Yellow tegu (Salvator dracaena)

Short answers

Yellow tegu: How big does the enclosure need to be?

At least 200×100×100 cm for one adult animal (a pair ~300×180×160 cm); deep substrate they can dig in, at least 35 cm.

Yellow tegu: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C, basking spot 45–50 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Yellow tegu: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 2–4).

Yellow tegu: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20+ years.

Yellow tegu: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

45–50 °C

Humidity

60–80 % (a humid retreat) with drier zones; a gradient

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 2–4)

Enclosure

Minimum size

at least 200×100×100 cm for one adult animal (a pair ~300×180×160 cm); deep substrate they can dig in, at least 35 cm

Substrate

A deep soil and sand mix they can dig in (at least 35 cm), roots and cork, a larger water dish

Feeding

Food

Insects, rodents, chicks, egg, fish, a little fruit or carrion – mostly carnivorous with omnivorous elements

Feeding interval

adults ~2×/week, juveniles every other day to daily

Key facts

Adult size

~100–140 cm total length (a typical Salvator tegu)

Life expectancy

15–20+ years

Origin

South America, the Gran Chaco region (Argentina / Paraguay / Bolivia)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Regulation Annex B (Salvator / Tupinambis spp.)

Brumation

Yes – a winter rest or brumation over several weeks to months (cooler ~15–20 °C, with shorter days); Chaco tegus come from a seasonal climate

Cohabitation

Keep them singly; territorial, and males are never kept together. A pair only temporarily for breeding, under supervision.

Notes

IMPORTANT/UNCERTAIN: "Salvator dracaena" is NOT a recognised scientific name (the Reptile Database has Salvator merianae, S. rufescens and S. duseni). "Chaco tegu" denotes a tegu of the Gran Chaco region – most likely a Salvator species (the Chaco form of S. merianae, or the S. rufescens/duseni complex). The figures given apply to a typical Chaco Salvator tegu; clarify the exact species and taxonomy when acquiring one.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) – Intermediate
• Red tegu (Salvator rufescens) – Intermediate
• Red tegu (Salvator duseni) – Intermediate
• Chilean dwarf tegu (Callopistes maculatus) – Intermediate
• Golden tegu (Tupinambis cryptus) – Intermediate
• Golden tegu (Tupinambis teguixin) – Intermediate
• Caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis) – Expert
• Crocodile tegu (Crocodilurus amazonicus) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Yellow tegu (Salvator dracaena) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (at least 200×100×100 cm for one adult animal (a pair ~300×180×160 cm); deep substrate they can dig in, at least 35 cm), substrate (A deep soil and sand mix they can dig in (at least 35 cm), roots and cork, a larger water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.