Argentine Black and White Tegu (Blue Tegu)

Salvator merianae "Blue Tegu"

The Blue Tegu is a color and geographic variant of the Argentine tegu characterized by high-contrast coloration and slightly smaller adult size compared to the ancestral Black and White form. Genetically, these animals display a gray-blue, platinum, or pure white background coloration, interrupted by distinct black bands and a characteristic dark, uniform coloring on the snout, commonly referred to as a 'singlet' or single spot, which visually distinguishes them from traditional tegus. Hatchlings are born with a bright green coloration on the snout that quickly fades after the first sheds to give way to the typical bluish or platinum shade. While they grow less than other Argentine tegus (usually reaching a length between ninety and one hundred and twenty centimeters), Blue Tegus remain large lizards that require monumental setups. Adults need spacious terrariums with a deep and moist substrate that allows them to dig and burrow, a strong heating source associated with high levels of environmental humidity (between seventy and ninety percent) to prevent shedding problems and promote skin health, and a rich, balanced omnivorous diet.