Cod Liver Oil? Calcium? Vitamin powder??

[Meg90]

How often should a young Argi B&W tegu have cod liver oil? (like, how many times a week, or month etc)

My first ever Tegu will be here tomorrow afternoon, and I want to do right by him. I have a diet planned out, but I am wondering about the oil. I've read on here that it keeps them regular, and helps prevent impaction (I plan on feeding in a seperate bin)---but no one has said how OFTEN they should have it.

My new baby is around 6 months old (think he hatched in April).

Should his food be dusted with Ca powder at every feeding? (except the rodents of course--those have Ca included! I'm going to be feeding f/t rat pups)


I have also heard the words "vitamin dust" tossed around. Any way I can get a brand name? And a website to get it from? How often do I dust the food with that?


Can meals be dusted with both Ca and the vitamins at the same time?


I'm a newb to tegus, but have kept reptiles my whole life. I am raising up a couple torts from hatchlings, as well as crested gecko hatchies, so I am used to going from baby on up.... But I am totally in "nervous new mom mode" over the new addition!

Thanks!

meg

 

[DaveDragon]

I mix the cod liver oil in the turkey. Too much might be a turn off for him. It does help keep them regular and it's a great source of vitamins A and D. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cod_liver_oil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cod_liver_oil</a><!-- m -->

They normally hatch in June/July, if he hatched earlier he might be an import that hatched in January. I would dust everything he eats, they need lots of calcium as they're growing. Rat pups don't have a lot of bones so dust those too. Be sure they get lots of UVB, a Mercury Vapor bulb is best. A 100W at 14" to 16" will give the right basking temp also. Be sure to check the actual basking temp with a TempGun.

I don't know if any vitamin dust is better than the other. Dust the food 2 or 3 times per week. If you feed him rat pups more than 3 times per week the vitamins may not be necessary.