Argentine Black & White Tegu

Overview

The Argentine Black & White Tegu (Salvator merianae) is a reptile reaching about 3–4 ft and living 15–20 yrs. It is an omnivore, kept in a terrestrial set-up. It is generally tolerant of handling. With a typical lifespan of around 18 years, it's a long commitment.

Is the Argentine Black & White Tegu right for you?

A good match if — you want a reptile you can actually handle.

Think twice if — this is your first reptile — the husbandry here is demanding; space is tight — this species gets large and needs a big enclosure.

What an Argentine Black & White Tegu needs from you

The real work is the enclosure: correct heat, lighting/UVB and humidity, plus a lot of space — for this species, floor space with the right heat gradient and UVB. Feeding means the correct species diet. Get the habitat right and most reptiles are calm, low-drama animals.

Key facts

Scientific name

Salvator merianae

Adult size

3–4 ft

Life span

15–20 yrs

Diet

omnivore

Habitat

terrestrial

Care level

advanced

Handling

yes

Notes

Large, intelligent, can tame well; needs big custom enclosure

What it needs from you (at a glance)

What it costs

Scaled to this breed’s roughly 4 kg and a ~18-year life, keeping an Argentine Black & White Tegu works out at about:

Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →

Temperament (at a glance)