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R.I.P. Osiris......
- Thread starter osiris2013
- Start date
Justine66
Cuddling with Colubrids<3
OMG!! I want a tegu! ! their crawling all over him like puppies!
they seem really friendly, I think I may get one of these one day instead of a tortoise.. seems like they would be easier to care for.. and without the extream lifespan.
the BTS's are cute too!
which would you recomend for ease of care and easyness of handling.?
they seem really friendly, I think I may get one of these one day instead of a tortoise.. seems like they would be easier to care for.. and without the extream lifespan.
the BTS's are cute too!
which would you recomend for ease of care and easyness of handling.?
Draekaar
Enthusiast
superteguoverload ;_;
But yeah, tegus are larger, very friendly docile lunks of a pet. They need lots of space, so not the best for someone who can't afford a 60 or 70 gallon tank in their bigger years.
@Justine66: ease of care, several of the already suggested lizards are similar in care requirements, apart from size of terrariums. Lots of bugs, occasional snack creature treat... water. Leo's don't need UV lighting, like snakes they're bottom heated. No sand substrate! mostly rock kind of area. Tiles and stones make good environment, several hides and a moist hide. Also, they need calcium supplement available all the time. Beardies are bigger, can eat mice frogs other lizards roaches bugs etc. They need a long tank to accomodate a max 3 ft length. neither are horribly climby creatures.
Turtles can be more difficult to care for because you need to worry about the condition of the water in addition to land mass, tank size, and food. A friend of mine fed the turtle smallish fish, one or two of which are now buddies in the tank because they didn't get eaten. Some lettuce now and again is a good supplement. Illnesses can be harder to detect, because they're in the water so much. some turtles will get something called soft shell, where they've been in the water so much that their shell has...well... softened. It can be very dangerous to their health.
Personally, I'd go with the Leopard geckos because they're smaller, you can house 2 or 3 together (never more than one male!), they get fat tails so you can go away for a weekend without worrying about feeding, and they're just so damn adorable. Smaller tank, more animals, more fun!
Just don't grab their tails.
But yeah, tegus are larger, very friendly docile lunks of a pet. They need lots of space, so not the best for someone who can't afford a 60 or 70 gallon tank in their bigger years.
@Justine66: ease of care, several of the already suggested lizards are similar in care requirements, apart from size of terrariums. Lots of bugs, occasional snack creature treat... water. Leo's don't need UV lighting, like snakes they're bottom heated. No sand substrate! mostly rock kind of area. Tiles and stones make good environment, several hides and a moist hide. Also, they need calcium supplement available all the time. Beardies are bigger, can eat mice frogs other lizards roaches bugs etc. They need a long tank to accomodate a max 3 ft length. neither are horribly climby creatures.
Turtles can be more difficult to care for because you need to worry about the condition of the water in addition to land mass, tank size, and food. A friend of mine fed the turtle smallish fish, one or two of which are now buddies in the tank because they didn't get eaten. Some lettuce now and again is a good supplement. Illnesses can be harder to detect, because they're in the water so much. some turtles will get something called soft shell, where they've been in the water so much that their shell has...well... softened. It can be very dangerous to their health.
Personally, I'd go with the Leopard geckos because they're smaller, you can house 2 or 3 together (never more than one male!), they get fat tails so you can go away for a weekend without worrying about feeding, and they're just so damn adorable. Smaller tank, more animals, more fun!
Just don't grab their tails. 
rachow
New member
My sister's boyfriend has a male Argentinian tegu. I've never met him, but have heard stories. He's very cage aggressive/territorial and hibernates for six months of the year. I've read a couple of caresheets and sent them to my sister because it doesn't sound as though her boyfriend is taking great care of him. From what I understand, his temperatures aren't ideal, his UV lights are almost never on, he doesn't lower the temperature enough for proper hibernation, and he doesn't feed often enough, or the best diet. Probably all of these things combine to make him grumpy, so he's not the best example of a tegu. He's halfway across the country though, so there isn't a whole bunch I can do about it, much though I want to. He definitely doesn't seem to be a good representative of his species, especially if they're more likely to be as friendly as the ones in the video that Nanci posted. I know there's a couple of species of tegu in the pet trade. I remember someone telling me that some make better pets than others, but I can't remember which ones were which.
I did get to interact with a BTS who boarded for a week at the vet hospital I worked at. He was awesome! Very docile and it was fun to watch him eat. He enjoyed gobbling down earthworms. I was sad when he left.
I second the ease of leopard geckos. I kept a couple when I was a kid. Pretty skittish as babies, but very docile as adults. Be careful with the ones from the pet stores though, as many of them have regenerated tails (which aren't as pretty as the originals) and missing toes from stuck sheds. I've seen some gorgeous, healthy leopard geckos at reptile shows. Since they're common in the pet trade, they're generally pretty inexpensive. It's also nice that they don't need UV lights. If you do get a critter that needs UV, make sure you replace the bulb every 6 months. They'll still light up, but they stop giving off the UVB rays that are necessary for healthy reptiles.
I did get to interact with a BTS who boarded for a week at the vet hospital I worked at. He was awesome! Very docile and it was fun to watch him eat. He enjoyed gobbling down earthworms. I was sad when he left.
I second the ease of leopard geckos. I kept a couple when I was a kid. Pretty skittish as babies, but very docile as adults. Be careful with the ones from the pet stores though, as many of them have regenerated tails (which aren't as pretty as the originals) and missing toes from stuck sheds. I've seen some gorgeous, healthy leopard geckos at reptile shows. Since they're common in the pet trade, they're generally pretty inexpensive. It's also nice that they don't need UV lights. If you do get a critter that needs UV, make sure you replace the bulb every 6 months. They'll still light up, but they stop giving off the UVB rays that are necessary for healthy reptiles.
Draekaar
Enthusiast
As Rachow mentioned, reptile shows are great. A breeder is definitely recommended versus just a pet store animal, because of known living conditions. You get to meet the breeders and get care tips from them, as well as get a lovely selection of animals to peruse so much easier to see what people have. Breeders will be able to suggest good starter animals, as well as their suggestions for more docile animals they have.
If you can find an expo near you, go to it! it'll cheer up and encourage your whole family to pick something together, too
so much easier to see what people have. Breeders will be able to suggest good starter animals, as well as their suggestions for more docile animals they have.If you can find an expo near you, go to it! it'll cheer up and encourage your whole family to pick something together, too
smigon
Old enough to know better
I don't know how I missed this post, I am so sorry about Osiris. That really sucks. I am voting for another corn since you have everything you need already and this can turn your feelings around. Let us know what you decide on!
I am against the tegus too, they are one of the most vicious lizards and get to be really big. Unless you get one as a baby and can tame it (which there is no guarantee to what its temperament will be), I wouldn't chance it with kids around.
I am against the tegus too, they are one of the most vicious lizards and get to be really big. Unless you get one as a baby and can tame it (which there is no guarantee to what its temperament will be), I wouldn't chance it with kids around.
Justine66
Cuddling with Colubrids<3
haha! I think that video would change anyone's mind about tegus! !
I think ill get a large lizard one day, once I have my own place.. their neat, but I don't know.. some part of me doesn't want to let go of my snakes.. I love them soo much and their ease of care is just something I don't want to give up.. lol
I'm still a little unsure..
I think ill get a large lizard one day, once I have my own place.. their neat, but I don't know.. some part of me doesn't want to let go of my snakes..
I love them soo much and their ease of care is just something I don't want to give up.. lolI'm still a little unsure..
Draekaar
Enthusiast
haha! I think that video would change anyone's mind about tegus! !
I think ill get a large lizard one day, once I have my own place.. their neat, but I don't know.. some part of me doesn't want to let go of my snakes..
I'm still a little unsure..
Never have to give up a snake just to get another animal, have both! 8D
Justine66
Cuddling with Colubrids<3
osiris2013
New member
Tks everyone for the kind words and great advice. I am still missing Osiris and I LOVE snakes so much so I have decided to get a corn snake. I like lizards, always wanted some BUT my heart is with the snakes. lol So, I told my wife that I am getting another snake but I told her I would wait till after xmas lol. So I am gonna start a mice colony soon to have some food on hand to get me started and then go from there. Thanks again everyone. You have all helped me in this. Appreciate it more then anyone will under know.