Hello guest! Are you a Tegu enthusiast? If so, we invite you to join our community! Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Tegu enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your Tegu and enclosure and have a great time with other Tegu fans. Sign up today! If you have any questions, problems, or other concerns email josh@tegutalk.com!

Reply to thread

Message

OK, to be totally honest, I feed f/t because it's more economical and I get free frozen feeders. Back in the days when I only had a couple of carnivores I did feed live but it was always stunned before feeding and then tong fed.   I have seen too many injured reptiles that were live feeders left alone with a rodent. As much as you claim to supervise until the feeding is over there is always that chance of a distraction...phone ringing, kid calling from school saying they are sick, a sudden bout of montezuma's revenge, etc.   One bite, even from a small mouse, can turn into an abscess, especially in an already debilitated animal that is being rehabbed (which we deal with a lot).

By feeding f/t with tongs you can still stimulate some natural hunting behaviors in your reptiles.   I especially enjoy doing this with Savannah monitors!   They are so intent on the prey but their depth perception can be pretty bad and it gets quite comical. I also enjoy watching my Argus monitors tripod for their food being held high on tongs.

   If anyone believes I'm a wimp for feeding with tongs I challenge them to come and feed my monitors by hand. You will have Argus teeth embedded in your flesh in no time at all.   Tossing not allowed.

<blockquote data-quote="MMRR - jif" data-source="post: 10754" data-attributes="member: 65">OK, to be totally honest, I feed f/t because it's more economical and I get free frozen feeders.&nbsp; Back in the days when I only had a couple of carnivores I did feed live but it was always stunned before feeding and then tong fed.&nbsp;&nbsp; I have seen too many injured reptiles that were live feeders left alone with a rodent.&nbsp; As much as you claim to supervise until the feeding is over there is always that chance of a distraction...phone ringing, kid calling from school saying they are sick, a sudden bout of montezuma's revenge, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp; One bite, even from a small mouse, can turn into an abscess, especially in an already debilitated animal that is being rehabbed (which we deal with a lot).&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; By feeding f/t with tongs you can still stimulate some natural hunting behaviors in your reptiles.&nbsp;&nbsp; I especially enjoy doing this with Savannah monitors!&nbsp;&nbsp; They are so intent on the prey but their depth perception can be pretty bad and it gets quite comical.&nbsp; &nbsp; I also enjoy watching my Argus monitors tripod for their food being held high on tongs.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; If anyone believes I'm a wimp for feeding with tongs I challenge them to come and feed my monitors by hand.&nbsp; You will have Argus teeth embedded in your flesh in no time at all.&nbsp;&nbsp; Tossing not allowed.&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

[QUOTE="MMRR - jif, post: 10754, member: 65"] OK, to be totally honest, I feed f/t because it's more economical and I get free frozen feeders. Back in the days when I only had a couple of carnivores I did feed live but it was always stunned before feeding and then tong fed. I have seen too many injured reptiles that were live feeders left alone with a rodent. As much as you claim to supervise until the feeding is over there is always that chance of a distraction...phone ringing, kid calling from school saying they are sick, a sudden bout of montezuma's revenge, etc. One bite, even from a small mouse, can turn into an abscess, especially in an already debilitated animal that is being rehabbed (which we deal with a lot). By feeding f/t with tongs you can still stimulate some natural hunting behaviors in your reptiles. I especially enjoy doing this with Savannah monitors! They are so intent on the prey but their depth perception can be pretty bad and it gets quite comical. I also enjoy watching my Argus monitors tripod for their food being held high on tongs. If anyone believes I'm a wimp for feeding with tongs I challenge them to come and feed my monitors by hand. You will have Argus teeth embedded in your flesh in no time at all. Tossing not allowed. :) [/QUOTE]

Verification