Argentine Tegu (Salvator merianae)

🐍 1. What it looks like — physical description
📏 Size

Adults typically grow to about 90–150 cm (3–5 ft) in total length.

Males tend to be larger and more massive than females.

🦎 Color and Patterns

Young tegus have a light head with bright green elements that fade as they grow.

The adult has a black-and-dark body with white or yellow spots and stripes typical of the species.

The skin is covered in thick, shiny scales and the body is robust with a long, thick tail.

🧠 Lifespan

With good care, a tegu can live for 15–20+ years in captivity.

🐾 Basic Abilities

The tegu is an active adult lizard with a well-muscled build, can run fast, and is active during the day.

🌍 2. Origin and Habitat

The Argentine Tegu is native to South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and surrounding countries). It inhabits forests, savannas and semi-deserts and is able to live in many types of habitats.

In the wild, it is a terrestrial lizard that likes to bask in the sun, runs quickly, searches for food and can swim and burrow well in the soil.

🧠 3. Nature and Behavior
🐾 Temperament

Intelligent and curious: Tegus can be very receptive in captivity, and some individuals develop a relationship with their owner.

They can be socialized: with regular handling and attention, they often become calmer and more tolerant.

Active during the day: they are diurnal and like to explore their environment.

🐾 Defensive Behavior

They may defend themselves by hissing, snapping their powerful jaws, baring their sharp teeth, or whipping their tails if they are frightened - so gentle, gradual socialization is important.

Many owners report that young individuals can be shy or aggressive, especially during puberty; however, with a patient approach, they often calm down.

🐾 Human Interaction

Tegus are active and curious - they like to examine fingers or objects and can be quite "intelligent" in understanding routines or the environment.

Devotion varies from individual to individual - some tegus are very friendly, others prefer to keep a certain distance.

🏡 4. Terrarium and environmental requirements
📐 Enclosure size

Adults need a large space, ideally a large box/terrarium or even better, outdoor enclosures for exercise.

The minimum dimensions should be long and wide - as tegu grow large, smaller spaces increase stress and health problems.

🌡️ Temperature and light

Strong UVB lighting (e.g. 10–14%) for about 10–12 hours a day supports health and metabolism.

Temperature gradient:

Basking: around ~49–57 °C (°F convert according to sources), i.e. a warm place to bask.

Cooler side: lower temperature where tegu can still cool down.

💧 Humidity

A balanced slightly higher humidity with daily litter and a water bowl promotes good shedding and hydration.

🏕️ Decor and enrichment

Hiding places, berries, branches, soil piles and deep burrows are very welcome - tegu like to seek out new textures and hiding places.

🍽️ 5. Diet and Nutrition

The Argentine Tegu is omnivorous, which means that its diet contains both plant and animal components.

🥩 Animal component

Live insects: crickets, cockroaches, larvae.

Soft meat: meat, fish, eggs, small rodents (sparingly, for fat).

🍎 Plant component

Fruits and vegetables: bananas, apples, berries and various vegetables to taste.

🗓️ Feeding frequency

Puppies: daily.

Adults: several times a week; higher protein content for growth can be occasionally.

🧂 Supplements

Calcium and multivitamins - important, especially when feeding plant food.

🩺 6. Health and Common Problems
💊 Common Health Problems

✔ Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) – due to lack of UVB or calcium.
✔ Shedding Problems – due to improper humidity and environment.
✔ Parasites and Flu – Internal parasites can cause diarrhea, lethargy, or decreased appetite.
✔ Injuries from scratching or escaping – when the environment is not properly secured.

🦠 Prevention

Regular veterinary checkups and a hygienic environment are key to disease prevention.

🧬 7. Species and Breeding Variations

Although the term "tegu" refers to several species, the Argentine tegu (Salvator merianae) is the most commonly bred and considered the standard for large tegu lizards.

🦎 Other Species in the Same Group

Red Tegu (Salvator rufescens) – has a different coloration and origin.

The "Colombian" tegu (Tupinambis teguixin) has different requirements and behavior, but is often confused with the Argentinean.

In breeding, there are also morphs (e.g. tall white, hypo, albino), which are created by selective breeding, but the basic species remains Salvator merianae.

⚖️ 8. Advantages and disadvantages of breeding
👍 Advantages

✔ Intelligence and interactivity: Tegus can be friendly and adaptable to the owner.
✔ Versatile diet: they accept a wide variety of foods.
✔ Long life: with good care, they often live 15–20+ years.

👎 Disadvantages

✘ Large space and equipment: they need a large terrarium, strong UVB light and a stable environment.
✘ Time-consuming: care, cleaning, handling and feeding take time.
✘ Strength: when frightened or unprepared, they can bite or lash with their tail