If you could have any animal as a pet.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Shnabdabber

Ive always wanted a howler monkey. I'd teach him to pick pockets of canucks fans and scream at them.



And I've been looking into a pet Tegu. These things are freaking awesome.

As an exotic breeder and enthusiast I can inform you that Tegu's tend to have attitude and they have a very nasty bite.

[Shnabdabber]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

As an exotic breeder and enthusiast I can inform you that Tegu's tend to have attitude and they have a very nasty bite.

I have heard of some owners that can handle their tegu's with little to no fuss as well. Is this something that is more dependent on the temperment of the owner and how they raise the animal or does the tegu basically call the shots?

Im interested in them, but not being able to handle one would probably be a deal breaker.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Shnabdabber

I have heard of some owners that can handle their tegu's with little to no fuss as well. Is this something that is more dependent on the temperment of the owner and how they raise the animal or does the tegu basically call the shots?

Im interested in them, but not being able to handle one would probably be a deal breaker.

The Tegu calls the shots. Here is the best advice I can give you. First get an Argentine Tegu, not a Columbian. They can get up to 5 feet in length so be aware this is a large lizard! Get a newborn or a juvenile that has been handled and get it used to being handled every day. You may want to wear some heavy Gardening Gloves when you first adapt it to being handled. If you really want one and you are dedicated to having time to work with him a Tegu can be a very cool pet. Just making you aware that an adult Tegu can do some very serious damage if it bites you. Here is a link to a 3 foot Argentine bite and how fast it can happen.
http://snakebytestv.ning.com/profile...-your-eyes-off

[Shnabdabber]

Thanks dissentowner

edit: Note to self... Tegus can eat you.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Shnabdabber

Thanks dissentowner

edit: Note to self... Tegus can eat you.

Hey, no problem and I am always happy to see someone enthusiastic about an exotic pet. Just wanted to make sure you knew the possible dangers with a powerful lizard like that.

[Methanolic]

Ugh!, I can't Decide..

A Hedgehog or.... Gary Busey.



Damn!

[CalgaryFan1988]

I don't want one, but a king cobra could definitely sharpen your reflexes.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsi7Yq1Eb_4

[_Q_]

I was actually thinking about this last night, it's weird to see someone else thinking the same thing. For me it would definitely be a grey wolf... It would be kind of like a dog, but a lot smarter and more bad ass.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Methanolic

Ugh!, I can't Decide..

A Hedgehog or.... Gary Busey.

Damn!

Do you have cocaine for the hedgehog? If so, go with the headgehog.

They leave less poop to clean up after than with Gary Busey.

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

As an exotic breeder and enthusiast I can inform you that Tegu's tend to have attitude and they have a very nasty bite.

So was it a bad idea for those folks to allow their cat to hang that close to it?

[Captain_Obvious]

For the record I'd roll with a pet hyena

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Captain_Obvious

So was it a bad idea for those folks to allow their cat to hang that close to it?

Yes it was because a Tegu no matter how tame can be unpredictable at times. That video makes me mad because it is just not smart, it just as easily could have turned out that the Tegu snapped and killed that kitten.
A Tegu does not know what a kitten is and would not encounter one in the wild so it is a gamble on if the Tegu sees the kitten as a threat or not. Obviously this one didn't and looks pretty tame which is great but why risk the kittens life there?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I've considered buying one of these. Amazing looking cats.

Bengal Cats are so expensive. Being a Breeder is like a liscense to print money.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Bengal Cats are so expensive. Being a Breeder is like a liscense to print money.

I've seen them here in town for $800. Its not bad for an exotic animal.

[FlamesGirl]

That hyena pic really disturbs me. Poor thing. He just looks miserable.