Rfalconcam Forum

So I was taking my brothers Macaw to the vet for a nail and beak trim. I signed in and went to sit down. To my HORROR, this was on the the chair. I almost sat on this 4 1/2 foot Black and White Tegu. You know me and snakes, well this was no different, although, I found myself intrigued by this guy. The owner was in the room with his TWO other rather large Lizards, a monitor and another weird looking lizard. This guy just laid there, good as gold with his huge forked tongue going in and out. The owner has 6 all together, RUNNING around his house. They sleep with him and curl up on the couch and watch TV with him, (which I thought was rather strange). They have all bonded with him and the Monitor was not too happy and hissed BIG time at some woman in the office. (Made me run). The Tegu is from Argentina he said and it took him a while to acquire him. I think they should all be free but that's my opinion. He has 2 6 foot lizards running around his house. He loves them all dearly but for some reason I kept thinking of that show on Animal Planet, Fatal Attractions, where the beloved pets turn on their owners and kill them.

The Argentine Black & White tegu is also called the giant tegu, as it is the largest tegu in the world.

I just LOOKED at that picture and my heart is racing!  I have the BIGGEST fear of snakes (and German Shepherds) :lurker: :scaredblue: and I think I would have had to wait in the car and have the Assistant come out to get me!  YIKES!   And you stuck it out to learn about this thing and his others!  WOW!  :bow:

As much as I was afraid and creeped out by them, I actually sat on the floor next to them and listened to the man. I was mesmerized and I DON'T know why.  :frog:

 :o It's the serpents spell that had a hold of you Donna! You're facing your fears and becoming one with them!    :frog: :gum:

Um....NOT! (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/mykukla/smileys/Scaredmouseanimation.gif)

 :rofl:

Yeah MAK, that Monitor was there too. He was caged cuz he makes these weird hissing noises. He was being bad.

Last pic of that bad boy! Tried to get his tongue but he's fast.

Beautiful lizards!  Lizards are fun, though the assembly and maintenance of proper habitat for them is difficult and expensive at Northern latitudes.  Take the Animal Planet show with the proverbial grain of salt, however.  More people drown in their bathtubs than are killed by any captive exotic pet.  These shows are produced by groups who don't believe ANY animal should be owned...
I salute that guy, whose lizards look to be in excellent condition, and well acclimated to "pethood".
Carol
WV

I agree, he's done a wonderful job keeping them in good health. He said they get into mischief just like cats, that's why he was there yesterday, the Monitor got into a place and had a wire stick him. he had a puncture wound. He also said they eat great BIG cockroaches. I learned a lot from him but I would NEVER allow one in my home. On the downside of his lizard keeping, the Monitor bit off a friends finger....soooooooo.

Thanks for the photos, Donna!  You really did have a Big Day at the Vet's!!  Kevin loved reptiles and taught me to, and we always had something in the apartment -- iguanas, snakes (corn and black, along with puff adders and many others, all indigenous to Ontario!), snapping turtles & various other Ontario turtles, and, of course, good ol' Eric, the Three-toed Box Turtle, now 41!  We used to "pack" them all up and take to them to whatever niece or nephew was in kindergarten and do a "show & tell".  It was great to see kids who were deathly afraid of snakes, wearing them around their necks and wanting to have their photos taken!  All the Ontario turtles and snakes were released back into the wild the next Spring, but we had to keep the first two snakes we had, as they had been pets long before we had them...  That was sad.  They should have been free, after a short visit.  Anyway, now it's just Eric and me, but we have good memories!   :snake:

Anne in Toronto :snake2:

OMG, you had snakes? Ew, sorry but I'm deathly afraid of them. Puff Adder??? I have seen enough shows on them and know that "Donna don't go near them". They are venomous! You go girl, if that's your thing. I wish I weren't so scared, I might visit my mom more in Fla. You had quite a crew Anne.

Donna -- they weren't the venomous puff adders -- they are called that, but they are native to Ontario and are quiet harmless, but I hated it when they ate frogs whole and the feet would be sticking out of their mouth, like a moustache and the frog would still be croakingll!  Now, that as gross!!  All the other reptiles were delightful.  I wish I could have you for a day with a couple of corn snakes -- you'd learn a lot and have fun, too!  Promise! 

Anne in Toronto