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The first thing you must understand about tegus is that they are large, active reptiles that need a lot of space to be healthy. Bigger is always better with tegu enclosures.
Regardless of whether your tegu is an adult or just a hatchling, it’s best to start with a full-sized enclosure. The minimum enclosure size is as follows:
- Argentine tegu: 8’ x 4’ x 4’
- Colombian tegu: 6′ x 3′ x 3′
The enclosure should be front opening, as this benefits both your back and the tegu’s wellbeing. We recommend the following commercially-available enclosures:
If you are unable to find a big enough enclosure available for sale or simply want a less expensive option, you will have to build your own adult tegu enclosure, or at least find a friend who is willing to do it for you.
If you wish to build your own enclosure, here’s a helpful how-to by Rian Weaver: 8ft x 5ft x 3ft Tegu Cage Build. The instructions are for an 8’x5’x3′ enclosure (which is fantastic — more room is always better!), but it should be easy enough to adjust if needed. He notes: “The Drylock has sand in it, and its dry texture is like concrete. I have not had to clip [the tegu’s] nails at all. From her climbing around in the cage and digging in the dirt, they get naturally filed down… I did several coats (mentioned in the guide), but there is no sign at all of her scratching (the durability of the Drylock was something some people questioned). Drylock Extreme is untextured, and therefore less ideal in my opinion.”
By Margoz (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Can tegus be housed together?
Yes — if you take the right precautions. But if you want two tegus just to make sure the first tegu has a friend, let me put your mind to ease: tegus do not need friends, and they’re perfectly happy living alone.
The good news is that tegus possess enough “social skills” that more than one tegu can be housed in the same enclosure without incident. However, considerations must be made for the genders of the tegus in question, as well as the size of the tegu enclosure.
Gender compatibility for tegus:
- Female + female = yes
- Male + male = yes
- Male + female = no
When housing tegus together, each tegu must be allowed to have his/her own space. This means that if you want to have two tegus in the same enclosure, the enclosure must be twice as large as you would need for one tegu.
It is safer to avoid housing adult tegus with hatchling or juvenile tegus, as the smaller tegus will be in danger of getting eaten.
Note that due to differences with individual personalities, there is no guarantee that tegu cohabitation will always work.
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Keep reading:
- Introduction to Tegus
- Shopping List
- List of Tegu Species
- Terrarium Sizing for Hatchlings, Juveniles & Adults
- Temperature & Humidity Requirements
- Substrate Options
- Decorating Your Tegu’s Enclosure
- Feeding Your Tegu
- Handling Tips
- Benefits of Free-Roaming
- Common Problems & Questions About Tegu Health
- Additional Resources