Water should be changed every 2-3 days, or whenever it gets dirty. Whole prey comes with muscles, bones, organs, hair, nails, etc. Alternatively you can feed them outside the enclosure. Providing live prey (at least on occasion) is a good way to provide mental stimulation, or environmental enrichment. I've read on many websites WHAT to feed but none saying HOW MUCH to feed. Primarily using ground turkey, we blend some greens in with the meatballs and feed them twice weekly. Young tegus are better fed every day. A quick note about eggs — Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases a tegu’s ability to absorb biotin (vitamin B7). These foods don’t need to be dredged in calcium or multivitamin powders. You also need to plan on monthly expenses like electricity (heating the cage), vitamins, bedding, and keep something available at all times in case your Tegu needs to see the veterinarian. The Colombian Black and White, or (Gold Tegu) will take all of the above, except fruit. Cat food is best used with Colombian tegus and young Argentine tegus, and dog food is good for adult Argentine tegus. I have not posted in some time, but still this forum fairly often as a lurker. When we feed our tegus, we make a tegu meatball. Aside from providing a variety of flavors and textures, a varied diet more importantly supplies a greater spectrum of nutrients than can be accomplished with a diet of “staples.” Therefore, it is your job as a tegu owner to provide as many different kinds of tegu food as possible. The minimum enclosure size is as follows: Argentine tegu: 8’ x 4’ x 4’ Colombian tegu: 6′ x 3′ x 3′ The enclosure should be front opening, as this benefits both your back and the tegu’s wellbeing. My name is Mariah Healey, reptile husbandry specialist and consultant. Thaw it out in the fridge the night before feeding day, then about 15-30 minutes before feeding, stick the prey in a BPA-free plastic bag like a Ziploc and submerge in warm, almost hot, water. Red Tegu is the largest members among the genus Tupinambis, which contains six other tegu species. Ideally the food should contain as much of the whole animal as possible (meat, bones, and organs), which is why I love raw dog food diets. A large water bowl should be provided, preferably large enough for your tegu to be able to soak its entire body comfortably. If you want to offer a prepared reptile diet, make sure that it’s high quality: no grains, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. As much as possible, feed the tegu before you clean its enclosure. Just reach down and pet him the first few times, I would not even try to pick him up the first few times. These are ReptiFiles’ favorite commercial reptile diets for omnivores, and work well mixed in with other foods as part of a balanced diet: Believe it or not, dog and cat food is also good for tegus (as a part of the rotation in a varied diet, of course — whole prey will always reign supreme)! This does not, however, mean that caring for a tegu will be a walk in the park. How much should you feed your tegu? Don’t do it. Ideally the food should contain as much of the whole animal as possible (meat, bones, and organs), which is why I love raw dog food diets. The claim that grain-free dog food is best is largely unsubstantiated and may even be harmful, although that claim is still being investigated. Compared to many other lizards of similar size, the Argentine tegu is much easier to handle and care for. Albino] ( Persephone) Florida Death Metal - S ledgegrinde R. www.myspace.com/sledgegrinder. I have found numerous care sheets and husbandry info with incredibly useful and highly detailed information on what to feed a Tegu. As some lizards are suitable for beginners while other kinds of … Sorry for all the questions, but I just thought I should come to the premier Tegu site on the net to find the info I require. Thiamin deficiency causes neurological damage and even death if not caught in time. But if you have the choice, you must consider the issue from a perspective that places the tegu’s welfare as priority — not your human code of ethics. This is because wild tegus are much more active than pet tegus, and they use the sugars in fruit for extra energy. Tegus may be trained like a dog using clicker training and reward training. Tegus are predators, which means that their brains are biologically designed to hunt on a regular basis. Plastic tubs work great for this! When feeding whole prey, you have a choice to offer the prey live or frozen-thawed (F/T). Argentine Tegu Water. For a more comprehensive list, go here. Hatchlings and juveniles. Use either chemical as directed by the label. Also, you will want to feed your tegu food in a bowl or on a large flat surface so they do not ingest any of the substrate which can cause impactions. Tegu Food. Red Tegu. Frozen whole prey items must be prepared correctly before feeding. Nevertheless, whichever you prefer the proper care for your lizard should always be optimum. On in-between days you can offer a treat, such as fresh fruit. He also gets crickets, mealworms and occasional pinkys, but the roaches and hearts/raw diet is the majority of his diet. My take on the issue? Always provide your baby, juvenile or adult tegu fresh clean water. Primarily fed insects. How much should you feed a B&W tegu? And since tegus have the endearing habit of also using their water bowl as a toilet, be sure to disinfect it weekly with a veterinary disinfectant like Chlorhexidine or F10SC. See you next time! Be sure to feed your Argentine tegu their mice with a bowl or tongs to prevent accidentally getting bitten by your hungry lizard. Subscribe for more reptile content and adventures! These foods can make your tegu sick or even die! When a reptile can’t absorb biotin, it can cause skin, scale, and shedding issues. Mix this well, and feed your lizard whatever it will consume in a few moments. As they get bigger, you can include meat, dead or alive. What do you feed Zilla? A box that is easy for your tegu … For meat, this means adding a dash of calcium powder. For safety’s sake, always offer whole prey slightly smaller than their skull. As far as to how much to feed, make sure your tegu has a rounded belly after it has eaten. In captivity, use these proportions as your rule of thumb: In other words, Colombian tegus can continue to receive the same diet as when they were younger, but Argentine tegus should start to receive more vegetables as their bodies switch from rapid growth to maintenance mode. Do not feed: Avocado, azalea flowers/leaves, broccoli, buttercup flowers, eggplant, lettuce of any kind, marijuana or hemp leaves, onion, rosemary, sage, or spinach. What sets us apart from the rest? If you have a question about the safety of a certain brand/formula, check, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), preferred live and frozen prey distributors, correct the food’s calcium to phosphorous ratio. Specifically, you need to correct the food’s calcium to phosphorous ratio so your tegu can digest it. A look at how I provide a varied diet for my B&W Tegu and her schedule. Sticking to a schedule and encouraging exercise is a good way to keep your tegu at a healthy weight. 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