. Our friend has a blue tegu, and we want one. Where is a good place to find one? Thanks.

NicoleRussell · #2 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 05:47 PM

rick sisko...I bought one from him a few months ago and she died in the fire...but he has an awesome rep and the tegu was adorable, friendly and healthy.
Check out thetegu.com...it's his site.

mpgt · #3 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 07:23 PM

Thanks Nicole. It doesn't look like he has any babies right now. I'll keep checking. That looks like a good website.

RehabRalphy · #4 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 09:37 PM

I bought all my tegus from Rick Sisco. Great person to deal with. Why a blue? Why not an argentine? Just curious. I have 1.1 blues, and they are extremely skiddish. Don't care for humans that much. I have 1.2 argentines and they love me to death. They come when called and always enjoy attention. Blues are just known to be more skiddish. Also Blues have also been known to be picky eaters. They'll choose a few food items, and thats all they will eat, which isnt a good thing. This is what I have noticed and what other people have noticed with them too.

Rick Sisco does have 1.1 Argentine Red Tegus available. They are really beautiful high red tegus. When spring hits, you'll have a wide range of tegus to choose from. If you check out thetegu.com they have classifieds of blues for sale. I DID notice a few ads with blues in them. Also when spring hits, Bobby Hill (varnyard herps) will have a wide range of tegus for sale, but no blues. Agamainternational has a few crosses left, not sure about blues or black and whites though.

I changed the water in my brumating female bin. They "decided" to wake up and get a drink.

mpgt · #5 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 10:27 PM

Well our friend's is a blue. He's really docile, and supposedly an easy keeper. I guess that's the only reason behind our choice. Yours are gorgeous though. I guess I should do some more research. Thanks very much for the info.

Heidi · #6 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 10:39 PM

Joe, I've been researching for a little while now. My husband wants a monitor and I'm really kind of trying to steer him to the Argentine tegu. I think they are the size he is looking for with more of a temperment fit for me.

Good luck on your research and share if you find anything interesting. He's really been mentioning this a lot and I have a feeling he's thinking more along the lines of the not to distant future.

mpgt · #7 (**permalink**) 12-26-2006, 10:41 PM

Cool, thanks Heidi.

NicoleRussell · #8 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 01:02 AM

I got my two BW argentines from Bert at Agamainternational.com.
Over the years he has proven to be a wonderful source for many animals.
As far as tegus he only has BW's, reds and crosses...no blues.

dhonaker · #9 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 01:07 AM

i have been dooing a lot of looking into this as well i got it down to a red tegu or a blackthroat ill prob get the tegu thow just becous there a little smaller

Heidi · #10 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 02:41 AM

With kids, which would be suggested? I just don't see the monitor happening but would consider a tegu. I just can't seem to read anything that points me to or against one in particular. I see the B&W and the reds seem to be the same subspecies???? So, they are basically the same as far as temperment. How do the blues go as far as temperment. And, size???

justine · #11 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 02:48 AM

columbian can be sketchy, although i have yet to see that. For a child, a gold is out of the question. so that leaves you with red, blue, and B/W.

red tegus- are about 3 - 3.5 feet long. they have a gorgeous red coloring and are the fattest of the pet tegus, not the longest. i have seen some up around 20 pounds (beardiedragon on thetegu.com has the biggest.)

argentine black and whites- these are the most popular of the tegus. about 4 or 4 and one half is average. pretty heavy too.

Blue tegus- are the most expensive. they get to be about 3.5 or 4 feet long. they have a powder blue color. absoloutly gorgeous.

Heidi · #12 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 05:19 AM

Temperment is about the same between the 3? That is honestly probably the most important to me. Of course it can always be worked with but honestly I'd be the one doing most of the working and I don't like my little feelings getting hurt.

RehabRalphy · #13 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 06:56 AM

No the temperment isnt the same between the three, blues are timid towards humans. They arent as excepting.

Colombians are even more timid than Blues.

Argentines are very docile.

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Black and Whites compared to Reds, Reds can get skin problems if the humidity isnt set at a certain level 24/7.

Heidi · #14 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 01:31 PM

So for a family "pet" an Argentine B&W would probably be the best bet to go by? They are more available in the spring right? I brought this up with Walt last night after a few mentions previously and when he gets home from work I'm going to get him on the computer with me to do some research with me. I'm willing to care for any animal in the house but don't want him thinking that I'll be 100% responsible for all the care and he'll be responsible for 100% of the play.

NicoleRussell · #15 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 02:27 PM

buy a chacoan BW argentine male....I would start there.

Heidi · #16 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 02:43 PM

Ouch, 5 ft??? So they get about a foot or so bigger then the regular B&W's? Those are the white headed tegu's right? I see that Varnyard Herps will have them available this year for 230 and the B&W's for 130. He does take deposits. Are the chacoan's more docile then the regular B&W's.

Joe, I'm stealing your thread. Sorry buddy. Hopefully you're at least getting something out of this too.

NicoleRussell · #17 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 02:50 PM

They are in my opinion, just more striking. When bringing the animals for educational events, the chacoan just gets the most attention out of all the lizards. Of course, a blue would be gorgeous too--just not as large.
I feel males are just more docile when it comes to tegus--but that's a personal preference. As far as the size..don't let those stats fool you. Very few attain that sort of size...most fall around 4 feet or so.

mpgt · #18 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 02:50 PM

Carry on Heidi. I'm learning with you. I think we're on the same quest; finding a tegu that will be good with kids.

Heidi · #19 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 02:54 PM

4 feet I think would be perfect in size when compromising between husbands wishes for a nice large lizard and my feeling comfortable with handling. I do like the looks of the chacoan also and the blue's. I think hubby would like the looks of the B&W's over the blue's, maybe more primative. I don't want to rule anything out though. I'll just show him all the info and pictures. There is just something in me that is really against having a monitor so I think the tegu's would be a great family compromise for all of us.

mpgt · #20 (**permalink**) 12-27-2006, 02:58 PM

OK, how big of an enclosure do you need for a 4' tegu?

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