The Red Tegu - Maybe my next purchase IF I sell my puppy.

Pit bulls of the reptile world !!!





Argentine Red Tegus “Tupinambis Rufescens” are the heaviest of all tegus. They are capable of reaching an average of about 20 -/+ lbs and about 4 ½ ft. Males develop large jowls and tend to be the largest and the most brightly colored. They can be tamed and are very docile.

The recommended foods for them are insects, fruits and mice. The fruit should have a high level of Vitamin C, some of these fruits are Kiwi, passion fruit, mango, strawberries, grapes, peaches and plums are some of these fruits. As well as other tegus Red Tegus require calcium in their diet. This is especially true for juveniles, to support their rapid growth rate. But just as important as the calcium is a UVB full spectrum light, because it is what helps the tegu spread the calcium throughout its body. If the tegu receives calcium without a UVB bulb it will cause physical deformities because the calcium can not spread and will just build up in different parts of the body.

Red tegus which are not fed fruits with high vitamin C tend to develop problems shedding their skin. Shed skin should not be left on the tegu as it can lead to a loss of digits and painful skin infections. Another way to help with shedding is to keep maintaining proper humidity in their hide boxes.

Red Tegus are born a dull reddish brown, color that increases as the tegu matures. Males generally develop their adult coloration at 18 -24 months of age, and the typical adult female coloration is reddish brown with white spots.

The recommended adult cage for one of these animals is about 6ft long, 3 ft wide, and 18 inches high. The bigger the better (longer). I recommend tanks not cages because it is easier and more energy efficient to maintain a tank at the right temperature then a cage, do to the fact that a cage is open and the hot are is constantly escaping. If there is a rapid change in temperature the tegus will most likely go into hibernation. This is very dangerous because a lot of tegus have been known to die when they get put into hibernation because there is still food remaining in their stomach and without heat they can not process the food. Therefore the food rots inside of them, killing them.













The tank should have a basking are at 110F -120F, ambient temperature of 80F-85F throughout the rest of the tank during the day and cooler at night. A heat pad or controllable heat rock is also a good addition to the tank, but do not put it under the basking area because the heat from the basking lamp combined with the heat from the rock or pad will be to much and will burn the tegu.

The tank should have a humidity level of at least 50. The substrate should be Cypress mulch, Orchid Bark, and Eucalyptus mulch. The tank should also include a hide box at the cool end of the tank kept slightly moist but not wet.

The Red Tegu - Maybe my next purchase IF I sell my puppy.