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Thread: New arrivals not eating much

  1. #1

    Default New arrivals not eating much

    Hi! My experience witness snakes and other reptiles has shown that in new surroundings, their likely not going to eat right away. We'll for the initial feeding (of only one tegu so far) I offered snails, silversides (each cut into smaller pieces) superworms, a pinky and one fresh egg (we also have chickens). So far she's only shown interest in the egg. I've left her in the feeding tub for about 10 minutes with her buffet (after offering each item with tongs) No real interest.

    Should I be doing something differently?

    Thanks for reading!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    San Antonio,TX
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    Hi to you, too. It's normal for Tegus not wanting to eat when they are in a new home. Some eat right away and some can take for days until they eat something. Do you feed them one by one or are they in the feeding bin together ? Is the bin dark or see through ? If the bin is see through then the bin looks bigger to the Tegu then it really is. If the bin is tall enough so the Tegus can't jump out I would step back so the Tegu(s) can't see you. Wait a few minutes and then see if he/she is eating. I would try to feed one item at a time. Maybe he/she doesn't like one of the food items you put in there. You can try to mix some hard boiled egg with some ground turkey. I don't want to be rude but I don't recommend feeding live fish. They can carry bacteria. Same with the snales. You never know what they got into. I would get some fresh fish filets or some frozen smelts and later on when they are bigger some sardines ( or you can put them in a blender ). Don't worry. When your Tegu is hungry enough he/she will eat .
    Rich is not how much you have, or where you are going, or what you are.Rich is who you have beside you.

    Our videos :

    http://www.youtube.com/user/txrepgirl

  3. #3

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    Thanks so much for your response! I was feeding one at a time, in a transparent tub. Tomorrow I'll try as you suggested, in a darker tub. Now, you say to walk away. Is it not important to tong feed? Will they take food just left in with them on their own?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    San Antonio,TX
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    You are very welcome . If a Tegu is that skittish I would not try to feed it with the tong or by hand. I would do that later when the Tegu got used to you. Since humans seem so big to them he/she might be to scared of you to eat. If you are close by but out of sight he/she will feel more safe. Yes, they will eat on their own. In the videos below is one of our Tegus when she was a baby. She was a very picky eater. But onece she calmed down she ate everything.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37hvHhV3Mmw

    In this video she is eating some fresh salmon that I got from the fish section at the super market. I cut it up with some scissors, put it into a ziploc back with some warm tap water. After a few minuted I took a piece out, squeezed it to see if it's all the way warm but not hot. Then I gave it to her. I usualy put some calcium and vitamine powder on there. But I forgot.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jej3pZr1Hr4

    Since out Tegus are so tame I never used any tongs to feed them. I just fed them by hand.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqO7Fs8VqfA

    My shirt trick helped alot to tame them down. Even with our black throat monitor. I hand feed him, too.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PuSuhEDOTQ

    Oh, before I forget. I don't know if you know about this website. But you can check it out if you like. I bulk order the rodents from them.

    Here is a video on the order I got in.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKhcqfsUNRA

    Here is the website.

    http://www.rodentpro.com/

    Good info.

    http://www.rodentpro.com/qpage_articles_01.asp

    In case you would like to order some super worms.

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...worms&_sacat=0
    Rich is not how much you have, or where you are going, or what you are.Rich is who you have beside you.

    Our videos :

    http://www.youtube.com/user/txrepgirl

  5. #5

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    Thanks again for your time and knowledge. (Is it just us in here? Lol)

    I did as you said, found a nice tall, dark tub, and placed them in, one at a time. They had the same food options as yesterday, but today neither was interested.

    It's never really fun acclimating new animals, is it?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    San Antonio,TX
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    9,505

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    Your welcome . Any time. I'm glad when I can help. No, we are not alone here on the forum lol. But it looks like that we are in this thread :( . No, it's not easy sometimes. What I would try is leave them alone for a day or two. Just change the water in the enclosure. Don't worry Tegus can go without food for days. After you leave them alone for one or two days get them out and try again with a different food. Maybe some chicken or beef liver. Or you can get some chicken/turkey baby food and put it into a small dish and let them lick it up.
    Rich is not how much you have, or where you are going, or what you are.Rich is who you have beside you.

    Our videos :

    http://www.youtube.com/user/txrepgirl

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