ESSENTIALS OF TEGU CARE! 10 Things EVERY Beginner NEEDS To Know Before Getting A Tegu!

[@AllCanadianReptileGirl]

Great tips! I just got a tegu, haven't shared any pics or made any announcements yet, but I'm so excited about building a huge enclosure and playtime, and target training... I could go on and on!!

[@IrieRogue]

They're so smart. There is no limit. I'm thinking of getting some word buttons and teaching Pubba to communicate using them.

[@AllCanadianReptileGirl]

@@IrieRogue that'd be really cool!

[@IrieRogue]

There's a baby 'gu in the local pet shop here. It is taking everything within me to not go get the little cherub. Idk if Pubba is ready for another tegu friend just yet...

[@torquess454]

Ooo!! Congrats!!

[@AllCanadianReptileGirl]

@@IrieRogue Tough decision, so much to consider...good luck!

[@Misha-ov7rb]

I love how baby John randomly started laughing!!! So cute

[@IrieRogue]

Tegus are incredibly underrated!

[@blazetube1164]

Actually quite overrated. Mention a lizard and tegus will come for sure.

[@IrieRogue]

@@blazetube1164 I disagree. Not nearly enough people know how wonderful they are, and the opinion of the masses seems to be negative due to the incessant reporting of invasives.

[@blazetube1164]

@@IrieRogue Well it's just my opinion. But you have a point there.

[@Misha-ov7rb]

I think they are perfectly rated.

[@blazetube1164]

@@Misha-ov7rb exactly. If there's any overrated lizard it's bearded dragons. The most underrated lizard is a Chinese water dragon. Tegus are perfectly in the middle.

[@Persona6Blue]

Yes, I was waiting for this! Although...it came too late, now that the ban in Florida is officially in place. Was really hoping to eventually get a blue tegu when I was ready but now I must hope they end the ban.

[@nickcarter8523]

Hey man i was in a similar position. That ban details that florida breeders only have a few more weeks to sell tegus in state before the in state ban takes effect. You still might be able to act quickly and claim grandfather privilege.

[@Persona6Blue]

@@nickcarter8523 Nah, as much as I'd like to I'm still not ready and I wouldn't want the tegu to suffer on account of me rushing it.

[@ProfessorHerp]

Very responsible!

[@exomnia115]

Bruh just get one anyway who tf is gonna check lmao

[@lorraineleschinsky8616]

Just getting a tegu. Very excited so getting every bit of info. as possible TY

[@torquess454]

LOVE the clean shaven head! And of course, ADORE Tegus!! (Underrated, yes, but not as much as Prof Herp!) I need more Frapp interaction! Get outta brumation!! Omgosh lil John’s smile!!!! (Heart melts into tummy)

[@tecskate]

Thank you for the Tegu videos! Keep making them

[@seabassa.m.665]

Thanks for this! Have been looking to get a tegu soon and I'm doing as much research as I can

[@ProfessorHerp]

Glad I could help!

[@lorraineleschinsky8616]

Thanks for the info. Sweet boy ❤

[@ingridjohansan2098]

incredible video

[@Unknown-qy3pp]

What gallon size should the tank be?

[@marvinbonilla3660]

bro i really think 135 is a lot for a tegu, mine if i go more than 95 would be burrried almost all time, so i keep her at 85-90 and she stays really comfortable

[@lizstallard9902]

I totally agree . Never higher than 95 ... They are not desert dwellers...

[@DawnS-p7b]

Yes i agree . I have my tegu hot spot at 105 and if its anymore then that he avoids it.

[@daisysfarmsonnotalottaacre4895]

Your set up tho. Dope.

[@ElLenadorLA]

130??? Those temperatures don’t really occur in their natural habitat, how is that the recommended temp??

[@isaiahmarquez454]

thats the temp that tge basking spot needs to be. in the wild the sun will heat up rocks to temps of 120-140 degrees so the tegus will bask on those rocks in the wild

[@ElLenadorLA]

@@isaiahmarquez454 Ah yeah, I forget it’s not ambient temperature it’s the surface.

[@metalmomma4229]

I need help please! I have a mister to keep humidity up and I have it set at 80% and it's making the enclosure completely sopping wet. It is literally filling up his food bowl of water every day. I just do not feel like this is correct? My substrate is equal parts of eco earth, play and and Peet moss. Can someone please help? I don't feel my enclosure being soaking wet is correct but I am trying to keep the humidity up to 80%

[@mcwendel8066]

I recently bought an Asian water monitor and I enjoy watching your videos, very informative! 👌🏼 couple questions for ya, how do you keep the humidity high in your enclosure? Do you have a misting system or just try to keep the soil damp? Also why does the big guy have an underbite? I had a green iguana back in the day with an underbite, just curious if you knew the cause

[@ProfessorHerp]

1. Let me know if this helps on humidity: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpXLd399eN1rfsU 2. Frap had a mouth infection. We (I worked heavily with an exotic vet from my university on this) believe this led to his jaw issue there but are ultimately unsure. His bone density in the tip of his nose/snout/jaw is not as solid. Always has had adequate UVB and have had various house visits from my exotic vet to double check so there is no way that caused it unless a bulb somehow was deficient. Overall, I do not know (which really bugs me).

[@mcwendel8066]

@@ProfessorHerp thanks for the reply! My green iguana had a similar look but that was along time ago and i think it was due to lack of uvb. I’m sure that’s not the issue with your guy. I didn’t know about uvb in 1997 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@ProfessorHerp]

@@mcwendel8066 hey people still don't about uvb it seems haha

[@shanipolka5768]

So… I have a tegu. Just got recently. Been doing lots n lots of research. Where they are from in the wild , temps do not get that high. So I was wondering why a lot say they need 120-130 temp?

[@ProfessorHerp]

Air temps do not get that high, a nice rock absorbing heat in a hot sun will

[@Oceanic_Aviator]

Why you no longer post videos

[@colefisher3106]

what heat bulbs are you using??

[@caryboyd2181]

Im curious do you have a herpetology or biology degree or are you a self taught guy? I keep and have bred Ackies. My red Ackies are nice red Ackies with the yellow spot legs. Ackies are the best. I like the Odatria better than the larger onitors. Cary in Tucson

[@ProfessorHerp]

No degree in biology or herpetology. Ackies are a great reptile and much more manageable than large monitors for many!

[@lvminxsce]

In theory, would I be able to comfortably house a Colombian tegu outside in full shade in an Arizona summer? It gets pretty spicy out there, especially with no breeze, but I'm thinking of setting up a grow tent enclosure outside since we just don't really have the space inside without kicking one of the kids out (I'm kidding, of course lol). I figure we'd need a lot more airflow for a tent type setup but with a timed mist system I think the humidity would be okay. I'm just worried about heat, I suppose.

[@ProfessorHerp]

probably. Don't nights get cold there though? Would really need to arrange the outdoor enclosure to the specific weather patterns of your region.

[@h.o.j2375]

There is a misconception on diets of wild tegu and translating it to a domestic tegu. Tegu in the wild eat wild fruit, that’s not the supermarket variety you get at your local supermarket people! The stuff you buy at the supermarket has been bred to be a lot sweeter with a lot more sugar than wild grown fruits, feed your tegu too much fruit you’ll make them obese. Also wild tegu move a lot more as they need to roam to find food and find mates, they need more energy hence more fruit in the diet. Also it’s a matter of survival, whatever is available and edible and easy to get to which means fruit which is just lying around on the ground fallen from the tree. People need to think about diet it in context to the tegu’s environment.

[@ProfessorHerp]

Actually Tegu's are pretty lazy reptiles, much more so in captivity. They only travel for their needs and in captivity, most of their needs are provided. This is why replicating their natural experiences in not a wise approach in captivity.

[@davidmayberry9335]

Can you do a bearded dragon guide for stuck shead and how to get them to eat their greens

[@nataliedixon105]

For stuck shed, you just bathe them and take a soft tooth brush and gently scrub. There’s lots of videos on how to get them to eat veggies.

[@ProfessorHerp]

Eat greens: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gma8hWuMec6CoJo I can eventually do a stuck shed video!

[@davidmayberry9335]

@@ProfessorHerp thank so much. I found she likes hearts of Romaine

[@Brndnnnnnnn]

Professor Herp how much will the 8x4x4 cost and can 10-13 year olds get a tegu?

[@ProfessorHerp]

$1200+ and yes if your parents allow and you have done your research and are properly prepared!

[@Brndnnnnnnn]

@@ProfessorHerp will a 40-60 gallon tank be good for a while?

[@Brndnnnnnnn]

@@ProfessorHerp just asking

[@ProfessorHerp]

@@Brndnnnnnnn no way to small

[@Brndnnnnnnn]

@@ProfessorHerp any gallon?

[@kennynyc1555]

with all that substrate how do you know to clean the pee n poop daily? also doesnt it -smell a lot , can it be reduced-

[@ProfessorHerp]

there are many isopods in the substrate the break down the waste and cycle the substrate. Would love to get plants in there to benefit from the rich soil.

[@kennynyc1555]

@@ProfessorHerp aye yai yai , isopods r creepy AF lol

[@ProfessorHerp]

@@kennynyc1555 they're not bad!

[@kennynyc1555]

@@ProfessorHerp ok/ I saw a video of his aggresive tegu and how he kinda amped it up that i didnt like but I will give em more of chance :)

[@OlManChuck]

My brother has bought a tegu that he can no longer keep. (I imagine people do this quite a bit with these guys.) he now is asking for me to take him. I have a big back yard and many animals, although I have never cared for a tegu. I would like to make a outdoor set up, I’m here in Cali, i can build a good enclosure for him but do I need to give him heat? I’ll be giving him 2ft of dig/sand to burrow in for heat during winter. I don’t see how these guys survived desert nights but can’t in Cali? Some info on properly holding the tegu outdoors would be great or if you can point me to a place where I can get more info on this. Thank all, I no your tegu lovers!!!

[@ProfessorHerp]

probably will want to give some supplemental heat. No sure exacts since idk where you are in Cali. Check out kzbin.info/door/zebHmqLF5DiRLvL9Tsj2lg . All of his are outdoors in TX

[@Porgcraft559]

Can tegus live in a bedroom with a basking spot no tank?

[@rafaelterrible2763]

Does tegus eat everyday?

[@ProfessorHerp]

As babies, yes. As adults, I feed twice weekly.

[@ProfessorHerp]

@rcphillydragster probably around every other day but really depends on how much you offer per feeding

[@elnovillomapuchedehomerus2412]

Argentine tegus are usually very lazy and don't move too much even in the wild since they have next to no natural predator and their environment is much more calmer and plain while colombian tegus are more active and aggressie since there's lots of animals who would prey on them and eat them and because of this they are more active and alert.

[@lorraineleschinsky8616]

I don't know about underwear, but maybe a shirt. Lol

[@ProfessorHerp]

has to be undies ;)

[@jordansheridan9066]

If you don’t know what UVB is shouldn’t be getting a lizard

[@isaiahmarquez454]

what about for water

[@ProfessorHerp]

what about it?

[@isaiahmarquez454]

@@ProfessorHerp how big of a water bowl do they need

[@ProfessorHerp]

@@isaiahmarquez454 just match to what you think would work for your Tegu

[@emmahill6832]

THe volume on your intro is WAY louder than the rest of your video.

[@ProfessorHerp]

Sorry! Should be fixed in my newer ones

[@benarnold9595]

I am sorry brother I didn't realise KZbin Unsascribed me

[@ProfessorHerp]

all good!

[@philh.9618]

these freedom units kill me...

[@caryboyd2181]

Dude I can't take you seriously hauling that kid around.

[@matthewweil9949]

Kinda wish the whole video wasn’t of your head and rather of some of the stuff we’re trying to learn and understand 🫥