Bedding should be changed as needed. One of the primary differences between Argentine tegus and Colombian tegus is what they eat. Tegus do need exposure to UVB and heat as a result of being a day loving reptile. Juvenal tegus should be fed daily - typically the amount of food that they can eat in about an hour. Make sure any water containers are not too deep, making it difficult for them to get in and out of. Repashy Grub Pie, Repashy Grubs and Fruit, Repashy Meat Pie V2, crickets, superworms, dubia, ground turkey, ground whole rabbit, tilapia, catfish, salmon, chicken hearts and gizzards, appropriate sized rodents, Mazuri Insectivore Diet, moistened high end grain free dog food (We use Performatrin Ultra and Solid Gold), eggs, berries, mango, papaya, plantain, banana, apples, squashes, sweet potato and green beans. Terrarium Sizing for Hatchlings, Juveniles & Adults, Common Problems & Questions About Tegu Health, Ground chicken/turkey mixed with calcium powder, If you are in Canada, a full list of recommended raw dog food brands available in your area can be found here at. Ideally the food should contain as much of the whole animal as possible (meat, bones, and organs), which is why I love raw dog food diets. When using the Calcium Plus, there is no need to offer a separate vitamin supplement. Some of these species have gained economic importance as pets and others as food. A depth of at least 4” should be maintained for babies while adults should be given 8” plus. If they bite, they are too small to do any real damage. If you have a question about the safety of a certain brand/formula, check DogFoodAdvisor.com.Â. ➺ In the wild, the average lifespan of an Argentine tegu is 15 to 20 years. Tegus do require high humidity in the 70% to 90% range and proper substrate is imperative to support this. This is also great time to starting training food aggression out of your tegu. In contrast, juveniles ate approximately 50% invertebrates, 20% vegetation, and 20% vertebrates. All Tegus are omnivores as hatchlings, which means they eat meat, fruits, and veggis. Tegus grow rapidly and they will quickly outgrow a cage this size, and plans will need to be made to move them into a larger permanent enclosure soon. Tegus like a wide variety of foods including small animals, meats, vegetables, fruit, and even dog food in some cases. These foods can make your tegu sick or even die! Being omnivorous animals, we have found that tegus do amazing on a premium dog food; there is no better researched omnivore diet in existence. The body temperature of a mouse is similar to a human’s, so you’ll want the prey to be about 98-100°F before offering it to your tegu. — and all of the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that a tegu needs. Tegus do resist training, though, just like a cat. Eggs are a good occasional choice for tegu food. Common Tegu Reproduction: The reproduction process in the tegu species is almost the same. Remember that ambient and basking surface temps are not the same and attention should be given when setting up your enclosure as to how you accomplish these. Insects need to be dusted before feeding. These baby Tegus are about 9″ long and have a voracious appetite and are eating a variety of foods including crickets, pinky mice and canned dog food. When feeding tegus, make sure you are using a shallow non porous bowl, plate or similar item that is easily sanitized. These are ReptiFiles’ favorite commercial reptile diets for omnivores, and work well mixed in with other foods as part of a balanced diet: Believe it or not, dog and cat food is also good for tegus (as a part of the rotation in a varied diet, of course — whole prey will always reign supreme)! Much like a dog, tegu owners have managed to train their pets to perform different behaviors: playing fetch, relieving themselves in a designated area, and being walked on a leash, just to name a few. You may use more than two if you would like, tegus enjoy the stimulation provided by décor and places to explore. Grain is fine as long as the formula is high-quality and not too high in carbohydrates. Argentine Tegus of the genus Salvator are large lizards that hail from South America; they can grow up to 60” and live 15-25 years in captivity. The claim that grain-free dog food is best is largely unsubstantiated and may even be harmful, although that claim is still being investigated. A tegu can drop a section of its tail as a distraction if attacked. Other tegus are not as easy to tame. Offering gut-loaded crickets, mealworms, hornworms, wax worms and cockroaches to your smaller tegu is ideal in addition to some fruit. See description on wiki. For a full list of safe fruits and vegetables for reptiles, refer to this nutrition chart by Beautiful Dragons. If you want to offer a prepared reptile diet, make sure that it’s high quality: no grains, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. The international trade and sale of tegus is legal, but hunting tegus is important for many people living in South American counties. I recommend reading this article by Legless Army: Environmental Enrichment for Reptiles: What? Being larger lizards, tegus do require space! Whole food items are ideal because they’re more than just muscle (protein) and fat like human-grade cuts of meat. For new keepers we do not recommend keeping more than one animal together to avoid possible fighting or accidents. In captivity, with proper diet and care, they can live even longer. If you have a question about the safety of a certain brand/formula, check, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), preferred live and frozen prey distributors, correct the food’s calcium to phosphorous ratio. There are many companies out there that manufacture reptile specific shelters and almost any of them will work. Freshwater crustaceans and snails are an extremely healthy option for tegus. Do not feed: Avocado, azalea flowers/leaves, broccoli, buttercup flowers, eggplant, lettuce of any kind, marijuana or hemp leaves, onion, rosemary, sage, or spinach. This care sheet will seek to provide basic knowledge of how to keep your tegu in tip top shape and explore alternative feeding options that have worked very well for us here at DynAnimal. They are one of the most intelligent of reptiles, and even seem to be interested in humans, at times. When feeding raw meats, insects, fruits and vegetables; animals kept indoors should be offered a calcium supplement containing D3 such as Repashy Calcium Plus LoD, Miner-All Indoor or Zoo Med Repti caclium D3. These can make your tegu sick or even die! T8 fluorescents should be replaced every six months while T5’s can go ten to twelve months. Stay away from any supplement brand that is higher than 20,000 IU in D3, while 10,000 IU or less is ideal. Pay close attention to bedding moisture content and cage ventilation to safeguard animals from overly saturated substrate. Tegus need high protein diets that include cooked flesh such as ground turkey, canned and dry dog food, chicken, mazuri crocodile diet, eggs, insects, and small rodents. They eat insects, spiders, small mammals, birds, amphibians, fruits, and seeds. Below is a list of items we incorporate with great success into our tegu breeding program. Rodents, chicks and whole trout are great meat options for tegus. A Tegu is a from a group of lizards belonging to the Tangae family. Here are some brands known to be reliable. Brands marked with an asterisk (*) are raw diets complete with bone and organ meat for whole prey nutrition. When kept indoors, we highly endorse the use of T5 or T8 fluorescent tubes such as the Zoo Med Reptisun 10.0 for UVB and either PAR30 or PAR38 halogen flood lamps for heat. Inspect cage materials, lamp fixtures etc. This can cause several health issues such as open sores or loss of toes. Breeders have noticed that red tegus grown in captivity tend to become picky eaters. They aren’t very picky, and will eat a large variety of foods. for any damage. Plastic storage totes with an entrance cut in the side may also be used. Tegu and Monitor Food is made with real chicken and soybeans to provide the high protein levels that carnivorous reptiles need. Zoo Med Tegu Monitor Food cans/wet 6oz The first commercially available food developed for large carnivorous lizards. Aside from providing a variety of flavors and textures, a varied diet more importantly supplies a greater spectrum of nutrients than can be accomplished with a diet of “staples.” Therefore, it is your job as a tegu owner to provide as many different kinds of tegu food as possible. It is also a good idea to stay away from overly dusty bedding that could cause respiratory or eye issues. High end grain free dog food makes up roughly 50% of our tegu diet, again the brands we have chosen and had the best results with are Performatrin Ultra and Solid Gold. Whenever you offer food, stay nearby — specifically your hand. In fact, a friend of mine had his tegu steal his bratwurst while his back was turned. Be sure to feed your Argentine tegu their mice with a bowl or tongs to prevent accidentally getting bitten by your hungry lizard. The dog food is grain and legume free! Don't worry - canned dog food is fed as part of a balanced and varied diet! In the wild, black and white tegus commonly eat insects, fruits, seeds, and the eggs of other animals. There is a study of wild tegu stomach, the contents were about 30-60% plant material mostly being fruit, 15-40% invertebrates, and 20-30% vertebrates.. Example: “ReptiFiles.com is the best place to learn about correct reptile husbandry.”. The omnivorous reptiles eat fruits, vegetables, dog and cat food, insects and small animals. Veterinarians recommend the best dog food of 2020 available at Pet Supermarket, Chewy, PetCo and more. Move your hand around as your tegu eats. In captivity, the Red Tegu can feed on invertebrates like crickets, slugs, spiders, and small bugs. If, on the next occasion, they are still eating all of the food, then it’s a clear indication that they can still eat more. For safety’s sake, always offer whole prey slightly smaller than their skull. Tegus by nature are opportunistic omnivorous and thrive on a varied diet. Decrease feeding during the winter when tegus hibernate. These captive tegus may prefer only a diet composed of meat. Wipe enclosure down thoroughly and allow to dry before placing animal back in its setup. Water should be provided in a large, heavy bowl that cannot be easily tipped over. ReptiFiles is not a veterinary website, nor is the author Mariah Healey a veterinarian. Tegus are omnivores, meaning they eat both animals and plants. Please check your state and local laws concerning captive species before ordering. ... canned & dry dog food, Mazuri Crocodile diet, chicken, eggs, insects, and small rodents. In the wild, tegus enjoy an extremely varied diet dependent on what is seasonally and regionally available. Even if your tegu gives you “puppy dog eyes” and seems interested in what you’re eating (more on eating when your tegu is around later). A basking area surface temp should be between 115°f and 125°f for babies to juvenile tegus. Every once in a while we add collard greens or flax seed to the mix. Most keeper’s lack here, providing a diet heavy on limited whole prey (rodents) while supplementing with fruits and or vegetables. Check water bowl and change if needed. One of the primary differences between Argentine tegus and Colombian tegus is what they eat. Do not offer the same food to your tegu every single day. The use of a bio active setup can greatly reduce or eliminate the need for substrate changes. Indoors the very minimum we recommend for an adult is 6’L x 3’W x 3’H, please keep in mind that this is the smallest an adult tegu should be kept in, and they will need to be allowed time out to exercise. The black-and-white tegu has now been spotted in South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, and as far away as Texas. ➺ Omnivorous tegus are voracious eaters. My take on the issue? For meat, this means adding a dash of calcium powder. The brands we have chosen to feed here at DynAnimal were picked for their quality ingredients including whole meats, fruits and vegetables. If you want a big tame pet lizard and have decide a tegu is the right choice for you it’s important to be sure to get an Argentine black and white tegu. You can use a variety of products to achieve the desired temps such as flood lights, MVB bulbs or ceramic heat emitters (CHE’s). Tegus or “gus” are often referred to as scaled puppies, it is not uncommon for them to become extremely tame with constant keeper interaction. Hides can be provided a variety of ways. Adult tegu ambient temperatures should be duplicated to those of younger animals, with a basking surface temp of 120°f – 130°f. Environmental Enrichment for Reptiles: What? Tegus do not need another scaled companion to keep them company. NOTE: Must be 18+ years old to order. Substrates should be misted as needed to ensure humidity levels are correct. A quick note about eggs — Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases a tegu’s ability to absorb biotin (vitamin B7). Pet tegus who receive a lot of fruit (read: sugar) are more likely to become overweight. Canned dog food and eggs can be offered as a very occasional supplement, but be advised that too much protein will cause kidney failure. If you put in a small portion to begin with, and your tegu consumes it, and leave nothing behind, thats a good sign they need more food. Cork rounds or cork tubes also make great hiding areas and hold up well to the heat and humidity in a tegu enclosure. The inclusion of fruit in the diet is recommended. These foods don’t need to be dredged in calcium or multivitamin powders. We house our tegus here in Texas in variety of cages for different life stages; including 48”L X 24”W x 24”H baby enclosures, 48”L x 48”W x 48”H grow out cages, and 10’L x 5’W x 6’H walk-in adult caging. For a more comprehensive list, go here. Cooking the fish neutralizes this enzyme. Whole prey comes with muscles, bones, organs, hair, nails, etc. This also helps your tegu learn the difference between your hand and food. Brands include Royal Canin, Purina, Nutro and more. Your setup will determine what style of bulbs you will need. This is because wild tegus are much more active than pet tegus, and they use the sugars in fruit for extra energy. Whatever water dish you decide on, it should be large enough for your tegu to fully soak its entire body. The rest is explained here. Tegus are dog-sized and intelligent, they eat a variety of food, and … Hide boxes should large enough your tegu can conceal its entire body and curl up in as well as withstand the environment you are placing them in.Â. High end grain free dog food makes up roughly 50% of our tegu diet, again the brands we have chosen and had the best results with are Performatrin Ultra and Solid Gold. Using the foods below our tegus have great body conformation, babies grow quickly and perfectly, while production has been remarkable. Remove any uneaten food items and spot clean substrate if needed. If your tegu gets bitten in the process, treat with an antibiotic ointment like Curad Silver. ReptiFiles.com is a compilation of factual, science-based research from the best reptile care resources in the world, packaged in one neat website. Basking temps should be monitored via an infrared thermometer, while ambient temps and humidity are best measured with a digital thermometer / hygrometer.Â. See here for details. If your pet reptile is experiencing a medical emergency, contact an experienced reptile veterinarian immediately. We have chosen the brands we offer because they are all 10,000  IU or under. For substrate, DynaAnimal recommends the use of a sand / top soil /coco fiber mix, just coco fiber or cypress mulch. Touch them, stroke them, etc. Baby Argentine Black and White Tegu at the Arizona Reptile Center Be Sure it’s an Argentine Black and White Tegu . Always wash fruits and vegetables before giving them to your tegu in case they have been exposed to poisonous chemicals like pesticides and herbicides. The best water to use for your tegu is tap water (assuming that the water in your area is safe for humans), spring water, or filtered water. This won’t kill your tegu, but if you want to keep them healthy, stick to tegu food. Our favorite here is the mix as it seems to work best all-around for a variety of animals without many of the negatives associated with other beddings. Thoroughly clean the habitat, cage furnishings and all food bowls with a 10:1 water / ammonia solution. Tegus will often soak in their water to facilitate shedding, a container large enough to accommodate this is important. Thaw it out in the fridge the night before feeding day, then about 15-30 minutes before feeding, stick the prey in a BPA-free plastic bag like a Ziploc and submerge in warm, almost hot, water. Cat food is best used with Colombian tegus and young Argentine tegus, and dog food is good for adult Argentine tegus. Whole prey items are the most nutritionally valuable foods for tegus. FRESH CONTENT DAILY! Portion size should be about the same size as the tegu’s skull. Sticking to a schedule and encouraging exercise is a good way to keep your tegu at a healthy weight. While whole prey items are good for your tegu and make a great base for their diet, variety is the spice of life. Even with minimal socialization, tegus tend to be very docile. Feeding Tegu is very rewarding as there is almost nothing they do not eat.. That being said, all live prey interactions should be supervised to prevent potential harm to your tegu. Ideally an adult cage should be at least 8’L x 4’W x 4’H.  DynAnimal does sell the Repashy products, click below to shop.Â. We have found the 120°f- 125°f range to be ideal for young animals. Refer to ReptiFile’s list of preferred live and frozen prey distributors for high-quality reptile food you can trust. Because they’re more than two if you would tegu dog food, as they contain more complete nutrition especially! American counties to provide the high protein levels that carnivorous reptiles need and... 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Options for tegu dog food also had continued success using a shallow non porous bowl make... Flax seed to the heat and humidity in the wild, the lifespan... Items and spot clean substrate if needed dilemma for some and something we have been researching for many years more! Loving reptile cockroaches to your tegu to defecate in their water to facilitate,.