How big do Argentine tegus get, and how much space do they need?
Big — an adult reaches 3–4.5 ft (occasionally ~5 ft) and 8–15 lb, firmly in "large lizard" territory. That means a room-sized enclosure: a minimum around 6×3×3 ft (per the Federation of British Herpetologists' 2022 code), and realistically a custom build. A tegu is not a tank pet — the space, plus a hot basking zone, high humidity (70–80%), and deep burrowing substrate, is the biggest thing to plan for before getting one.
🛒 Getting one🏠 Setup
Argentine tegu guide →Setup checker →
Why has my tegu stopped eating and buried itself for weeks?
Almost certainly brumation. Argentine tegus naturally brumate (a reptile hibernation) for weeks to months in winter — they burrow down, sleep, and stop eating, which is completely normal for a healthy tegu and not a cause for panic. Don't keep digging it up or force-feeding. Do make sure it was a healthy weight going in, and see a reptile vet if it's losing a lot of condition or looks unwell rather than simply sleepy.
🤔 Behaviour🩺 Health
Full guide: brumation →Is this normal? →Argentine tegu guide →
Are Argentine tegus good pets — are they aggressive?
For a keeper with the space, they're one of the most rewarding pet lizards — famously intelligent and, when well-socialised, genuinely "dog-like": they recognise their keeper and enjoy interaction. They're not naturally aggressive and tame down with regular, gentle, patient handling. The honest caveat is the commitment: a room-sized enclosure, a hot basking spot, high humidity, a varied omnivore diet, and a months-long winter brumation. Big responsibility, big reward.
🛒 Getting one🤲 Handling
Taming & handling guide →Argentine tegu guide →
Argentine tegu · 3 questions