Buyer question
Is an Argentine black and white tegu good for beginners?
Usually not: our Animal Library rates the Argentine black and white tegu 2 out of 5 for beginners (big, strong, long-lived).
Source: the Argentine black and white tegu page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Argentine black and white tegu in the Animal Library
The detail
The Argentine black and white tegu is a large South American lizard known for becoming tame and dog-like with daily handling. It brumates through winter and grows to four feet or more, so it needs a big enclosure and a long commitment.
- Best fit
- Experienced keepers with room and time
- Handling
- 4 out of 5 (Tames with daily work)
- Setup complexity
- 4 out of 5 (Big enclosure, brumation)
- Feeding ease
- 4 out of 5 (Eager omnivore)
What to weigh
A strong, long-lived lizard that needs an 8-foot enclosure and daily attention to stay tame. Legal limits are tightening in some states.