How to Feed a Tuatara

Tuataras are endangered, lizard-like animals closely related to reptiles from the Mesozoic era, when dinosaurs lived. Native to New Zealand, tuataras grow slowly, mature between the ages of 13 and 20 and may live for up to 80 years in the wild. In nature, mature tuataras feed on live insects, worms, bird eggs and the occasional bird or lizard at night, while younger tuataras eat during the day. You can find live tuatara food at pet or bait shops.

Things You'll Need

  • Live earthworms, crickets, beetles or locusts
  • Aquarium
  • Apple slices
  • Bran or oats
  • Leaves or grass
  • Worm composting unit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the back legs of jumping insects immediately before placing them in the tuatara's environment to make them easier to catch.

    • 2

      Place live adult insects and worms in the tuatara's environment and allow the reptiles to hunt their food free-choice. Only add about 2 ounces of insects the first time and adjust the amount depending on whether the tuatara eats all the insects the first night.

    • 3

      Store extra insects in a humid, ventilated aquarium with apple slices for moisture, bran or oats for food and bedding and leaves or grass from their natural habitat. Store earthworms in a moist worm composting unit with soil and fruit and vegetable scraps.

    • 4

      Replace insects and worms in the tuatara environment daily and remove any insect debris from the cage.