Monitors vs. Tegus?

[boosh96]

How do monitor lizards compare to tegus, in terms of care and personality and stuff like that? I've kinda narrowed it down to an Ackie or a Colombian tegu. I have a strange feeling this forum may be a little biased towards monitors, but what do you all think?

[Lankyrob]

I would love a tegu, have owned an ackie. Personally i would want a MUCH bigger cage for a tegu and wouldn't expect to be able to manhandle a tegu as easily as an ackie.

To me it depends on how much space you are willing/able to give.

[smy_749]

Get an argentine tegu, columbians are mostly feisty wild caughts. Personally I prefer ackies for the reasons rob stated, but tegus have the benefits of a more varied diet if your short on insects some days, give them fruit or veggies... They eat it all

[Amadeus]

I like monitors.

[Pirarucu]

The forum does seem a bit biased towards monitors, but maybe there's a reason... Both monitors and tegus are very smart, and should be treated like wild animals, though monitors display it more obviously. Monitors are much faster and more active, though this may have to do with heat rather than species. Tegus will more readily approach humans while monitors are usually a little less trusting. Neither should be grabbed and restrained against their will however, and you will need to work on a trusting relationship with either species.

[Dj. Quik]

Pirarucu you have obviously never dealt with a healthy Argentine B&W Tegu before. from the videos i have seen and the people i know who keep healthy monitors, a young tegu does not act much different at all. they are driven by their feeding response, they will bask at much higher temperatures than most people will recommend, around 130. i've been torn up a few times by my juvenile tegu opening up the enclosure to feed her. tegus should be treated like monitors, hands off, tong feeding to gain trust, with lots of soil to burrow and higher basking temperatures.

[infernalis]

Pirarucu you have obviously never dealt with a healthy Argentine B&W Tegu before. from the videos i have seen and the people i know who keep healthy monitors, a young tegu does not act much different at all. they are driven by their feeding response, they will bask at much higher temperatures than most people will recommend, around 130. i've been torn up a few times by my juvenile tegu opening up the enclosure to feed her. tegus should be treated like monitors, hands off, tong feeding to gain trust, with lots of soil to burrow and higher basking temperatures.

This I like.....

The formula works for all tropical/subtropical reptiles.

[Little Wise Owl]

Pirarucu you have obviously never dealt with a healthy Argentine B&W Tegu before. from the videos i have seen and the people i know who keep healthy monitors, a young tegu does not act much different at all. they are driven by their feeding response, they will bask at much higher temperatures than most people will recommend, around 130. i've been torn up a few times by my juvenile tegu opening up the enclosure to feed her. tegus should be treated like monitors, hands off, tong feeding to gain trust, with lots of soil to burrow and higher basking temperatures.

This, pretty much.


My CB Argentine Black and White Tegu is NOT a hands on animal. If I try to pet him or pick him up I will be bitten, whipped and thrashed. He is very food motivated though so we're building trust though that. I also pretty much keep him like you would keep a Sav (with a slightly lower basking spot) and he appears to be thriving.