So, what’s for dinner? Not sure exactly? No worries. By doing a little homework, feeding your reptile or amphibian a healthy diet will be, well…a piece of cake.
First, knowing what to feed your pet depends largely on his species. Your herp will fall into one of these categories:
Carnivore (meat eater): Typical carnivorous reptiles/amphibians include toads, frogs, snakes, newts, geckos and salamanders. Their tastes run toward worms, crickets, mealworms, and small rodents.
Herbivore (plant eater): They typically include iguanas, some turtles, and tortoises.
Omnivore (both meat and plant eater): Omnivores include turtles, Bearded Dragons, and lizards.
Next, if you haven’t yet selected a reptile or amphibian as a pet, it’s a good idea to take into consideration how squeamish you are.
Will it bother you to feed live baby mice to your pet? Does the thought of coming in contact with hissing cockroaches make you quiver?
If so, consider a pet whose dining needs are a better fit with your own comfort level. Some carnivores are happy to eat pre-killed food—and many owners find it easier to feed their pets when they don’t feel responsible for killing the food. Tetrafauna® offers several varieties of scientifically formulated, easy-to-feed food for reptiles and amphibians.
Lastly, find out exactly what, and how often, your animal needs to eat. Some eat every day, others every other day, and still others once a week. Some need supplements, some do not. Do your research carefully on your pet so you can be sure they’re getting the nutrition they need.