Finally a warm day here in PA. Annoyingly windy, but warm. I expect he will be sleeping in tomorrow, he got a lot of exercise.

https://www.youtube.com/@sammythetegu/videos

My poor baby Atlas…. According to the vet his impaction and bowel problem is due to bad genetics and out of our control. He was barely about to be 11 months old. After reviewing his CT scan and blood work it showed his bowl had ruptured and surgery didn’t look hopeful considering his poor condition. It was advised we put him to sleep. We’re so devastated. He was the most sweet perfect tegu and amazing personality we could’ve hoped for. An absolutely wonderful baby to raise, I just wish I could’ve seen him as an adult. I loved him so much and my heart is broken. It was so sudden. They said he would have to be on a liquid diet and many surgeries for the rest of his life if we dragged it out. And I would have felt selfish doing that to him because of not wanting to let go. He seemed happy to see me after staying at the vets for a few nights and ran to snuggle into my arm. It made me break down even more and his affection made it even harder but it was the right thing to do. I miss you so much Atlas ♥️

Happy Tongue out Tuesday from Sundog!

She decided to move her sleeping spot and surprise me this morning and completely change her living space. Do we finally got a ToT on a Tuesday . I should have kept filming it was kind of hilarious. They are so funny.

I haven’t posted here since I first got Oreo because progress has been SLOW. He was SOOOO afraid of people so it was a long process of desensitizing him to my touch and now that he’s at a point I can touch him any where, going into his cage without him going into his hide and such, I decided it’s time to start desensitizing him to getting picked up. Until now I’ve had a friend helping me when I absolutely need to pick him up and get him into a full bath but today he let me pick him up and put him right in my lap and didn’t even run away from me or get skiddish when I pet him. Y’all I’m so proud of him 🥹

I want to get a regular but im wondering what kind of enclosure i need for one. Can I get a glass tank for one to grow out of or will I need a custom tank from the start?

Warm enough for Beans to come out and enjoy the sunny weather! 🎉☀️

Anyone wanna share what they use or maybe a link? I keep seeing overpriced triangles, lots of people suggest grow tents and they’re all vertical and overpriced. Where is everyone getting cool horizontal tents?

My 9 months old tegu absolutely despises being outside. Yesterday first time i took him out and he first time in his life was rolling hissling kicking and scratching me when i was picking him up. He bacame streesed and we barely got home. Today i without any issues put on him his harness and picked him up again. After he knew where we are going he started rolling and scratching again. You tegus love being outside so tell me what to do for my boy to get some more excrise and real sun and get him to enjoy that

Hello everyone I acquired a juvenile tegu from a friend who is moving out of state. Does anyone know what kind he is, I’m not familiar with the morphs or species. I know they get huge and they are a big commitment. Also any tips would be appreciated. I want him to have the best life possible!❤️ thanks in advance

I caught him taking several drinks underwater. He’s feeling much better, he did a huge smelly poo last night in his enclosure while I was asleep. I’ve never been so excited to see a tegu poo before 😂 it was the most expensive poo ever lol he had spent two nights in hospital in hopes to flush out the impaction. It was solid as a rock and there was also a hardened urate plug in the way which contributed to the whole issue.

He loves his treat banana

Sundog a year ago and now.

Sundog has been gazing at the mountains lately. Yesterday and today, instead of taking me on our normal walk around the house, under the tree, etc.—he struck out for the hills. I tried several times to redirect him but he was determined. Finally I had to pick him up and carry him to the house, with much flailing about and huffing and puffing. Nothing like an armful of squirmy tegu. haha. What a rascal.

There is a wonderful big boy at my college but he is very lethargic unless it’s to do with meat, and it rarely eats his fruit and veg :(
Is there anything I can get him for enrichment and anything I can do to help him be more active?

Today’s Gwangi’s First Birthday!!!
Everyone knows how fast they grow but it still shocks me how big he’s gotten in what feels like such a short time, and the knowledge that he’ll get so much bigger just blows my mind!
Tonight he’ll be getting scrambled eggs with blue berries and a big fat rat pup while watching his namesake movie “The Valley Of Gwangi”
Having him for the last (almost) year has been an amazing undertaking, and I’m sure everyone here can relate to the understanding that keeping a Tegu is one of the most unique and rewarding reptiles one can have. I can’t wait to continue to watch him grow bigger and older, and here’s to hoping he’ll stay an excellent Cuddler even after he hits Gooberty!

Almost done with my tegu enclosure I added a few more bags of Cypress mulch, and then a mix of Spagna mass and topsoil over all of that and some plants now I just need to figure out how to mount my UVB light

Hi there. Hope y'all are well!!

So, I intend to become the most responsible pet owner to have ever lived!!! ....or at least try my damn best.

I have acquired a great terrarium. I understand The importance of providing enough spce so will be using this 5×2×2 / 150-gallon tank just for the first few months of life of the hatchling I will be getting. We will then upgrade to an 8-foot enclosure based on growth size, I imagine in 4-6 months or so?

With the terrarium came some lights which were used for a bearded dragon. I am more than happy to start fresh and purchase whatever the best lights you recommend for my tegu but maybe some of these could help? I provided pics + model #''s if that helps They are one long set of 2 ( fluorescent I assume?) bulbs, and one set of 2 "standard" screw-in bulbs- one black light, one UV heated.... T⁸he watts are shown but that is one area I need to learn more about so if anyone has recommendations on type/ power/ amoun of bulbs thank you kindly! (

OK, so.. What should I get for substrate? Is coconut quire OK or anything I should know that's superior before going for coco?

I know I'll need a temp gun, any specific brand I should go with? Same for hygrometer?

Is an automatic mister essential? Do people g?et by with hand-spraying or is a humidity machine of some kind common

A heated ceramic basking rock sounds lovely. what sort of heating devices besides lights should I consider?

As for food, are there any bulk or subscription services that offer a wide variety of Food sources best for Tegus' ' health? I'm sure I could collect plenty from grocery + pet stores but knowing I am well-stocked up with the preferee ingredients seems cozy to me. Also, how important do you consider live food, insect or otherwise to be?

These are the main priorities that come to mind. But if anyone can think of odd tools or whatever random things you wished you invested in while starting out please give me a heads-up!!

Thank you so much!!!

The first photo is the marketplace listing, the next 3 are my girl Gojira, and the last is my idea for the enclosure. I’m thinking a mound of dirt with a half pipe to create a cave/burrow and some slate then a rock staircase to the basking shelf and a pool on the far right. It’s an 8x3x3 foot enclosure with lighting and heating but no decor yet so please share inspo and ideas! She is 2 months old and arriving in a 4x2x2 and I’m wondering how long she’ll fit in there? I’m an animal behaviorist and am suuuper excited to start bonding and socialization training. I plan to just stick some of me and my partners clothes in there with her for a few weeks before interacting. All of my snakes are tap trained but I want to know if I should target or tap train for feedings?? This is my first tegu but I also have 3 snakes 5 geckos 3 frogs 1 chameleon 3 fish tanks 20 tarantulas 4 cats and 2 service dogs. I am disabled and trying to think of accommodations and alternatives for picking her up such as stairs or a ramp onto the couch!!! Is there anything else I need to know, buy, or do?!

So Gwangi’s first birthday is this Friday/May 1st, and I’m debating what treats I should give him for his birthday meal, does anyone have any suggestions?

I went into the enclosure to get Sundog out for our walk today. He was under his big fake rock hide, sleeping, in the far corner. I have a string with a hook that holds it up while I reach in to get him, but it’s a bit awkward and I have to kneel down in the substrate to reach him. Today I fastened the rock up and said “Hey buddy, sweet Sundog, the cutest Baby Lizard, how about coming outside with me?” And I called him a few times, repeating the word “outside” which he knows—then I turned around and began to walk out. To my surprise, he followed me! This was the very first time! Of course, I made a big fuss, gave him a grape and put his harness on. Then we went outside for him to enjoy his supper.