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Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 1354 Location: Denver, CO
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:06 am Post subject: How much food ?
I just purchased a colombian last week - 14 inches long - The pet store told me to feed it 20 crickets and a pinky twice a week - For example I fed him last night and he ate the pinky and around 7 crickets - He usually comes out and eats about 5 crickets a day till gone - Should he be eating all his food in one sitting, or is a little a day ok, and is it ok to leave the crickets in the tank as the Tegu buries himself and the crickets don't seem to get on him ?
P.S. DID YOU NOT READ UP ON TEGUS BEFOR YOU GOT HIM...?? _________________ 0.2.0 German Shepherds *Khoda* & *Keara*
0.0.1 Ball python *Akua*
0.0.1 normal corn *seismo*
0.0.1 snow corn *sleet*
oops cap stuk did not want that to sound harsh but u should have read up i have a med 3 ring bynder stok full of pages and pages and stuff all about tegus _________________ 0.2.0 German Shepherds *Khoda* & *Keara*
0.0.1 Ball python *Akua*
0.0.1 normal corn *seismo*
0.0.1 snow corn *sleet*
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:47 am Post subject: Re: How much food ?
Thee01Edge wrote:
I just purchased a colombian last week - 14 inches long - The pet store told me to feed it 20 crickets and a pinky twice a week - For example I fed him last night and he ate the pinky and around 7 crickets - He usually comes out and eats about 5 crickets a day till gone - Should he be eating all his food in one sitting, or is a little a day ok, and is it ok to leave the crickets in the tank as the Tegu buries himself and the crickets don't seem to get on him ?
Thanks
Mike
Dont bother counting crickets; keep feeding him til hes done. You want to be feeding a youngster like tha daily, not twice a week. Once hes big enough, you can look to feed a few superworms as well - and once he can take them, move up to hopper/normal mice which can then become the main part of his diet. Pinkies are too fatty and nutritionally poor to feed exclusively.
Its never a good idea to leave crickets in the cage; they will dig too to find food, and while a tegu has a tough hide they have delicate eyelids and things that can be damaged by hungry crickets. To be on the safe side you can ideally feed it in a separate container that can be cleared of crickets afterwards, or keep a dish with some fruit or veg in the cage to give the crix an easy meal. The tegu himself may appreciate some fruit/veg too, so its a good solution
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:10 pm Post subject:
tegu_girl0 wrote:
oops cap stuk did not want that to sound harsh but u should have read up i have a med 3 ring bynder stok full of pages and pages and stuff all about tegus
Instead of a new post explaining the "stuck caps", try using the [Edit] button on your previous post. Also, though it is best to research before buying a pet, at least Thee01Edge came out to research now. Most of the people I see who buy pets from a petshop just take the shop owner's word and end up with a sick pet. I'd really hate for this forum to start moving from being the friendliest tegu community on the web to becoming a "read the damn manual" forum.
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:13 pm Post subject:
I agree with feeding young tegus until they are done. A tegu will stop when it's full. On older tegus you will need to watch their weight, but on younger, active tegus this is not an issue.
Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 1354 Location: Denver, CO
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:32 pm Post subject:
Thank you for your help - While It is true, I did no research before buying my Tegu, I am trying to learn as much as possible to care for her - My Tegu was a spur of the moment gift from my fiance, who did not want me to get a snake - She did not learn to later how big the Tegu would grow LOL - I have read through all the forums here and If I ask something that has been asked before, please excuse me as It may be that I need some clarification - Again - Thanks for your help and this forum
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:34 pm Post subject:
Don't hesitate to ask questions. That's what we are all here for. To ask and answer. As you learn more and more you will be able to answer others who have questions similar to those that you do right now..
Joined: Mar 31, 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Providence, RI
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:07 am Post subject: Picky; picky
Lady has always had her own personality. She eats every other day never allot just enough. She is so picky I can not feed her the same thing for two feedings I have to variate. Trust me I went through allot of wasted pinkies before I realized I was not going to win this battle. I tried just crickets but she was not paying them any mind and the noise was driving me up the wall.
Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 1354 Location: Denver, CO
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:11 am Post subject:
My tegu seems to have a healthy appetite lol - She has been eating around 10 crickets per day, and I have been giving her a pinky every 3rd day - Tomorrow I will try feeding her 2 pinkies, and back to crickets on Sunday
Joined: Mar 07, 2005 Posts: 328 Location: Chesterfield, UK
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:58 am Post subject:
At 14" it may be worth trying to get him on to bigger things, maybe small chick's, or chopped mice/rats. Obviously not too big, just enough to make a good mouthfull.
Adult mice contain much more calcium than pinkies, so it is advisable to get him onto them asap.
I currently feed my 40" monster on half a rat every 2 or 3 days, and plenty of fruit and veg, with the odd bits of chopped up turkey breast, fish or scrambled egg.
He never wants for more than that anyway. If I feed him every day, he won't eat what's in front of him.
Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 12 Location: California
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject:
My tegu (Cookie) is about 25" and eats about 2 mice a day, she eats like mice are about to go out of style or something. And if she doesn't get 2 a day she starts getting really upset. I also give her fruits and snails too. She loves snails, kinda gross to watch at first though.
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 613 Location: The Netherlands
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:57 am Post subject:
What kind of snails do you feed her?
And in shell or naked onces?
(I am having a bit of snail overpopulation in my garden...) _________________ 1.0.0 T.rufescens
0.1.0 T.merianae
1.0.0 Testudo horsfieldii
1.0.0 Stenodactylus sthenodactylus
0.0.1 Ceratophrys ornata
0.0.1 Geocholone elegans
0.0.1 Python regius
2.0.0 Mustela Putorius Furo
0.1.0 Bouvier des flandres
Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 12 Location: California
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:35 pm Post subject:
in the shell, mine knows how to take them out. I am assuming all do. I doubt that anybody else fed them to her so I supposed it is instinct. As long as they don't have pesticides on them it seems ok as an occasional snack. (and no I have not given her snails with pesticides on them) <---I saw that one coming.
Joined: Mar 04, 2005 Posts: 36 Location: phenix city,AL
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 5:50 am Post subject: feeding tegus
heres a daily feeding for the bunch
albino blue female #1 5 rat pinkies dusted with cal and vit. 6 months old and 22" long
albino blue male #1 3 rat pinkies dusted with cal and vit. 6 months old and 18" long
adult male blue #1 5 to 6 mice not dusted. 4 yrs old and 3 ft long
adult male red #1 6 mice and a dusted bowl of greens and fruit,3 yrs old and 3ft long
adult female red#1 8 mice and a dusted bowl of fruit and veggies. 5 yrs old and 38 " long
adult male blue#2 4 to 5 mice not dusted.age unknown a rescue 28" rejen tail
albino blue female #2 4 to 5 rat pinkies dusted with cal and vit. 6 months old and 21" long
red tegu female #2 1 mouse and fruit and veggies dusted with cal and vit. 8 months old and 18" long rejen tail
this is a normal feeding day ill change up on odd days and feed crickets and treats they like like fish and worms.but i always feed till full and ill dump crickets in later if i see them up looking for food
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