Tupinambis teguixin (giant teju)

Age: 10 to 15 years
Origin: North of South America
Length: 60 to 100 centimeters
The head of this species is long and pointed and they can become rather unwieldy and heavy. The body color is mostly dark with a light barred pattern with white or yellowish bands all over the body. The top of the body is covered with small white or yellow spots.

Care:
Experience: Experienced lizard keeper
Food: Omivore
Feed adult: 3-5 times a week
Feed young: Daily
Water bowl: Yes
Water change: Daily

Power supply
This species mainly eats animal food, such as crickets, curly flies and buffalo worms. This diet can possibly be supplemented with mealworms or wax moths. The food should be smaller than the lizard's head. 10% of the food can consist of fruits and vegetables, older individuals would eat more vegetables than the younger ones. Alternate the food, so the teju gets all the nutrients it needs.
It is sometimes advised to powder the food with vitamin D, these extra calcium and vitamin supplements can be found in most pet shops and reptile shops.

Water
There must be a water bowl in the terrarium at all times, in which the animal can lie completely in to bathe.

Cleaning
As the hungry eaters that they are, they also defecate. For this reason, it is wise to remove the faeces from the enclosure every day, and to remove the dirty bedding once a week. In addition, it is wise to thoroughly clean the entire accommodation a few times a year, this prevents the accumulation of germs and bacteria.

Handling
Like many lizards, this species can be a bit shy but they can get used to handling. When handling the animal, pick it up by gently sliding your hands under its body. Support the lower body and lift it off the floor. While handling, keep one thumb on its back so that it cannot easily run away. During handling it is recommended to hold it above your lap or above a table. This prevents the monitor lizard from falling from too great a height. Finally, it is advisable to wash your hands before and after handling. Here you prevent the animal and yourself from getting sick.

Housing
Minimum size stay for a couple: minimum 180x90x90
Daytime temperature: 25-35°C
Night temperature: 23-26°C
Hours of light: 12 hours
Humidity Level: 70-80%
Soil cover: cocopeat or non-fertilized garden soil

Design
The teju is mainly a test trial species, but if the opportunity arises, they also seek height. In the terrarium you can place pieces of wood or stones that serve as a shelter or where they can lie on to bask. When setting up the terrarium, you can place the wood or stone in such a way that they also have the opportunity to climb. However, make sure that everything is firmly placed so that the iguana cannot injure itself if something falls. In addition, the stay must be divided into a warm and cool side.
The teju is a lizard that really likes sunbathing and high temperatures, they need a lot of radiant heat and have a high UVB requirement. Use mercury vapor or metal halide lamps with a high UVB content for a basking spot.

Behaviour
Diet: Omnivore
Lifestyle: test trial and day active

Character
This species can get used to people well but can be a bit nervous and shy at first, but over time this should get better and they tolerate handling more than many other lizard species.

Points of attention
Housing several males together is not a good idea due to territorial behavior.

Cost and Purchase
Legislation: Keeping this species requires CITES transfer papers.
One-off costs: This includes the costs for accommodation, lighting, heating, water bowl and decoration. This can cost a few hundred euros to a few thousand euros in total. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.
Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the costs for the feed, which is a few tens of euros per year.
Unexpected costs: Costs are incurred when your animal happens to become ill or your equipment breaks down.