I think herps are cool and all, but who honestly thinks “I can care for a 6 foot lizard that will whip me with its tail and needs atleast an 8 foot enclosure that must remain between 80-100F at 90% humidity?”
So much work… 😰
Tegu are easier to care for than that, and can make great pets! C:
The hardest thing would be the enclosure size. Most reptile enthusiasts would advise against newbies getting a Tegu, in addition to people who don’t have the space for one.
There are many average petowners/hobbyists who have the space and means to provide it, and gladly do so.
After that it’s not all that harder than caring for a smaller lizard. If you want to see why someone would want a Tegu, you can look at Clint’s Reptiles on youtube. He has many videos titled “[Animal Name] – the best pet reptile?” He rates them based on care, temperament, etc.
If the enclosure’s set up correctly, it’s not much work at all to keep it at appropriate temps/humidity. My climate control setup is almost entirely automated- all I have to do is clean/change the water in the pool and check the lights on occasion.
For the experienced reptile keeper, tegus make fantastic pets- they’re wickedly intelligent and extremely curious. If socialized and habituated to humans properly, they can be downright affectionate- look at what’s going on with these gus here.
Food? No! Attention! Pets! Pet us, human! Pet us!
BUT. Most people are not equipped to handle a tegu! They should only be considered by people who know what they’re getting into.
QueerGalaxies 