Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that there are so many factors for reptilian growth - feeding schedule, heat, gender, etc, but does anyone have guidelines on how long it takes a Black Throat Monitor to become full grown? I am just curious to know more about my cute BTM.

Mine is a juvenile (wild caught i'm sure) whom I bought Jan. 29 when he was nose to vent length was 8 inches. Now (april 5) he is about 10 to 11. he eats a small meal 3 or 4 times a week and a large meal 1 or 2 times, with a day (or two) off from eating. He has a good temp gradient and is healthy.

If anyone wants to guess - how old was he when I got him? what guidelines are their for an average BTM on a good but not power-feeding schedule?

thanks
-----
Melissa and Corny the Corn Snake
and Monaco the Argentine B&W Tegu
and Meanie the Black Throat Monitor

Want an excuse not to feed them enough.
When you feed a monitor consider that a full stomach puts them in a better mood than being hungry, also allows for potential of growth for conditions.
I feed them what they will eat for a perios of time then wait until they need more. But then again I also feed my cape banded WT thats over 3 years old 12-17 small adult mice every 3 days or several chicken peeps, hes almost 4ft long now.
My other 2 albigs, the BT/WT crosses eat large rats, either 1-2 a week, or 1 every 2 weeks as they need it, sometimes they eat a few chicken peeps inner-mixed with rodents. Both of these albigs are over 4ft long and over 6ft long.
The first year I feed them daily to get them the needed nutrients, and calcium for proper growth. 2 of them also eat hissers when I have them. One of these I have had since 2 months old, she was 5ft long at a year old and still growing regularly. They grow throughout their lives with females growing to over 6ft, and males able to exceed 7ft if kept close to correct. I dont think anyone knows how big they can get, according to Mark Bayless, Africans say they are capable of 8ft, who knows, so far 7ft 3 was the record by 2 males, one microstictus, one Ionidesi.

Please understand, reptiles grow very fast, or not. They can grow very slow, or not. Reptiles are dependant on conditions, and food resources for their growth. Ifs its dry out, they stop eating(no matter if foods available). Of if foods scarce, they drop their temps, it does not matter what month or season it is. Thats in nature.

In captivity, their growth is dependant on how well you take care of your monitor. I have raised and bred many many species, from the smallest to some of the larger species. And all can and have grown up in under a year and produced. or not.

I agree with Shvar, your term powerfeeding, is a term used by the naive. That is, by folks who do not understand reptiles. That is unless they are forcing a individual that does not want to feed, to feed. Like force feeding. Force feeding with a caulking gun would be power feeding, you know, against the will of the monitor.

If the conditions allows a monitor to be hungry, then feeding it is normal. If it was not in your cage it would be looking for food. If your monitor is hungry everyday, then its normal to feed everyday. Do you understand that.

As I mentioned in the subject box, many people would think feeding several times a week is power feeding. Those people may only feed once a week and call that normal. There temps and moisture levels may only allow feeding once a week. So there monitors may not want to feed any more then that. Those folks would not understand a monitor wanting to eat several times a day. But then, their conditions suck.

In my experience and opinion, young growing monitors, givin a choice of conditions, will not only feed everyday, but often several times a day. That is, they are givin temperature choices both above and below, their useable temps.

Now, the problem is with adult non growing monitors, these many only need food once a week or less, but they are hungry everyday(mainly males) So feeding a non growing monitor many times a week will result in a obese monitor. Here is where your being a keeper is important, you have to decide when that point is reached and react to it.

So, its up to you to decide whats best for you and your monitors goals and conditions.

Personally, its sad to see them grow out of the baby stage. But, thats what they do. FR

Thanks for responding - I am so glad I am feeding my boys (a Black throat and a tegu) enough and giving them an opportunity to grow. It is good to hear other people's experiences w/ growth, feeding, and environmental conditions for comparison.

I can't wait til my boys get full grown! I have lots of baby pictures of them, but i think they will be more fun as adults (they are in an enclosure normally & free roam under direct supervision) but I want to let them out more often and play!

Thank you for clearing up the whole "power feeding" thing! I do use the word naively - i am not a breeder nor an expert! I really didn't know what it means, or why its "bad" or what it refers to. I have heard, as a layperson, not to "force" feed your reptile by, i guess, pressuring them to eat all the time, or using any forceful techniques.

While i don't know or have any experience with feeding a reptile too much that something bad happens (which would be what? bone/muscle problems? shorter lifespan?) but I do feed based on the collective information i have heard from experienced keepers, as well as what seems right-how the animal is doing on a certain schedule.

I guess I am just a little apprehensive about always feeding my animals more than they "Should" eat because I am used to the problems a person can have with dogs and horses! a dog can get bloat (and die) and a horse can get colic (and die) so i am awful careful and always want to learn more about feeding reptiles!!!

I love my BT & tegu and want the best for them - it is so good to hear the experiences of other people.

So thanks for your posts!
-----
Zsa-Zsu and Corny the Corn Snake
and Monaco the Argentine B&W Tegu
and Meanie the Black Throat Monitor