Adoption Details For Tegan!
Name:
Tegan
Animal Id:
12472
Date Created:
9/11/2023 10:05:01 PM
Age:
12 Year(s) 5 Month(s) Old
Type:
Lizard
Gender:
Female
Primary Breed:
Black and White Tegu
Spayed / Neutered:
No
Secondary Breed:
Microchip:
Primary Color:
Black
Markings:
12472, EW, T1, K1
Secondary Color:
White
Pattern:
Weight:
6 lbs
Meet Tegan – A Unique Tegu Looking for a Forever Home!
Tegan is a beautiful and fascinating female Tegu who is seeking a forever family with experience in caring for large lizards. Tegan requires a spacious, often custom-built enclosure to thrive, as she needs plenty of room to roam.
Tegan loves warm baths, especially when she’s shedding, and can be a bit temperamental if woken up abruptly. She prefers to wake up on her own, at which point she is much easier to handle. Tegan can also get a little “hangry” at times, so consistent, regular feedings are essential to keep her content.
As an adult female Tegu, Tegan can grow up to 3 feet long from nose to tail and weigh between 5.5–15.4 pounds. Tegus like her typically live 10-20 years with the proper care, making her a long-term commitment for the right family.
Tegan was loved and cared for by one person for her entire life. Unfortunately, due to an unavoidable move, they were unable to take her with them. Thankfully, Tegan was brought to SBRSC, where she is now looking for a new home where she can thrive.
If you believe you could be the right fit for Tegan and would like to get to know her better, please fill out the adoption application below, and an adoption counselor will reach out to you!
PLEASE NOTE:
1- We can only accept applications from interested parties who are in or near San Diego County, California at this time.
2- We do not ship reptiles but we may be willing to work with you if you are willing to travel if you are still in Southern California.
3- #2 will depend on the animal that you are applying for and is at the discretion of the board of directors.
Quick Reference Guide
Animal Type
Lizard
Breed
Black and White Tegu
Introduction
Tegus are diurnal, terrestrial lizards found throughout eastern and southeastern South America. Argentine tegus are omnivorous, meaning that they eat both plants and animals. Colombian tegus are carnivorous, meaning that they eat primarily animals. Tegus are very active opportunistic hunters, hunting their own prey as well as scavenging carrion where it is available. Depending on the species, tegus grow to be between 24”-60” long, weighing 8-15 lbs. They are considered “large” lizards, and have special care considerations owing to that size. Tegus have an average lifespan of 15-20 years.
Difficulty
Advanced
Difficulty Notes
Tegus are expensive to feed and house, and they go through a “puberty”-like adolescent phase where they become thoroughly unpleasant to deal with. They can become “dog tame” with time and persistent effort, but even dogs and cats occasionally bite and scratch, and even a tame adult tegu will bite/scratch/tail whip if it feels scared or threatened.
Basking Temp
125-135
Ambient Temp
90-95
Lowest Temp
75-85
Temp Notes
Because yearling and adult tegus are so large, it’s more efficient to use a series of halogen flood lights clustered together, creating a proportionally larger basking zone.
Diet
Omnivore
Diet Notes
60% protein, 30% vegetables, 10% fruit - In the wild, tegus enjoy an extremely varied diet dependent on what is seasonally and regionally available. Aside from providing a variety of flavors and textures, a varied diet more importantly supplies a greater spectrum of nutrients than can be accomplished with a diet of “staples.” Therefore, it is your job as a tegu owner to provide as many different kinds of tegu food as possible.
UVA Intensity
Tropical
UVB Intensity
Strong
Ferguson Zone
3
Lighting Notes
Fergiusson zone of 3-4 is preferred. These lizards need lots of lighting and heating.
Enclosure Size
Large Custom
Enclosure Notes
These animals require a lot of space, like a small room in your home type space. Floor space of 8ft x 8ft is not uncommon, with large water access and deep substrate. This can complicate heating and lighting.
Substrate
Forest Floor
Substrate Notes
Coco Chips also make for a safe and enriching substrate to burrow in.
Humidity
High (70-100%)
Humidity Notes
Although Argentine tegus generally do well enough with a large water bowl, Colombian tegus like to have the opportunity to soak. Use a large but shallow Rubbermaid tub, and keep the water clean at all times. Note that tegus often drag substrate into and even poo in their water, so be prepared to clean and replace the water daily.
Animal Reference Material:
| Category | Title | AnimalType | Breed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Care | Black and White Argentine Tegu: Feeding, Housing, and Handling | Lizard | Black and White Tegu | |
| Animal Care | Lizard UVB Lighting: What you need to know! | Lizard | ||
| Blog | [Video] Is an Argentine Black and White Tegu the best pet for me? | Lizard | Black and White Tegu | |
| Blog | Custom Enclosure for a Tegu | Lizard | Black and White Tegu | |
| Blog | Custom Large Lizard Enclosure Considerations | Lizard | ||
| Ambassadors | Ambassador Atlas - Our Argentine Black and White Tegu | Lizard | Black and White Tegu |