Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I see a fair amount of people feeding their monitors canned dog food. I even see this diet listed in high end monitors diets, where I would expect people to know better.

It just seems like common sense to me that this would not be a good thing?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks
Chris

Dogs and cats eat one diet and monitors eat another. Thats why the can says dog or cat food. Besides there are no laws saying that inspections are done or standards are met in the production of either dog or cat food because it is not meant for human consumption. Whole animal foods are the best for a monitor, I still cant see why so many people cant get that through their heads, results have been in for many years but then again people like to learn the hard way instead of listening to advice.

I feed my White throat monitor eggs,cooked meat(pork,beef,chicken,fish), grapes and other fruitsveggies. He is growing like a weed. He used to be on a dog food diet at the store but he likes variety. Whenever I cook supper I just save him some of the meat.

For many years the healthy whole animal diet has been proven to be best. Yet still people are stuck on feeding pepople food to their monitors why? I agree that Dan Turner used some of those foods with his BTs but he also fed rodents. San diego zoo tried that turkey thing and say it works the same, yet if you try this yourself, whole animals work better and cost less.

Hmm, I feed my sav rodents every other day and people food in between. He has grown over 8" since June. The mice I dont dust with calcium while I will sprinkle some on chicken, or steak or whatever I give him. I feed him a good amount too. Thankfully I dont pay for any of his food. I am still a teenager and I of course live with my parents and I give him scraps from the table after dinner (only if I didn't feed him rodents that day) and my father gives me his credit card to order off of www.rodentpro.com. Great site BTW.

I mean, all that unseasoned steak and chicken you guys eat.

LOL. That is true. My parents will put seasoning on the food. Not all the time though. Most of the time though, we just dip our chicken in BBQ sause or what not. Haha, good point though.
-----
My Savannah Monitor Jango's Statistics:

Size: 20"
Weight: 2 pounds
Ambient Temps: 92 degrees
Bask Spot Temps: 120 degrees
Night time Temps: 75 degrees
Diet: Thawed 3 inch mice and other meat products
Tank: 40 gallon breeder (switching to 6x3x3 hopefully this wkd)
Age: 14 Months (his size is small for his age but he is starting to catch up shedding at 2 times a month!)

Man, where did I go wrong. Parents here are great...they fund all these projects, all the money these parents are giving to their children and they don't even know that soon enough it's all going down the drain.... I think the parents should come on here and read this stuff...then maybe they will know that they are funding a monitor on skid row. I guess that is just the way the world works huh.

All the 16 year olds are driving cars that are worth 5 times what mine is. -And Ive got an MR2(my baby by the way)! Those bastards! My first car was a Nissan Sentra that was like 5 years older than I was at the time!

-Michelle

Ive seen 15 year old kids of doctors and anestesiologists get 34-40,000 dollar cars for birthdays to wreck them within 3 months of being 16 but it took me 5 jobs over many years, inheriting and saving money to get a $27,000 dollar car, a year or so ago. I also didnt get my first monitor until I was over 20 years old. I think if parents approve of their kids getting a pet they should sign a contract with the humane society of a America holding them to caring for the animal through its entire natural life correctly or having to pay a steep contract fine (say a few thousand to pay for homeless pets) for not teaching their kids, and themselves to be responsible.

I have been breeding lizards for 3 years now and have had good success. I'am only 19 but have never given up animals for adoption. I accept herps from people I meet who can no longer put in the proper time to care for thier pets. Then find each herp a good home. three rescues under my belt which is better than none. I have spent litterally thousands of hours reading about my herps and ones I plan on breeding. As well as my rescue attempts. But the idea of a signed contract if you give up the animal is fascist. There are always reasons behind giving up animals. I would prefer to see a reptile with a chance for a proper life than someone kill thier pet out of lack of proper conditions.

I would rather see a license instated based on tests taken for different levels of reptiles keeping. This would deter impulse buying of that little green lizard on that carpet with a heat rock. Also pressing people to study what they are keeping. But it will never happen. Nobody listens to a teenager when they speak or rally. It is just a bunch of dumb kids. I have tried letters hours on the phones I cannot even change the laws of my province so I can keep anything in the family Bodaie.

I would like to thank everyone for the info I have been getting for my white throat. I think he will start getting more rodents in his diet. Does anyone feed chicks to thier larger monitors.

Yeah, thanks guys. I am only 16 and I have been into herps since I was about 8. After reading all this, I think I'll feed my sav rodents more often than every other day. I dont get my RodentPro shipment till next thursday, so I guess I'm going to have to go to the local pet store with my friends to go and get some large adult mice (I'll get them live, they are bigger than their measely 2 inch frozen mice). I think I should give Jango rodents about 5 times a week. Those other 2 days he can have chicken, steak, etc. I also heard eggs are good. I want to try hardboiling an egg and giving it to him one of these days. I also said me and my father will be building an enclosure this weekend, and my next door neighbor whos hobby is construction offered to help. He also said he is going to give me a drawing of a model of what we can build. Since tonite I am supposed to get hit with that hurricane we are waiting till tomorrow to go to Home Depot (after school of course) and we will probably build it on Friday or Saturday. I cant wait. Oh, and BTW, I dont drive, yet. A ton of kids in my grade are going to be soon, my parents want me to wait a few years. Thanks guys!
-----
My Savannah Monitor Jango's Statistics:

Size: 20"
Weight: 2 pounds
Ambient Temps: 92 degrees
Bask Spot Temps: 120 degrees
Night time Temps: 75 degrees
Diet: Thawed 3 inch mice and other meat products
Tank: 40 gallon breeder (switching to 6x3x3 hopefully this wkd)
Age: 14 Months (his size is small for his age but he is starting to catch up shedding at 2 times a month!)

No boidae? There are some people missing the concept. Outlaw killer sand boas! Argh! It's got the dog!

Because now somebody is taking the step to keep track of the law abiding citizen and what they do not the individual who miss treats abuses animals, because they will get the animal and no permit etc, after all its been tried with dogs, cats, etc almost everywhere but does nothing for anyone.

" As well as my rescue attempts."
1)theres that word rescue again, really makes me feel bad for someone who actually does rescue them(ie takes them from a a bad situation and raises care for get medical help and treatment for and allows for life events).

" But the idea of a signed contract if you give up the animal is fascist."
2)The best way Ive ever come up with to teach parents (in the modern US) to teach responsibility to their kids, hit them in their wallets (where it counts but give the money to a good cause)and make them responsible for what their kids do.

" There are always reasons behind giving up animals. I would prefer to see a reptile with a chance for a proper life than someone kill thier pet out of lack of proper conditions."
3)Yes there are, but parents should be responsible for their kids buying and caring for any animals, after all its part of being parents teaching responibility to your kids, but nowadays nobody takes responibility for themselves they want to blame someone else all of the time.

"I would rather see a license instated based on tests taken for different levels of reptiles keeping."

4) How would you test or set a basis for a test on keeping or caring for reptiles? You obviously dont realize that book knowledge has nothing to do with caring for the animal. I did the same as you say you did ass far as research etc only for years before you, most of us have. The books on reptile husbandry in most cases are junk, so I guess then you suggest these authors set us up to standards huh?

" This would deter impulse buying of that little green lizard on that carpet with a heat rock." Also pressing people to study what they are keeping."
5) Impulse buying detered huh? I helped a friend with an exotic reptile petshop on my own time, and the best way was to only sell animals to adults, except feeder goldfish, or crickets. And no if you license people they will still do the same, besides licensing would prevent a minor from keeping or caring for an animal, hmmm, think about it, legally youd have to be 18 to sign up to be responible for yourself.

.
"But it will never happen. Nobody listens to a teenager when they speak or rally. It is just a bunch of dumb kids. I have tried letters hours on the phones I cannot even change the laws of my province so I can keep anything in the family Bodaie."
6)Your limited views on these subjects and letters so called rally crys will only cause problems for responsible owners because you dont understand the full scope of your suggestions, in several years see how your views change and your life, your 19 do you know what you will be doing next year or next week? No you dont...

"I would like to thank everyone for the info I have been getting for my white throat. I think he will start getting more rodents in his diet. Does anyone feed chicks to thier larger monitors"

7) Yes Ive fed chicks to my large monitors since you were 7 years old, and albigs love eating birds, but you should have known that in all of your extensive research, just one example.