Four-striped tegu (Tupinambis quadrilineatus)

Short answers

Four-striped tegu: How big does the enclosure need to be?

200×100×80 cm.

Four-striped tegu: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 30–36 °C, basking spot 48 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Four-striped tegu: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %).

Four-striped tegu: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–20 years.

Four-striped tegu: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

30–36 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

48 °C

Humidity

50–65 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

200×100×80 cm

Substrate

Soil and sand 25–35 cm for digging, stone slabs, a large cave

Feeding

Food

Insects, roaches, rodents, eggs, fruit

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

70–90 cm total length

Life expectancy

12–20 years

Origin

Central Brazil – the Cerrado

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

A cooler dry spell of 8–10 weeks

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Monitors and tegus are territorial; grown animals defend their territory and injure each other with serious bites in the process. Even small size differences mean one animal claims the warm spot and the food for itself while the other falls behind — which is often only noticed once the weaker animal has already lost weight. For breeding, put them together only under supervision.

Notes

A smaller tegu of the Brazilian savannah with four pale lengthwise stripes. An omnivore – fruit belongs on the menu. It digs deep burrows and keeps a pronounced resting phase.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Four-striped tegu (Tupinambis quadrilineatus) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Golden tegu (Tupinambis cryptus) – Intermediate
• Golden tegu (Tupinambis teguixin) – Intermediate
• White tegu (Tupinambis matipu) – Intermediate
• Zulia tegu (Tupinambis zuliensis) – Intermediate
• Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) – Intermediate
• Yellow tegu (Salvator dracaena) – Intermediate
• Chilean dwarf tegu (Callopistes maculatus) – Intermediate
• Caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Four-striped tegu (Tupinambis quadrilineatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (200×100×80 cm), substrate (Soil and sand 25–35 cm for digging, stone slabs, a large cave), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.