Black & White Tegu Care Sheet
Argentine Black and White Tegu Care Sheet
Common Name: Argentine Black and White Tegu, Argentine Tegu, Black and White Tegu
Scientific Name: Salvator merianae
Difficulty: Intermediate-Advanced
Notes: If you are interested in an animal that is large and smart, the Argentine black and white tegu is definitely a species to consider. These omnivorous animals come from eastern and central South America, spanning the Amazon river basin in Brazil, and down to Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. They are able to withstand a surprising range of habitats, as long as they are able to burrow. They have been found in rainforests, open scrubland, flooded canals, and plains.
Handleability: Moderately easy to handle. Training intensive. These animals are intelligent, and so must be treated with care and consideration when you wish to get them to do something, as they will be sure to let you know when they are not interested. Adult black and white tegus have one of the largest bite forces of any species of lizard at 1000N, and their claws can easily cause cuts that may require stitches. Positive reinforcement and target training can be done with this species, and is very important in the process of socializing your animal. If your animal is well mannered, they can be held (though they are heavy at upwards of 12 pounds), and can be leash trained, housebroken, and taken out on excursions. These are large, powerful, and smart lizards.
Length at full size: Up to 4.4 feet at about 2 years of age.
Lifespan: 15-20 years.
Recommended Tank Size:
Hatchlings to subadults up to 20 inches long: 40 gallon enclosure measuring 36” x 18” x 18”
Animals 20 inches long to adult: 120 gallon enclosure measuring 48” x 24” x 24” or larger. Full adults will require a minimum of 6’ x 4’ floor space and at least 3’ of height.
The essential components of an Argentine black and white tegu’s enclosure will include a large water dish, a food serving bowl/dish, a basking site, and two areas on either end of the tank for the animal to hide and sleep. These animals will appreciate small assemblages of flat rocks, a low branch or two, leaf litter, and cover in the form of fake or live plants. It is best to use substrate that they can burrow into, such as cypress mulch or sandy soil. Adding safe-to-eat plants can be a great enrichment item, but do not expect them to last long!
Sleep Pattern: Diurnal. These lizards are sun lovers and will be active during the day.
Temperature Range:
Basking Spot: 100-110 °F (37-43 °C)
Hot End: 80-90 °F (26-32 °C)
Cool End: 71-79 °F (21-26 °C)
Lighting/Heating: Argentine black and white tegus require a heat lamp and a source of UVB. Heat bulbs usually are best chosen in accordance to the distance that it will be from the basking site. A 10.0 or 12-14% percentage strength fluorescent tube that spans half of the tank will be the best setup for your animal, but a smaller compact fluorescent can suffice for smaller animals until they grow larger. Ensure that the UVB is covering the basking site, and has no glass or plastic between the bulb and the inside of the enclosure.
Place your lights on timers to ensure a 10-12 hour photoperiod.
Humidity Range: 60-80%. Using soil or cypress mulch can aid in keeping humidity levels adequate, along with a large water bowl on the cool end of the enclosure. Misting the enclosure may be required during the winter months.
Diet: Argentine black and white tegus are indiscriminate omnivores, which means a combination of both insect protein and vegetable matter are necessary for their health. Juveniles will have a protein heavy diet of 90% protein and 10% vegetables with rare offerings of fruit, whereas adults will have a balance of 60% protein, 30% vegetables, and 10% fruit.
All food items will be dusted with a calcium powder that does not include vitamin d3, as the UVB will allow for natural d3 synthesis. Bone-in prey items will not require dusting. A multivitamin powder can be applied to food once a week to twice a month. Feed once daily from hatchling to adult, and up to every three days for adults.
Whole prey items are a solid staple of the diet. Insects will always play a role, but more so with younger tegus. Crickets, silkworms, superworms, and discoid roaches are all great staples. Good insect treats are hornworms, waxworms, and butterworms, as they all have high fat and water content. Other protein sources include: shrimp, snails, ground turkey, chicks, quail, cooked egg, poultry necks, poultry organ meat, and frozen-thawed rodents.
Raw frozen or canned pet food can be added into the diet on a rotational basis, but whole prey items will always be best. In choosing the right kind of food, choose diets designed for cats for juveniles, and for adults, choose diets suited for dogs. Some grain is acceptable as long as the formula is high quality and not too high in carbohydrates.
Most vegetables are safe for black and white tegus to eat, but a list of the best vegetables and leafy greens include:
Collard greens
Dandelion greens
Endive or escarole
Mustard greens
Turnip greens
Acorn Squash
Butternut Squash
Green Beans
Okra
Parsnips
Snap Peas
Sweet Potato
Yellow Squash
Fruits may be fed sparingly as treats, and can include:
Blueberry
Mango
Papaya
Prickly Pear (Cactus Leaves)
Do not feed leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, or any of the brassica family frequently, as they all contain high levels of oxalic acid (oxalates), which is a calcium-binding agent that limits the absorption of calcium, and may encourage the development of Metabolic Bone Disease if fed more often than not. Do not feed romaine or iceberg lettuce as they have little to no nutritional value.
Water: Offer water in a large bowl on the cool end of the enclosure that can allow the tegu to climb in and submerge themselves up to the shoulder. Water should be free of chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals. Use a water conditioner such as ReptiSafe, SeaChem Prime, or an equivalent brand. You can alternatively procure your water through filtration systems designed for drinking water. Distilled and reverse osmosis water are sufficient to use as well, as long as a multivitamin is used in your feeding regimen.