This Pampered Nugget May Not Be A Dog Or A Cat, But Don’t Tell Him That!

If you heard this married couple talking about their beloved pet, you’d probably assume the critter was furry and cuddly like a cat or a dog.

While Scott and Ice’s little guy certainly is very cuddly, he doesn’t have any fur, and he definitely isn’t warm-blooded. That’s because he’s actually a giant lizard — a20-pound Argentine red tegu, to be exact. Back in 2012, the couple welcomed him into their family as a tiny baby, and he’s remained their baby ever since.

World, meet MacGyver, the free-roaming lizard who’s clearly the apple of his mom’s eye and an absolute star on social media. These reptiles can be found in western Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Their diets include fruits, vegetables, insects, rodents, birds, and fish.

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Tag someone with tongue 👅

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MacGyver is pretty partial to delicious fruit, and when he’s not literally being spoon fed…

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Tag a papaya and I'll eat them

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…surfing the internet with Ice…

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@macgyvermommy is a blanket thief

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…or lounging on his very own dog bed (because he’s most definitely a dog)…

…he’s snuggling with his favorite humans and basking in the adoration.

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Tag someone who likes, or is like, a sleepy puppy

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Did I mention he loves cuddling?

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Tag a lizard or possum

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Seriously, though, he just can’t bring himself to give his mom some space.

It’s hard to believe he started out as this tiny little nugget without a trace of red on his body.

But if you’re starting to want your own red tegu, it’s important to remember that these cuties are not easy to care for, which is something Scott and Ice considered and prepared for before bringing MacGyver home. You could even call them little divas.

“Because they get so large, it’s nearly impossible to find a prefabricated enclosure that is suitable for them for less than a couple grand,” Scott told The Dodo. “So pretty much everyone builds their own large enclosure that typically runs about $400. On top of that, they are voracious eaters, and youngsters are eating primarily meat, so food costs start to add up a lot faster than some people expect as well.” Scott provides a lot of helpful answers about owning one of these lizards in the video below.

(via The Dodo)

If you’ve fallen head over heels for this loveable dog — er, lizard, you can keep up with him and bask in his cuteness on Instagram and YouTube. I know I will!

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