Red Tegu: Info & Care Guide for Beginners

Owning a red tegu is not a task for the faint of heart. This lizard gets massive and requires an enclosure that not everyone can create. However, if you are an experienced reptile enthusiast and want to try tegu ownership, read on to learn all the basics.

Despite their size, these lizards are quite docile and agreeable. So, if you’ve dreamed of owning a giant reptile, this might be a good beginner pet for you. They do have long lifespans and specific care, so make sure you’re up for the challenge.

Quick Facts About the Red Tegu

Do Red Tegus Make Good Pets?

Red tegus are native to certain parts of South America, including Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. These big tropical lizards love hot, humid weather, so no matter where you live in the world, your pet tegu will need heat.

Red tegus can make good pets for the right owners. Since these lizards grow to such a large size, it’s important to fully grasp exactly how much space they need. That said, don’t let their massive size necessarily deter you; these lizards are docile creatures that require an intermediate amount of care.

Appearance

As you may guess by the name, the red tegu comes in a variety of red hues. But there is variation between the sexes. Hatchlings tend to be dull in color, but they start to develop pigment around sexual maturity. As male tegus age, they turn a deep, dark red that is almost entirely solid. They can grow to roughly 5 feet and have sturdy, bulky bodies.

Females generally have more patterns on their scales than their male counterparts, which is an excellent way to decipher the sexes. They also grow to be slightly smaller than males, averaging roughly 4 feet as adults.

How to Take Care of Red Tegus

Creating a proper enclosure with all the right elements is crucial for your tegu’s health and well-being. Let’s discuss all the essentials.

Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup

Creating the right kind of habitat for your red tegu is essential. Here are the main components of a good setup.

Tank

As juveniles, red tegus aren’t that large. However, they get big fast. A fully grown adult needs an enclosure that is at least twice the length of their body. Since males can grow up to 5 feet, you have to be ready to accommodate their adult size.

Most people choose to have an entire room or outdoor enclosure dedicated to their tegu friends. They do well in shed enclosures, permitting that they have an adequate amount of heat and humidity. Also, they need to be totally safe from even slight drafts.

Lighting

For optimal health, red tegus require UVB lighting to soak nutrients from the rays into their skin. They need at least 12 to 14 hours of UVB light daily, followed by regular dark nights.

Heating (Temperature & Humidity)

A red tegu needs to have several environmental temperatures available so they can regulate their body temperature. Their enclosure should always be between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with a basking spot of up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

They need the humidity to stay between 70% and 90%.

Substrate

Red tegus need a type of substrate that will retain moisture well. The best selections include soil and sand mixtures, cypress mulch, or coconut coir.

Food

Red tegus are voracious and opportunistic eaters. Since they are omnivores, they benefit from a variety of meat, fruits, and vegetables. Be careful, though, as these lizards will eat anything they can fit into their mouths if it moves.

Like many other reptiles, these creatures needed added calcium in their diet to promote adequate bone health and growth. You will have to buy a calcium supplement and give them the proper dosage according to the product label.

Juvenile tegus will crave mostly meats since they need the extra protein during their growth period. They will thrive on a diet of mostly Dubia roaches and earthworms.

When your tegu reaches adulthood, they will need a few more greens in their diet. However, you will have to up the protein portions. You can feed adult red tegus mice, chicks, eggs, and fish. You can offer large insects too.

Keeping Your Red Tegu Healthy

Before you bring your red tegu home, it’s important to find an exotic vet in your area if you don’t already know one. These lizards require special care outside of the expertise of regular animal clinics.

You might not need to see a vet often, but immediate care is paramount if your lizard develops a sudden illness or problem. Many times, lizards don’t show signs of sickness until it’s quite advanced.

Common Health Issues

Red tegus can encounter several health concerns, but most commonly, you might see:

Lifespan

If you have a healthy lizard with no preexisting health conditions, you can expect them to live between 15 and 20 years.

Breeding

In the wild, red tegus begin to breed right after brumation ceases. So, around March, they will begin the natural cycles of reproduction. At this time, males will actively seek out females for roughly 2 weeks.

Females are incredibly protective of their nest of eggs. Once she lays, you must stay away and keep all other tegus from bothering her. She will be highly territorial and can do some real damage.

In one clutch, the successful outcome of the eggs is about 50%. Females usually lay about 30 eggs per clutch. Eggs incubate roughly 60 days before hatching, as long as all conditions are right.

Are Red Tegus Friendly? Our Handling Advice

One thing that makes red tegus so desirable is that they are docile and easy to be around. There is rarely any aggression with cage mates either.

These lizards do get large and weigh up to 15 pounds. You will always have to be extra cautious when you handle them. One drop can severely injure your bulky friend. Tegus are friendly enough that they might even come up to you for scratches and snacks.

Always remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling, as they can carry potentially harmful bacteria, like Salmonella.

Shedding & Brumation: What to Expect

Unlike some other reptiles, red tegus shed in sections rather than all at once. When you see scales rising and turning pale in spots, it means that a portion of their skin is ready to shed.

When you notice that your pet is starting to shed, it’s important to keep them moist to make the process easier. But otherwise, rather than intervening, allow shedding to occur naturally. Picking off the skin flakes could cause irritation or even infection.

Red tegus typically enter brumation between the colder months, roughly October to March. They will be sluggish, slow, and more inactive during this time.

How Much Do Red Tegus Cost?

Red tegus are generally inexpensive, considering their size. The general average cost lies between $250 and $350. But depending on circumstances, they can cost more or less—or might even be free.

Care Guide Summary

Final Thoughts

If a red tegu seems like the right fit for you, you may want to start looking around for a local exotic vet. You can find tegus in many pet stores across the nation, or you can buy from a licensed breeder with lots of experience with this species.

Always make sure you have the time, space, and proper setup for these animals, as they need extra TLC.

Featured Image Credit: J. Kelley, Shutterstock