Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i know this is an ongoing arguement and there is some good literature about it out there, but i was wondering what everyone else does... i have a sav that is about a year old, over a foot long, and i still feed her about 50 crickets every 2 days and mice in between...is there a point where i should just feed her mice?

feeder insects can always be a part of a healthy diet. they provide activity and mental stimulation for the lizards, while not hammering them with too many calories per feeding.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

i feed my sav both with cockroaches and worms b/c the crickets are so small for him now that it seems to be just a game for him to chase....so the others are fun for him to chase but are a lil bigger too.....and that pic is awsome haha
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17 BP
2 GTP
3 Chameleons
6 Beardies
1 Crested
2 Huskies
1 blue and gold macaw
1 african grey
1 patternless albino Burmese
2 Reticulated pythons (*purple and lav. albino tiger)
1 savannah monitor ("Spike"
6 treefrogs
2 Brazilian Rainbow boas *(GF named them prince and princess)
1 live in gf lol
= Busy House

huh, that is a thought. like madagascar hissing cockroaches? the only problem being i don't know of a place around here that sells cockroaches in bulk lol. also, what kind of worms? i know what you mean about the crickets being small and a game for the lizard, thats why i am trying to see what else i can give her to make up for them.

yeah, she tries to get out of the enclosure by hanging on the lamp. one of these days she is actually going to figure out how and do it lol.

You do not need another food source. Your Sav will do far better on mice or rats alone(rodents), then it will on any combination of rodents and insects.(Combined with proper husbandry)

I have tested this time and time again with many many species over many generations and with many different criteria, you know, growth, reproduction, etc.

But, if it makes YOU feel better, then have at it. And don't feel bad, without the benefit of continued positive results, its very hard to overcome all manner of wifestails and advertising.

Also, I do not think monitors play games. They comsume food for one reason and one reason only, to fill the gut.

It is a valid reason to feed crickets for exercise. As it causes the monitor to do a lot of chasing(physical activity) for little actual nourishment. This can be a very valuable tool in captive husbandry.

Cheers and good luck

well that is all i needed to know. thanks a lot

Yes, I feed my Sav only rodent, too, and he is doing fine. I hear rodent are better than inverts because of the nutritional value.

Hi, One thing I think is wrong with your statement is. Many can say, this is better then that and that is better then this, by some dang nutritional rating on some website. The problem is, no one knows exactly the nutritional needs of a any monitor, muchless specific monitors at specific times of their lifes. So, that type of information is USELESS.

My recomendations are based on performance, which eliminates the need to know what the nutritional value is. For me, a rodent diet for medium to larger monitors simply OUTPERFORMED a diet of any combination of many kinds of insects.

Outperformed means we recieved better results. Consider, all of use are after the same things, and that is satisfactory or better results. It really does not matter what the exact nutritional value is, as long as the results are S and B. Cheers

Then what happens when you raise an ackie, tristis or maybe a caudo on a pinkie only diet one he is of size.

First, I said "medium to larger" species. So that is the context of my answer and the context of the question. Not odatria.

With that said, I have no problem keeping adult odatria healthy on pinkies or fuzzies only.

Where the problem is with odatria is not with nutrition, its with procedure. Again, I have said this many times. People concern themselves with nutrition and nutritional needs, and all manner of theoretical non sense, when the real problem is nothing to do with that. In most cases, its keeper habits(bad).

With crickets, we normally throw in handfuls and the monitors can feed "At their lesiure", Some now, some later, and some even later(the normal method monitors feed) But with things like pinkies and fuzzies, keepers feed them like WE eat, ONE big meal at a time. Well, the way we feed is not all that good for us either. hahahahahahahahahaha we are far better off with lots of small meals.

The point is, its more about WHAT WE do, then the type of prey fed. Of course, I am only talking about whole prey items.

There is no queston, mice are superior and do not require suppliments. There is some question about insects, they seem to require some supplimentation. At least in stressful conditions and most of our captive care is stressful.

So, with odatria, a diet that includes both insects and mice has proven to be very successful, over nearly two decades. Where a diet of only insects has not shown superior results. It can show decent results.

For me a diet of solely rodents for odatria is a lot of work. So insects makes it far more likely the monitors will be fed on a timely basis. Again all this is about my habits and not the monitors needs.

Remember, my comments are based on actual repeated results over many years with many species, IN MY CARE. I do not have a need to include anyone elses opinions or experience or papers or nutritional breakdowns.

What this means is, a successful diet is based on results, and its based on both the needs of the monitors and the habits and skill of the keeper. Not one or the other. Cheers