The red tegus as well as the Argentine black and white tegus are generally large lizards that can get very accustommed to human presence as opposed to the Columbian tegus. You do not keep monitors they keep you. Monitors require more time and resources for them to thrive in captivity as opposed to the tegus. The red tegu and the black and white tegu are not tropical animals and dont require the humidity that monitors do. Start with a baby. Also tegus from Argentina are used to a wide variety of temperature fluctuations. Tegus under 2 feet long are much faster and climb very well so when small not a good idea to let them free roam older ones tend to stay on the ground more and if a suitable thought out area is planned they can be allowed to free roam it. In fact one of ours would even be allowed out of the house to go and sun itself then come back in. Experiences mentioned are based on our red tegu for over ten years!
Digby Rigby
balboa28279@mypacks.net