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Thamnophis
03-08-2007, 08:26 AM
We have doubts about the species. Either it is Tupinambis teguixin or T. merianae.
It came from Argentina. Do not know the exact locality.
Could it also be T. merianae, James? What do you think.
Look at this picture...

http://photos15.flickr.com/20506430_cc0053f18f_o.jpg

We had some years ago a number of Callipistos flavipunctatus.
They were (and stayed) agressive. Nice lizards :D
adamanteus
03-08-2007, 09:42 AM
Hi Fons,

If it definitely came from Argentina, one would naturally presume it to be T. merianae, but, I must admit I've never seen T. merianae so I can't say yes or no with any real certainty. Sorry. I think there is a Tegu forum, similar to ours (only for Tegus!!), you could try them. theTegu.com

Either way it's a fantastic looking animal. Can I have it?!!:D
adamanteus
03-08-2007, 10:00 AM
Yes. It's definitely T.merianae! T. teguixin has a single loreal scale, (between the eye and the nostril), T. merianae has two. Therefore the beast in the picture is T. merianae.
Gyre
03-08-2007, 03:44 PM
o__o That is the most frightening lizard I've ever seen.

It looks like it should be terrorizing some midevel village... Are they as big as it looks in theis picture? .. Just wondering. :p
adamanteus
03-08-2007, 05:15 PM
Yes Hannah, they get to about 4'+ and heavily built too. So pretty big.
Thamnophis
03-09-2007, 12:55 AM
Thanks James. T. merianae it is from now :)
I a making new infoplates for in the zoo and on this I named it already T. merianae. I will keep it this way.

@ Gyre... Yes, he is over 1 meter long and I guess it weighs betwen 15 and 20 kilo.
He' s rather gentle so nothing to be afraid for. When he opens his mouth your complete hand can get in :D

@ Adamanteus... No you can't have him. :p
adamanteus
03-09-2007, 03:39 AM
What's his name? Have you any more pictures of him?
Thamnophis
03-09-2007, 12:32 PM
His name is Maxima. We named him, when he was a juvenile and we thought it was a female, after our future queen that also comes from Argentina. :D

I shall take a look for other pictures.
Thamnophis
03-09-2007, 12:45 PM
I have found three pics of Maxima on my computer.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/teju.jpg

Here he is asleep (like a big baby) :D
Thamnophis
03-09-2007, 12:46 PM
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/teju2.jpg

Closeup from his eye-region.
adamanteus
03-09-2007, 12:46 PM
Maxima is a real beauty. Tell him "Hi" from his uncle James!
Thamnophis
03-09-2007, 12:48 PM
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/teju3.jpg

Together with his roommate.
The little one is about 24 years old. He was born in our zoo, but has a growth-dissabillity. He never grew big. They like eachother very much.
Thamnophis
03-09-2007, 12:49 PM
Maxima is a real beauty. Tell him "Hi" from his uncle James!


Okay :rolleyes:
adamanteus
03-09-2007, 12:51 PM
And how old is Maxima?
Cazador
03-09-2007, 05:51 PM
What an amazing reptile! I half expected his body to be studded with jewels!

Rick
adamanteus
03-09-2007, 06:05 PM
What an amazing reptile! I half expected his body to be studded with jewels!

Rick

Yeah! Smaug The Magnificent!
abcat1993
03-09-2007, 06:31 PM
The Hobbit right? Great Book.
adamanteus
03-09-2007, 07:35 PM
I've always found Tolkien to be hobbit forming if you read too much!
Thamnophis
03-09-2007, 09:11 PM
I do not know exactly how old he is, but I believe he is about 6 or 7 years.
adamanteus
03-10-2007, 04:08 AM
They have a tremendous growth rate, don't they? You would certainly need lots of space and a really good set-up to successfully keep an animal like that at home. I think that keepers in warmer areas use large outdoor enclosures. Not an option in the UK!
Thamnophis
03-10-2007, 07:15 PM
Also not an option in the Netherlands. We often get the remains of your weather :D
drache
03-11-2007, 04:48 AM
definitely not an option in this part of the US either.
How bog an enclosure do you keep him in anyway?
Or does he get a room to himself?
abcat1993
03-11-2007, 10:03 AM
Kind of random but why does it say you're from New York with a German Flag Rhea?
drache
03-11-2007, 10:13 AM
because I live in the US (Brooklyn, NY), but I am from Germany - expat.
Gyre
03-11-2007, 06:12 PM
Alright, I take it back. He's sort of cute... but still, I wouldn't stick my hand in his mouth. =3
Thamnophis
03-11-2007, 06:54 PM
definitely not an option in this part of the US either.
How bog an enclosure do you keep him in anyway?
Or does he get a room to himself?

He lives in a terrarium with the following measurements:
2 x 4 x 2 m - D x W x H
drache
03-11-2007, 07:02 PM
I figured he would need something that large
Thamnophis
03-11-2007, 07:09 PM
Personally I think it could be bigger. It will be when we start rebuilding the part of the exhibition where it lives.
GarterGirl
03-13-2007, 04:58 AM
We have doubts about the species. Either it is Tupinambis teguixin or T. merianae.
It came from Argentina. Do not know the exact locality.
Could it also be T. merianae, James? What do you think.
Look at this picture...

http://photos15.flickr.com/20506430_cc0053f18f_o.jpg

We had some years ago a number of Callipistos flavipunctatus.
They were (and stayed) agressive. Nice lizards :D

What does it eat?
adamanteus
03-13-2007, 05:38 PM
What does it eat?

Tegus are mainly carnivorous (rodents, other meat...they love eggs) but they also take some fruit.
Thamnophis
03-13-2007, 07:21 PM
We feed our tegus mainly with chickenmeat (with bone) supplemented with vitamin- and mineralpowder. Every now and then a mouse. They refuse to eat fruit.
adamanteus
03-14-2007, 02:58 AM
He seems to be doing well without the fruit anyway!!
Thamnophis
03-14-2007, 06:09 AM
He thinks: Fruit is for those Iguana-wimps! Not for a tough guy like me :D