Tegu feeding question

[Squirgle]

When feeding ground turkey to a tegu, do you just thaw it to room temp and offer it, heat it a bit, or actually cook it? I seem to remember seeing someone say they would freeze portion sized amounts and then just thaw one portion at a time. It didn't seem to mention heating or cooking. I would think that cooking it would be a good idea for some reasons, but on the other side they Are predators, used to eating raw meat or carrion. Any opinions?
James

[telefrag]

well, there could be benefits to both.
Cooking can reduce the possibility of transferring food borne problems to the animals, but tegus are used to eating dead/rotting food sometimes, so they may be able to handle it biologically.
If it were me, I would just feed thawed, room temp.

The bad thing about cooking, it can sometimes cook out some nutrients.
But your likely already using a multivitamin supplement im guessing?
[addsig]

[Squirgle]

Thats what I was leaning towards. Didn't know that cooking could take out nutrients though. Hmm. As far as vitamins, well it depends on what I'm feeding him. He is large enough to be taking full size adult mice, so if he's eating mice or eggs I don't bother, but with his veggies I usually put vitamins on. He thankfully likes to eat the eggshells which makes calcium less of a worry but I still powder his veggies.
Thanks [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
[addsig]