>>Ok, I was just curious. I have been noticing that many claim that causing a reptile to grow faster than it normal growth rate can actually negatively effect their health.'



I've come to this point on this topic. Many people claim many things. In my own experiences in many animals-going all the way back to my days as a monitor breeder- faster growth doesn't produce any noticable harm. In some animals it produces obesity and that is the real problem.



A good diet and good conditions will produce good steady growth. Animals are usually only constrained by poor diet and poor conditions. Now don't misunderstand, I'm not talkign about jamming so much food into them they explode. Just that I doubt the use of any of these diets will produce a negative effect on the animals health. As a matter of fact I suspect the opposite would more than likely be true.







' So are you saying that this is actually false?



No, 'm saying it's a food and a complete one at that, properly used the animal will only benefit.



>>

>>So pretty much, it hurts them more to slow their growth rate, but is ok to boost it without any long-term negative effects?

>>



I always come back to this question. What is a normal growth rate? The oft cited 12 inches a year? You have to now your own animal and monitor each animals health and progress. Some simply grow faster than others. The only long term problems I could see are skeletal problems-which I feel are unlikely, and obesity- which again I feel is less likely on this diet than the usual fare of fatty chicken, beef, and rodents captive animals get.



But again- I'm going alot by what I've seen and heard and my own experiences are still pretty young.











>>P.S> Did you receive my email? '



Yep, I got it this morning and will reply to you sometime today.





>>

>>

>>

>>
-----
CDieter

'Reason, observation, and experience; the holy trinity of science.'

[ Show Entire Thread ]