Nutrition
Tegu Diet Guide: What to Feed Argentine & Colombian Tegus
Tegu Diet Guide: What to Feed Argentine & Colombian Tegus
Tegus are large, intelligent, omnivorous lizards with enormous appetites and fast growth rates. Argentine black and white tegus (Salvator merianae) and Colombian gold tegus (Tupinambis teguixin) can reach 4-5 feet in length and require substantial, varied diets to maintain healthy body condition. Improper feeding — too much protein, too little variety, or inadequate calcium — leads to obesity, metabolic bone disease, gout, and organ damage.
Diet Ratio by Age
| Age | Protein | Vegetables/Fruit | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchling (0-6 months) | 90% | 10% | Daily |
| Juvenile (6-18 months) | 70-80% | 20-30% | Every other day |
| Adult (18+ months) | 50-60% | 40-50% | Every 2-3 days |
Feeder Insects for Tegus
Young tegus eat enormous quantities of insects during their rapid growth phase. Even adult tegus benefit from regular insect feedings alongside whole prey (rodents, eggs) and vegetables.
| Feeder | Why It Works | Amount (Juvenile) | Amount (Adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discoid Roaches | 20% protein, 7% fat, gut-loadable — the best insect protein source | 15-30 medium-large | 10-20 large/adults |
| BSFL | 9,340 mg/kg calcium — essential during rapid growth | 20-40 large | 15-30 large |
| Hornworms | 85% moisture, enrichment, appetite stimulation | 3-6 large | 2-5 large |
| Silkworms | 1% fat — important for preventing obesity in adults | 5-10 large | 5-10 large |
Whole Prey and Other Proteins
Adult tegus eat more than just insects. A varied protein rotation includes:
- Whole prey: Mice, rats (frozen/thawed, appropriately sized) — 1-2x per week for adults
- Eggs: Raw or scrambled, with shell crushed in for calcium — 1x per week
- Ground turkey: Lean, unseasoned — occasional supplement mixed with vegetables
- Feeder insects: Discoid roaches remain the highest-quality insect protein even for adult tegus. Roaches can be gut-loaded to customize nutrition — a feature whole prey cannot offer.
Vegetables and Fruit
- Staple vegetables: Collard greens, mustard greens, butternut squash, green beans, snap peas
- Fruits (moderate): Berries, mango, papaya, banana (limited — high sugar)
- Enrichment foods: Whole eggs (great calcium source), bee pollen sprinkled on salad
Why Calcium Matters More for Tegus
Tegus grow fast — hatchlings can gain 1-2 inches per week during peak growth. This explosive bone growth demands enormous calcium intake. MBD in young tegus progresses rapidly and can cause permanent skeletal deformities within weeks of onset. BSFL should be a non-negotiable part of every juvenile tegu's diet — 20-40 large BSFL 2-3 times per week provides a natural calcium foundation that reduces dependence on dusting powders.
Common Tegu Diet Mistakes
- All-rodent diet: Whole prey is calorie-dense. Adult tegus fed primarily rodents become obese quickly. Rodents should be a portion of the diet, not the entire diet.
- Ignoring vegetables: Adult tegus need 40-50% plant matter. Many keepers neglect this because tegus prefer protein — but vegetables are essential for fiber, hydration, and nutrient diversity.
- No calcium supplementation for juveniles: The fastest-growing phase demands the most calcium. Use BSFL liberally and dust other feeders with calcium at every feeding.
- Feeding daily as adults: Adult tegus should eat every 2-3 days. Daily feeding causes obesity — the #1 health problem in captive tegus.
Shop bulk feeder insects for tegus: discoid roaches | BSFL | hornworms | silkworms
— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures
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