Can I Feed My Tegu Dog Food?

Cat food is best used with Colombian tegus and young Argentine tegus, and

dog food is good for adult Argentine tegus

. Make sure to use canned food rather than kibble (although kibble is alright occasionally if water is added), and avoid formulas containing artificial colors/flavors.

Can you feed TEGU meat?

Gold tegu feeding

A typical gold tegu diet is omnivorous and indiscriminate, much like their Argentinian relatives. This means they also enjoy a diverse diet of

lean meats

, insects, eggs, and occasional fruits and veggies.

What should I feed my TEGU?

Young tegus can be fed a staple of crickets or dubia roaches with other bug varieties occasionally mixed in. When they are large enough, pinkies can be offered occasionally as well. Adults can be fed rodents, chicks, fish, cooked eggs and large insect items such as dubia roaches and earth worms.

Can Tegus eat chicken?

My tegus eat mainly chickens

, which I cut up for them. Sweet fruits, such as grapes, bananas and cantaloupe, are another staple food. Occasionally my tegus even eat bread. Baby tegus eat insects, pinky rodents and ground meat (but be sure to add calcium).

What lizards can eat dog food?

One of the most surprising things you can feed some lizards is dog food. Notably, it needs to be grain-free wet dog food. Because of the high protein content and higher water content, some lizards like

Blue Tongued Skinks, Bearded Dragons, and the Tegu

often enjoy canned dog food.

Do lizards like bananas?

Omnivores eat insects too, but they also need fruits and vegetables in their diet.

Safe fruits and veggies for lizards include bananas

, papaya, grapes, yams, bell peppers, carrots, strawberries and dandelion greens.

Do tegus love their owners?

Tegus are known as very intelligent animals. When kept in captivity, they are able to recognize their owners and form a close bond with them.

Tegu requires human love and affection

. It will sometimes rather spend quality time with its owners instead to eat.

Can tegu eat scrambled eggs?

diets, such as only scrambled eggs or leftover vegetable scraps.

While these options will keep your tegu fed, they likely don’t provide the valuable variety of nutrients which can lead to your Tegu living a happy and healthy life

.

Do tegus need heat at night?

Argentine Tegus are cold-blooded animals and require supplemental heat for proper digestion. They prefer 75-85 F during the day.

Nighttime temperatures can be 5-10 cooler

.

Can you potty train a tegu?

Here are some things that pet owners have trained their tegus to do in this way:

Go to the bathroom in a particular spot (potty training)

Walk towards a particular spot and stay there (target training) Wear a harness and walk next to you.

Do tegu bites hurt?

How much UVB does a tegu need?

Both Argentine and Colombian tegus require

12-14 hours of daily exposure UVB

for their health. In captivity, this should be supplemented by opportunities to bask in “real” sunlight as often as weather permits. The best way to provide UVB for your tegu is by using a fluorescent UVB bulb designed for high output.

Can tegus eat rice?

My Argentines eat a diet that consists largely of

brown rice

, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, fruits, some veggies, fertilized eggs (rarely unfertilized snake, bird, and lizard eggs) and an occasional rodent treat.

Can tegu eat tuna?

Cooking the fish neutralizes this enzyme.

Fish that contain thiaminase include: bass, catfish, goldfish, herring, mackerel smelt, tuna, and whitefish

.

How big should a tegu cage be?

We recommend starting out a baby tegu in at least a

36′′ x 18′′

tank. Exo Terra’s Large or Zilla’s 40 breeder critter cage both work well. In just 3 years, they can reach an adult size of a hefty 4 feet for males and somewhat smaller for females.

What reptile does not eat live food?

• Green iguana.
• Ctenosaura species.
• Cuban rock iguana.
• Rhinoceros iguana.
• Desert iguana.

Do geckos need live food?

Unlike dogs and cats, geckos don’t generally do well eating pre-packaged kibble or prepared food. That means

you’ll need to purchase or breed live insects to feed your gecko

. Some species of pet gecko eat fruit as well as insects.

Do lizards drink water?

They draw fluid up against the pull of gravity.

They absorb water and keep water in and out

. When the lizards are wet, they would raise their bodies and lower their heads. Lizards use gravity to channel the water down towards their mouths.

Can lizards eat carrots?

Vegetables you can offer include frozen mixed vegetables, squash, zucchini, sweet potato, bell pepper, broccoli, peas, beans, okra, carrot and sprouts

. Many vegetarian lizards love flower petals, including roses, hibiscus and others; just make sure that they do not have insecticide or pesticide residue on them.

Can lizards eat tomatoes?

Avoid feeding leaves, stems, and green tomatoes as they contain a toxin called solanine

. Tiny portions of ripe tomato are a good treat for a beardie as they contain water, fiber, and some vitamins and minerals. Tomatoes will not harm the bearded dragon if eaten, as they are not toxic to the reptile.

Can lizards eat grapes?

Grape. High in oxalates,

grapes are a great treat for lizards

. You can prepare grapes for your lizard by crushing or chopping the fruit.

What colors can tegus see?

Do tegus like to swim?

They are terrestrial lizards that rarely climb more than a few feet off the ground, but

they are strong swimmers

. Tegus can tolerate marine and freshwater habitats, such as flooded marshes.

How do you target a tegu?

Are chicken gizzards good for tegus?

Organ Meats:

Beef Heart, Liver, Kidneys *

Recommended

.

Chicken Gizzards & Hearts

. Rabbit Heart, Lungs, Liver, & Kidneys.

Can tegus have chicken liver?

Meat and eggs with the shells left on can form the bulk of the typical Argentine tegu’s diet. Ground turkey is a popular choice among enthusiasts, though

beef liver, chicken liver, beef hearts, fish, rodents, and young birds can be fed

.

Are tegu lizards good pets?

Tegus are incredibly intelligent and curious lizards that can be tamed and trained with regular handling and interaction

. Argentine tegus are known to have “dog-like” qualities in that they are very loyal and seek companionship. Always be gentle, calm and talk softly so you do not accidentally frighten your pet.