Hi, RoyalBP! Welcome to the monitor forum!



FR is right in his closing comments about who you accept info from. You see, there are many newbies, LIKE ME, that want to try to help but sometimes we don't have all of our ducks (or monitors) in a row. And sometimes, some of us are just plain quacks. LOL!!!



You see, I don't take FR's closing comments offensively, even though I'm included in them, and neither should anyone else. Only a person with experience should state something as a fact, the rest of us should do just what you did, state that "we have heard or seen it said that such-n-such..." Definitely, always know your source.



Now, with that said, take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt, unless it's confirmed by someone in the know. My experience? I've kept a male sav alive for 8 months, period. I don't know if that would even qualify me as a keeper in scientific terms, but let's not get into "scientific" stuff now. LOL!!!



I believe the reason for 80% insect consumption in the wild, if that's what it actually is, is due to abundance, availability, opportunity, and not a choice or preferrence.



I beleive that rodents are more nutritious than any insect. Consider how it's recommended to gutload & dust insects in captivity, but not rodents. Rodents don't need it.



I commend you for your care in wanting to keep your sav from being a fat pig like some want them to look like just to create a huge mass as a form of impression.



Sounds like you might already be aware of how broad temperature ranges are beneficial to their metabolism. I don't think anyone can say, "feed it x-amount of rodents, weighing x-amount of grams, each week," or anything like that. Your setup & your sav is different from everyone else's.



I believe that smaller meals, given more often are better than large meals. I say that for ANY reptile. Heck, I say that for any animal, period. Now, you have to use a lil' bit of common sense, though. You've got to give him more than a mouse pup per meal. Each meal has to be more than just a mere snack. What I'm saying is, "Don't carry the "smaller meals" to an extreme. I'm sure you get the picture.



I think that now you've given him a broader temp range, if you'll watch his weight and adjust prey size/amount as you go, you'll start seeing a change. This includes withholding food like FR said.



Do you have more than one basking site (offering a different basking temp)? Be careful with the outdoor halogen flood lamps, FR mentioned something the other day about one brand switching designs to where the middle of the beam is no longer diffused and can cause burns if you're not careful.



Have a good one!

HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,

this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:

Appalachian American

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