FAQ: Tegu Food and Feeding

Tegus eat a variety of foodstuffs including insects and vegetable matter. Here are some frequently asked questions about the proper feeding of tegus.

What do they eat?
They are primarily carnivores. They start out eating Crickets, roaches, worms and other bugs. As they grow so does their appetite. They will be on rodents by the time they are a few months old. I also use a ground turkey mixture with supplements and eggs from the time they are a week old. It is also important for Red Tegus to regularly get fruit with vitamin C. A typical week’s diet might look like this:

How much do they eat?
It depends on their size and their diet. When they're a few days old, they can eat a dozen crix a day. As they age, it can go upwards of 50 crix at a time. Since variety in diet is helpful in getting them to eat well, I offer many types of foods. Of course as they get bigger they eat more. Care must be taken that they do not overeat. Just watch their weight so they don't eat too much.

What about hand feeding them?
In a word NO. If you feel compelled to do so, remember that a strong feeding response is desirable and may not be conducive to hand feeding. Holding a rat by the tail might get you bit if your Tegus aim is not very good.

Do I have to feed rodents and bugs?
Young Tegus need protein to grow. If you are squeamish about live feeders, you might want to consider a different type of animal for a pet. You can use a turkey mixture to supplement other protein but I believe it is not sufficient by itself. As they get older they need less protein.Can crickets eat my Tegu?
Yes, leftover crix can do a lot of damage to a Tegu if left in overnight.

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