Other lizards

Tegus and related lizards

Tegus and related teiid lizards include terrestrial, climbing and swimming specialists. Choose the named animal below to understand its housing, food and care requirements.

5 care introductions in this collection

Argentine black-and-white tegu walking across dry soil with its red forked tongue extended.Lizards

Argentine black-and-white tegu

Salvator merianae

Argentine black-and-white tegus are powerful, inquisitive omnivores, and housing an adult requires substantial building work.

Species introduction · Experienced keeper

Plan for 15–20 years, with the possibility of longer.

Seasonally humid terrestrial4 min read
Caiman lizard in close-up, showing its reddish head, green neck and scaled forefoot.Lizards

Caiman lizard

Dracaena guianensis

Caiman lizards are powerful climbers and swimmers whose pool, land area and specialist food supply must work together.

Species introduction · Experienced keeper

More than 10 years reported; this is not an upper limit

Tropical semi-aquatic forest4 min read
Gold tegu resting on a log, with yellow flecks across its dark head and body.Lizards

Colombian tegu

Tupinambis teguixin

This introduction covers the energetic golden tegu, whose keepers need to provide substantial digging space and patient, protected maintenance.

Species introduction · Experienced keeper

15 years or more in the breeder account

Tropical terrestrial burrower4 min read
Crocodile tegu swimming with its green head and upper body above rippled water.Lizards

Crocodile tegu

Crocodilurus amazonicus

This specialist introduction covers an aquatic Amazonian teiid for which publicly verified captive-care guidance remains limited.

Specialist introduction · Experienced keeper

No supported captive lifespan range established from the reviewed sources

Amazonian semi-aquatic margins4 min read
Great Basin whiptail moving across rocky soil with its long tail curving behind it.Lizards

Western whiptail

Aspidoscelis tigris

This introduction covers the fast, active western whiptail; the wider whiptail trade category contains different species.

Specialist introduction · Experienced keeper

No supported captive lifespan range established from the reviewed sources

Open scrub and burrowing cover4 min read

Check the guide before planning a setup.

Open the matching introduction to check its scope, follow its sources and start the animal’s setup checklist. Specialist entries explain what still needs individual assessment.