Puberty Aggression

I know that in some animals, they become more aggrssive during puberty and mellow out a bit afterwards. My Arg B&W Tegu is nearing two feet. He is becoming a little harder to handle, though I try to every day. He isn't biting or tail whipping, but he is rather squirmy at times. My question is, will he calm down a bit after he reaches maturity? At about what size is that?

Also, other than fatty jowles, what are some secondary sexual characteristics that I can look for to help determine sex?

i dont know about the sexual maturity age but my friend has a 2 1/2 footer and his brother has a 3 1/2 foot black and white and the larger one is a lot more calm and only runs if it is outside or threatened

when it is too active for u to handle let it swim in the tub for like 15 - 20 minutes and then hold it (give it a try it can't hurt)

from what i have heard from many people u have to probe tegus and monitors to determine their sex

from what i have heard from many people u have to probe tegus and monitors to determine their sex

If you try and probe a tegu or varanid, all you'll do is either...

Nothing, since the cloacal muscles are strong enough to prevent easy insertion of the probe...

Or...

Very literally "rip them a new one" as you force it in despite the muscles attempting to prevent this...

Sonograms are reputed to be fairly accurate for detecting the inverted hemipenes and there's always the tried and true classic method of prolapsation via saline injection... in a number of animals, both teiids and varanids, the males will often evert if you roll them on their back or apply a gentle pressure... they also often release some unpleasant liquids though, so attempt this at your own risk and with your mouth closed.

Always with your mouth closed.

You can get a young animal to evert the hemipenes with light prssure to the base of the tail. Older sexually mature animals are very apparent. Males have huge muscular heads females have smaller narrow head and neck. Lapryoscope also usable.

I can post pics for sexing if needed.

Older sexually mature animals are very apparent. Males have huge muscular heads females have smaller narrow head and neck.

He mentioned Varanids too though so...

Which, going off topic a bit, really ticks me off. These two groups of lizards, despite a few superficial similarities aren't particularly closely related but are frequently dumped together. The pet shop type book titled "The care of Tegus, Monitors and related Lizards" really pounded home the point that many people are apparantly determined to remain ignorant of the taxonomic and biological differences.

Didn't catch the varanid part. I agree they are too often grouped together..... Each Varanid species/ssp. has it's differing degrees of sexing. Some are dimorphic...some are more than happy to show sexual organs ...while voiding of course. Others can be determinedby laproscope or x-ray but the latter is not recomended. Oh well....more detail than I can go in right now. Thanks Ray G. HBR

I would be very thankfull if anyone could tell the sex of my Tegu.
Sorry about the bad quality of the picture all I have is a web cam.
Pepper is my tegu's name we are going to a herp show this week.
I think someone may help us there so Pepper can get a mate.
Thank You Verry Much

found out the hard way a Columbian male got in the cage with her when I came in to see what the noise was this is what I seen
now Im wondering whats going to happen has anyone heard of tegus cross breeding Col. with Arg.

Male tegus will have one b.b. sized raised scales on each side of the post clocal opening.