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Gold Tegu
Tupinambis teguixin
A large, robust South American lizard with striking black and gold coloration. It requires huge enclosures, strict humidity parameters, and careful handling due to its defensive and easily agitated nature.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Teiidae
Subfamily:Tupinambinae
Genus:Tupinambis
Species:Tupinambis teguixin
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
75 - 95 %
Day temperature
28 - 32 °C
Ambient temperature
28 °C
Night temperature
22 °C
Basking spot
40 - 45 °C
Adult size
50 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 1,500 L
UVB
High
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed throughout the tropical forests, swamps, and savannas of northern and central South America, including the Amazon Basin. It is predominantly terrestrial but capable of swimming and climbing.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A member of the family Teiidae and the genus Tupinambis. Genetically adapted for an opportunistic omnivorous lifestyle in tropical habitats, exhibiting distinct evolutionary lineages from Salvator tegus.
Behavior and Habits: Diurnal and terrestrial with strong burrowing instincts. Known for a defensive temperament, making it more challenging to socialize than Argentine tegus. It communicates with tail-whipping and heavy hissing when cornered.
Morphology: A massive lizard reaching lengths of 100-120 cm. Features glossy scales arranged in alternating black and golden-yellow bands. It possesses powerful jaws, a thick neck, and a long, muscular tail.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires an exceptionally large enclosure, such as a dedicated room or custom build of at least 240x120x120 cm. Provide a deep (30 cm) substrate of cypress mulch, soil, and peat to support digging, along with heavy logs and a large water tub.
Lighting and Heating: Provide a hot basking spot of 40-45°C (104-113°F) using multiple halogen bulbs. Ambient temperatures should range from 28-32°C (82-90°F) with a night drop to 22°C (72°F). High-output 10-12% UVB lighting is essential.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity levels (70-80%). Frequent misting is required alongside a large water basin where the tegu can fully submerge to assist with hydration and shedding.
Feeding and Supplementation: Omnivorous. Feed a varied diet including large insects, snails, fish, rodents, chicks, and occasionally soft fruits or vegetables. Dust food with calcium and D3 twice a week, and multivitamins weekly.
Compatibility: Strictly solitary and territorial. Due to their size, power, and potential for defensive aggression, they must be housed individually and handled with extreme caution.
Health and Common Diseases: At risk of Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) if UV and calcium levels are inadequate. Obesity is common due to overfeeding, and respiratory issues can occur if the enclosure is kept too dry or cold.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Widely distributed throughout the tropical forests, swamps, and savannas of northern and central South America, including the Amazon Basin. It is predominantly terrestrial but capable of swimming and climbing.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsAmazon, Orinoco, and Guianas
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 50 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 50 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 50 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
