How fast do argentine tegus grow

The males also tend to become stockier than other tegu species, as well as their female counterparts. The yellow tegu is from Brazil and has never been imported into the U. It is very rare, and Brazil will not allow any exports. As of this writing, the only yellow tegus I know of in captivity are those kept at tegu farms and zoos in Brazil. This tegu comes from a much warmer climate than the Argentine black and white.

Many Colombian tegus will not become as tame as the Argentine species, but this may depend on the keeper. As with any other animal, build trust first and be patient. I owned a Colombian tegu that would take naps with me on the couch! One thing I noticed is that they can be one-owner pets, and once a Colombian tegu learns to trust you it will normally be only you it will trust unless you allow others to handle them and build that trust.

This tegu is not being bred in captivity in the U. Tupinambis teguixin includes a gold variant, known as the gold tegu, from northern and central South America, as well as Panama.

I definitely recommend obtaining one as a hatchling only, as a full-grown, wild yellow tegu is extremely tough to tame! Gold tegus are known to be very aggressive, but many people have raised and kept them as pets with no problems.

Their golden coloration is gorgeous. As with the Colombian black and white tegu, wild-caught golden tegus are readily available in the pet trade because no captive breeding is taking place in the U. The breeding of blue tegus seems to be producing more albinos.

Some have red eyes and some have brown eyes. I personally think the brown-eyed specimens may have the stronger genes, as the red-eyed ones are extremely sensitive to light, and some have been born blind. But albino tegus, in my opinion, are the most beautiful of the tegus.

Perhaps concerns regarding their overall health can be alleviated if in the future only strong and healthy albinos are bred together through selective breeding. Look for these fascinating creatures to become increasingly available in the pet market as demand for them grows. Tegus are not as commonly kept as other lizard species, due to several factors, such as size and availability. Of the types discussed here, one is bound to be the perfect pet for the right person!

Johnny LaRocca is a long-time tegu breeder based in Georgia. Visit his website at teguterra. Johnny Larocca October 5, pm. Rescued Green Iguana. When she was a baby, we thought that she was a boy.

Being able to tell the sex of some reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds and mammals can sometimes be difficult as their reproductive organs are not always visible.

However, as Hermione previously known as Herman grew and grew we realized that she looked much more like a lady lizard! For the Argentine black and white tegu, bigger jowls mean you are one handsome fella. Argentine black and white tegus are a native species to many parts of southern South America such as meadows, savannahs, and some forested areas. These tegus tend to live a terrestrial life style, but they are excellent swimmers!

They grow very quickly reaching their full size and sexual maturity at three years. The females can then lay anywhere between ten and thirty eggs. During winter months, these tegus go into something similar to hibernation called brumation. The tegus will burrow underground until they are ready to come out as it warms up. Argentine black and white tegus are generalized omnivores. This means that they can eat just about anything from small insects to rodents and all sorts of plant matter.

At Bearizona, Hermione loves blueberries and ground chicken. The FWC removes tegus from the environment with targeted trapping and works to capture and remove this species from the wild. The FWC and partners have removed thousands of tegus from Florida.

The FWC takes actions to reduce regulatory barriers to nonnative reptile removal and encourages their harvest from privately owned properties and FWC managed lands. Escaped or released pets remain a primary source of introduced species in Florida, although it is illegal to introduce nonnative species into the state. A permit is now required to maintain pet tegus possessed prior to the effective rule date as personal pets.

The program helps reduce the number of nonnative species being released into the wild by pet owners and fosters responsible pet ownership. The FWC encourages reports of Argentine black and white tegu sightings. You can help by taking a picture, noting the location, and reporting this information using the free IveGot1 mobile app, calling Ive-Got1 , or by reporting online at IveGot1.

Skip to main content. Report Issues Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc. Go Outdoors Florida! Argentine Black and White Tegu Salvator merianae. Regulatory Status Argentine black and white tegus are not native to Florida and are considered an invasive species due to their impacts to native wildlife.

Description Argentine black and white tegus are large lizards that can reach nearly five feet in length. Diet Tegus have an omnivorous diet and consume fruits, eggs, insects, and small animals including reptiles and rodents. What if I own a tegu I can no longer care for? How can I be part of the solution? Keep attractants such as pet food inside and be sure to cover outdoor openings and clear your yard of debris to minimize hiding and burrowing areas for tegus.

Never release exotic animals such as tegus.