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Joined: Jul 09, 2005 Posts: 88 Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 8:54 am Post subject: Red Tegu wont eat...
I bought my red tegu 2 weeks ago and I am not sure exactly how old is it but I am guessing about a month old. I am just wondering if red tegus are more picky than black and whites. All it will eat is a little bit of turkey and nothing else. I have tried crickets, meal worms, eggs and pinkies...nothing works except turkey. I put some fruit with the turkey because the guy I bought it from said it was on fruits and she will eat a little bite. Should I be concerned about her not eating any crickets or is this normal? Let me know what you think is going on here. Thanks
Katie _________________ 1.1 Veiled Chameleons
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maybe its your method of feeding that is the problem. to get mine really started i had to let him eat from my hand and then i would dangle pieces in front of him. now he eats anything i will give him lol. just be super carefull
Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 1354 Location: Denver, CO
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Red Tegu wont eat...
K8t wrote:
I bought my red tegu 2 weeks ago and I am not sure exactly how old is it but I am guessing about a month old. I am just wondering if red tegus are more picky than black and whites. All it will eat is a little bit of turkey and nothing else. I have tried crickets, meal worms, eggs and pinkies...nothing works except turkey. I put some fruit with the turkey because the guy I bought it from said it was on fruits and she will eat a little bite. Should I be concerned about her not eating any crickets or is this normal? Let me know what you think is going on here. Thanks
Katie
Although insects would be good for variety, I don't think it is an absolute neccessity - My Tegu's don't eat insects either "By their own choice" - Not wanting eggs or mice seems a little odd to me though - I would continue with the fruit mixed in the Turkey as the fruit is important for the Reds skin - I think they all get picky at times as to the food they will eat since they don't have to hunt for it in the wild and know it's coming from us - Maybe try not feeding for a day or 2 "assuming you are feeding daily" and than offer some of the foods she is not taking now... _________________ 1.0.0 Ball Python "Albino"
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I have a red tegu at my work and it wont eat with people around. It would just look at you and run off, but once your gone it'll come back and quickly grab the food. _________________ 1.0.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
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Joined: Jul 09, 2005 Posts: 88 Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:48 am Post subject:
Well I put the turkey in a bowl for her and leave it in her cage and she never eats from the bowl, but when I feed her by hand she will take some. I mean like I said she is active and looks great, just not very interested in food. I don't know if maybe her lack of appetite has anything to do with it becoming cooler outside even though I keep her inside. Who knows, would that have anything to do with it since she is only like a month old?
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:54 am Post subject:
K8t wrote:
Well I put the turkey in a bowl for her and leave it in her cage and she never eats from the bowl, but when I feed her by hand she will take some. I mean like I said she is active and looks great, just not very interested in food. I don't know if maybe her lack of appetite has anything to do with it becoming cooler outside even though I keep her inside. Who knows, would that have anything to do with it since she is only like a month old?
Katie
They, like most animals, can sense the season changes. Mine have started eating less and less at they get ready to hibernate. I am keeping my selected hatchling out of brumation/hibernation to get some size on them. I normally skip two brumation/hibernations anyways with hatchlings.
I'd say get a postal scale, I'd be lost without mine, and keep weighing her every week. If she starts loosing lots of weight, then I would worry. During brumation/hibernation they may loose some, but not as much as you would expect since they are not eating.
Joined: Jul 09, 2005 Posts: 88 Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:01 am Post subject:
I keep the lights on for 12 hours at the same temperature everyday like I always have because I don't want to hibernate my tegus (even though I have noticed a change in their diet and all 3 have not been eating nearly as much as they usually do), but at that temperature can they still hibernate? What could I be doing to prevent them from doing so? I will also start weighing her today and see how it goes. Thanks
Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 1354 Location: Denver, CO
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:46 am Post subject:
K8t wrote:
I keep the lights on for 12 hours at the same temperature everyday like I always have because I don't want to hibernate my tegus (even though I have noticed a change in their diet and all 3 have not been eating nearly as much as they usually do), but at that temperature can they still hibernate? What could I be doing to prevent them from doing so? I will also start weighing her today and see how it goes. Thanks
Katie
Like Rick said they can sense the change in the seasons, and may eat less and seem more lethargic, however If you are maintaining your temps regularly along with your uvb lighting, your Tegus should not hibernate... _________________ 1.0.0 Ball Python "Albino"
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although you may be able to maintain your daytime temp, your night time temp may be dropping significantly therefore affecting your tegus _________________ 1.0.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
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Joined: Jul 09, 2005 Posts: 88 Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:23 am Post subject:
Well I just weighed my red tegu and shes 58 grams. I will weigh her once a week and see if she gains any weight. I fed her some turkey and mixed it with black berries and she ate some of that. I tried crickets again but nothing. I am at least glad she took the turkey with fruit. I will keep you updated. Thanks!
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