Feeding advice

[Bedlam]

I have read a lot on what to feed, how to feed and supplements but I always like to be sure and have specifics (So I appreciate the extra details.) So when I by him meats like turkey and beef. It's raw untouched meat? Like what if it's from a can with human additives?

 

[reptastic]

No good, can meats are more than likely cooked and full of salt and other things that arent good for a tegu, all food except eggs need to be fed raw

 

[tora]

Yeah, it should be as close to natural as possible. Just buy regular ground meat, it's pretty cheap as is, why would you want to feed the other junk anyway?

 

[Bedlam]

I don't 'Tora,' didn't plan on it either I was just asking. Mainly for clarification and just to get more information as of why. 'm just one of those people who love to learn . So in simple terms, go to the frozen/fresh meats section in my local store and buy them there. Things like turkey, beef, liver and etc. Is their any website that has an extensive list of food? Is their anything that although it's natural shouldn't be fed? Also, anything that is particularly beneficial to the Tegus health? Like high in calcium and vitamins or what not?

 

[tora]

I used to have a link to a good list, but I'll try and give you the short of it..

Try and stay away from beef, it's really fatty. Organ meats are good. Feed whole prey frequently (chicks/rodents) because of the natural sources of calcium. Do not feed avocado, anything with caffeine, chocolate, fruit seeds (I'm sure there's more). Don't overdo banana. As said above, raw everything except for eggs. Also be careful of fruits with a high acid content, like oranges.

 

[Bedlam]

So things like liver, tongue, heart & gizzards? Chicks as in baby chickens? Anything especially important since I will get him as a juvie?

 

[tora]

Don't worry about fruits/veggies till he gets older. His main diet till he's 2' or so should be bugs and ground turkey. Just keep the bugs varied, and make everything is dusted. There will be a point where the effort to catch the amount of bugs he needs becomes too much, so just cut them out at that time. Also rarely give mice until he's big enough to eat a mouse with a better developed skeleton. Pinkies/fuzzies are just fat.

 

[Bedlam]

Aren't the bones high in calcium?

 

[tora]

They are, but when the skeletons aren't fully developed there's hardly any calcium to be gotten from them.

 

[james.w]

There is a good post on food in the tegu care section of this forum.

 

[rrcoolj]

Tegu food list

 

[Bedlam]

I can't believe I overlooked that post, thank you everyone.

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I thought of another question so I thought I'd post here instead of making a new thread. Some people feed their Tegus once a week, some every other day or everyday. Is their any negative effects with any of these? I'm getting him/her as a juvenile. Also I forgot to mention he is a Extreme Giant.

 

[james.w]

I don't know of anyone that feeds once a week, but that is nowhere near enough. I would start out feeding everyday and see how it goes. If he doesn't eat very much you could switch to every other day. I have an 11 month old All American and I feed about 5-6 days a week.

 

[reptastic]

I agree with james, tegus grow very fast and will need plenty of food to support healthy growth, you gotta learn your tegu's habits and you will know when to feed and how often, some people feed every other day because they believe slower growth is better, my tegus eat just about everyday but their are days (very few and far inbetween) were they dont eat at all or just a few bites and they are both 1 y/o

 

[Bedlam]

Oh ok. So my individual Tegu will be my answer to how much to feed and 1 time a week is far to little.

 

[reptastic]

He will let you know how much/often he needs to be fed, you just have to pay close attention, and yes once a week is far to little

 

[herpgirl2510]

You will notice especially after they go to the athroom they will get a wrinkle on their side and it goes in I judge by how his belly looks. I feed my 2 year old and my yearling tegu everyday I feed regular some days and others a smaller portion of something. There is alot of info out there for starting a dubia roach colony. Tonka is 2 and he loves chasing them around they are like potato chips for him. When you have a hatchling they will love them and they are so much better than crickets. I found when I was feeding turkey alot my B&W would start to have looser and looser stols.

 

[Bedlam]

Well, If I did try to start a colony, how long would they be suitable for?

 

[james.w]

He can eat them his entire life.

 

[herpgirl2510]

^^^ Tonka also loves hissers but they can climb they get very big.