is it bad for my tegu to be overweight ? shes about 4 foot but heavy as a bucket of lead, she doesnt really walk around much at all. she will not eat anything else but rats or eggs if i crack them open she will lap it up. and on eggs i see that everyone either softboils or scrambles them before feeding which really doesn't make sence to me since the acids in her stomach should kill any potential bad things in the eggs, it just seems to me that a rat goes in and come out a clump of fir, that is some serious acids at work
-
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 [email protected]!
couple questions
- Thread starter steve1
- Start date
kellen.watkins
New Member
- Messages
- 668
I can't remeber exactly why raw eggs are bad but go to varnyard-herpesinc.com and look at his caresheet it states the exact reason why they should be cooked and rats should be a weekly thing bi-weekly at most due to all the fat and fur (they don't digest fur very well) and obesity isn't good for anything but I've been in your position my last tegu would only eat mice and eggs wouldn't touch anything else no matter what I tried or did he died from hibernation some how :-(
- Messages
- 2,798
First off a overweight tegu is a serious issue, especially if its not moving around much, i would cut back on feeding just rats, if she dosnt eat anything else, let her starve a few days an she will come around, do you know how much she weighs exactly As far as the eggs go, its not eggs in general, it unfertilized eggs that are the problem, heres why:
kellen.watkins
New Member
- Messages
- 668
I just looked it up raw eggs have a enzyme that will promote bad shedding and that enzyme is nuetralized by heat, also eggs have salmonella that will not be killed through the digestive system only by heat which 90 degrees C will kill any form of surface salmonella I know that for sure cause that is one of the critical control points where I work which is a dog food plant our dog food is 100% salmonella free, if at anytime our extruders send low heat product through the manufacturing process all product is destroyed and every piece of equiptment is taken apart cleaned and sanitized
- Messages
- 2,798
QUOTED FROM BOBBY:
The egg cleaning process is poor at
best. Salmonella is found in the intestinal tracts of reptiles,
birds, animals, insects and humans. It is found on the outside
of the egg shell before the egg is washed or it may be found
inside the egg if the hen was infected by Salmonella. It is
always best to cook the eggs before feeding them to your
animal. Salmonella is best destroyed by heat, so cooking is
the best way to insure that there is no Salmonella being past
on to your pet. I hope this better helps you to understand
why we cook our eggs prior to feeding.
(2) Raw eggs also contain an enzyme called avidin, this
enzyme decreases the absorption of biotin and can lead to
skin problems in reptiles. When you cook the eggs you
neutralize this enzyme, thus changing the makeup of the egg.
The egg cleaning process is poor at
best. Salmonella is found in the intestinal tracts of reptiles,
birds, animals, insects and humans. It is found on the outside
of the egg shell before the egg is washed or it may be found
inside the egg if the hen was infected by Salmonella. It is
always best to cook the eggs before feeding them to your
animal. Salmonella is best destroyed by heat, so cooking is
the best way to insure that there is no Salmonella being past
on to your pet. I hope this better helps you to understand
why we cook our eggs prior to feeding.
(2) Raw eggs also contain an enzyme called avidin, this
enzyme decreases the absorption of biotin and can lead to
skin problems in reptiles. When you cook the eggs you
neutralize this enzyme, thus changing the makeup of the egg.
- Messages
- 4,337
Raw eggs contain avidin which destroy biotin. Also there is the risk of salomenella, I wouldn't worry much about this. I feed a mostly whole prey diet of rats/chicks/mice and haven't had any problems. The obesity is a problem, cut back on the feeding and get him out for exercise. What size enclosure is he in? Can you post some pics of him and his enclosure.
herpgirl2510
Member
- Messages
- 999
I agree no raw eggs and stop feedinmg rodents for awhile they are very high in fat. She will not starve herself and it is very dangerous for a tegu to be overweight.
- Messages
- 2,402
- Location
- Las Vegas, NV.
Hi,.. 
and welcome to the site,.. thanks for coming.
Like previously stated,.. I would cut back on how many rats and eggs you feed and start introducing her to a wider variety of foods. If she's as over weight as you say she is,.. she should have more than enough fat stored to handle the change,.. can you post picks of her? There can be a number of reasons why she's not as active as she should be but her weight could be the main reason. Since obesity isn't healthy for anything animals and people included.
How much and how often do you feed her? And how much exercise does she usually get when she's out?
As for Salmonella and their digestive enzymes,.. everything living carries a certain strain and amount of it. The body keeps these strains in check,.. for what ever reason if they increase or a new strain is introduced that the body can't deal with then you, your tegu and anyone around it has a problem. Since it can be passed on through physical contact and body fluids.
and welcome to the site,.. thanks for coming.Like previously stated,.. I would cut back on how many rats and eggs you feed and start introducing her to a wider variety of foods. If she's as over weight as you say she is,.. she should have more than enough fat stored to handle the change,.. can you post picks of her? There can be a number of reasons why she's not as active as she should be but her weight could be the main reason. Since obesity isn't healthy for anything animals and people included.
How much and how often do you feed her? And how much exercise does she usually get when she's out?
As for Salmonella and their digestive enzymes,.. everything living carries a certain strain and amount of it. The body keeps these strains in check,.. for what ever reason if they increase or a new strain is introduced that the body can't deal with then you, your tegu and anyone around it has a problem. Since it can be passed on through physical contact and body fluids.
CrankbaitJedi
New Member
- Messages
- 75
Raw eggs is like drinking tap water in Mexico. It could be Ok, but then again...
Better not to chance it.
Better not to chance it.
- Messages
- 736
kellen.watkins said:
Hah! Varnyard-HERPESinc.com...
That was my favorite typo so far. Totally understandable, but funny nonetheless...
CrankbaitJedi
New Member
- Messages
- 75
No dig on Mexico or those from there. I actually lived there for two years (Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi and Michoacan). My point was that it is better to err on the side of caution. Better not to play Russian rhoulette with your reptile.
BTW-that is not a dig on Russia either. Sorry if I stirred anything up.
BTW-that is not a dig on Russia either. Sorry if I stirred anything up.
ok sorry it took me so long to get back to posting, ive been very busy,... i took her off rats and have had minimal success in getting her to eat talapia fillets, she really doesn't want to eat them and last time she did eat was 2 weeks ago she wont touch anything else i put in front of her except of course for a rat. she is alert when i got upstairs and check on her, but other than sleeps most of the time. its very warm upstairs easily in the 80s. her enclosure is basically a room i have her wooden enclosure that i have had for her since she was smaller it is lined with cypress mulch and has her uv lamp and heat lamp inside. she has always wanted to hide she prefers to go to dark places. when i take her outside she enjoys the sun for a while and and i use the spray hose to mist her down, she seems to enjoy that for a while then she wants to go hide unless of course i have a rat for her. i know shes not going to starve cuz her tail is as big around as my ankle. i just dont know what else to try and feed her without spending a fortune on foods she wont eat. sometimes i swear shes out to drive me nuts cuz i hear her walking around upstairs but when i go up there shes laying outside her cage sleeping or apearing to sleep. she has been this way for the 3 years i have had her , only eating stew meat or chicken gizards and hearts when i first got her, but aftre that first rat she has never wanted to eat anything else. i am open to any and all suggestions
