Argentine Black and White Tegus

[GeckoStud]

I started to do a little research on these guys after I saw one at a fair last night. The thing was so calm and so "tame" it was unbelievable. After looking into them a little more I found a lot of quotes saying they are the most "tame-able" lizards of all. I too have heard my fair share of stories of puppy dog monitors of various kinds. I was just wondering if anyone has had expirience with these beauties and if they can confirm their docile nature? I really am liking these guys and while I realize I won't be getting one anytime soon I'd like to get as much info on them that I can in deciding whether or not to even consider them. If anyone also has and good links It would be much appreciated :main_yes: .

On a side note I do realize how large they get and how much they eat .

-Thanks!-

 

[Select Gex]

I bought a two month old once and kept it for about three months and it was crazy as all get out. It bite me only once, but its claws were killer. I think after it gets over a certain size they chill out a little though. This is just my experience. I do LOVE a big tame adult.

 

[beardieman]

they are docile if handled. the black and white argentinian tegus are the most docile of the breed. i do not suggest buying from a pet store because there are other tegus that are black and white that are not the argentinian hince these other breeds are not docile. only the argentinian has the docile nature you have seen at this fair.

they get about 4.5 ft long

 

[NickBoudin]

i have a savannah monitor, and i have to hold him EVERY DAY or else if i dont, give it 1-3 days if i dont, and he turns so much more aggresive. He's about 14 inches now. I got him at 12 a month or 2 ago.

 

[Baysidegeckos]

Ok before i did Leos, i was doing Tegus, I hade 1 Blue Albino Tegu male, 3 feamle Red Tegus, and 1 Blue female tegu, And 1 Black & White Argentine tegu. Teh were freaking Awsome, espcially my Adult Albino blue male. Well the story is , every time i put the male with the red female, they would fight and she was so big i didnt want her to kill him bc he cost big bucks, and then i put him in with the Blue female and she was smaller than him and he would go nuts and try to kill her basically. I had to get them apart and its not fun getting apart 2 big a$$ lizards lol. So i figured out that it is best to raise them together so they are use to each other and dont fight as much when going to mate. My Black and white argentine was crazy, but i never held him to much.

With the tegus you have to hold them alot so they get use to you, and they dont mellow out when they get bigger or older, they are just bigger and crazier and stronger if you dont tame them young. And they eat like pigs OMG do they eat like pigs, and you need alot of room to hiuse an adult, when that Tegu get full grown 4get a long tank your gonna have to build a cage out side like i did, 8 feet wide 12 feet long and 6 foot high. And i got bit by the Black and white when it was a Sub-adult and it hurt so dont get bit when its full grown, u probabale r gonna need Stitches. But to answer your question they are great pets as long as u get them use to u.

p.s. dont stick ur hand to fare in the cage when its feeding time.

 

[wilomn]

True Black and Whites, the ones from Argentina, not Colombia, are one of the best large pet lizards you can get. They start out tame and stay that way if you work with them.

Bobby Hill at Varnyard Herps is one of the biggest breeders in the states and he's the guy to talk to about them.

 

[T&KBrouse]

True Black and Whites, the ones from Argentina, not Colombia, are one of the best large pet lizards you can get. They start out tame and stay that way if you work with them.

Bobby Hill at Varnyard Herps is one of the biggest breeders in the states and he's the guy to talk to about them.

Absolutely! And he is awesome when it comes to answering questions.
http://www.varnyard-herps-inc.com/

Heres another breeder thats in Maine. He has a really cool video about his Tegus.
http://www.siscoreptiles.com/

 

[varnyard]

Thanks guys for the kind comments!!

 

[leonut]

I know almost nothing of tegus all iknow is that I wish i could get one but my mom won't let me. one, all I ask just OOOOOOONNNNNNNNEEEE!!!!!!!!! but no.
although I'm in the process of convincing her to let me get a monitor. And yes I know they require a lot of space and time.