Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I added madagascar hissers to my roaches diet of small rats about 1.5 years ago. I started my own colony and he would get large roaches about 2-3" every other day and rats twice a week. he is about 4 feet and resides in a 8wx8hx3w cage. Just recently he has stopped taking roaches as well as he used to. I can hold on in front of him and it will take him about 3-5 minutes to decide if he wants it or not. He still has a strong feeding reaction to rats and mice. Is there a way to get him back on roaches? I know monitors love them. I feed by grabbing one by the legs with a set of forceps and offering to him that way. Since he has stopped eating, my colony is exploding. I will need to get a bigger container if he doesnt start back soon, or start giving them away. Does anyone have any idea what to do?

Thanks

It seems there are only certain food items that monitors will eat ALL the time. Roaches don't seem to be one of those. I would change it up, offer other stuff for awhile and then go back to roaches.

Should I try a feeding bowl? Does anyone have schematics for an escape proof feeding bowl for monitors to eat out of?

Thank again

I have dubia roaches, I put them in a large tub and let the Savs chase them, I think the chase gets them more into the food source, plus its some exercise for the lazy bum!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

Dubias are a non-climbing species. Hissers can climb glass/plastic/etc. I think a large tub with oil on the sides will work. Does anyone have any better ideas?

I feed dubia roaches to my savs. I put about 40 small ones in a sweater box and he climbs in and eats them.

By they way you can sell some of those roaches to the mom and pop pet stores sometimes. Or better yet buy another monitor to help eat them. I would do the later for myself. I would not give the roaches away sell them.

I tried making a deal with my local pet store folks, they didnt seem to like the idea of roaches. I am still trying to talk them into it.

I really dont have enough room for another monitor. Unless I could put it in the same cage, but I dont think the current tenant would enjoy that.

Thoughts?

Are you sure his temps are ok? Mine have not refused them so far knock on wood.

140 basking, 80-90 hot, 70-75 cold. He takes mice fine, so I dont think its the temps. Gonna try the feeding bowl and let him chow at his leisure.

i recently added another sav (friend moving couldn't take him with her) and they have been fine, but the cage was already huge for the first one

as for leftover roaches, once in a while mine overgrow what i need, i will sell a few "starter colony's" on craigslist!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

How big was your first Sav and how big is the cage? I have a 8' wide by 8' tall by 3' wide for a 4' male sav. I would need to another bank of lights for a second basking spot and more hide spots. I dont think my cage is big enough, right?

You could drop them out of the diet for a while, that could generate new interest. Giant hissers are slow breeders, so you shouldn't get overrun...

We do use a feeding bowl for roaches. Just a regular 10 inch crock, with our Bug Stop on the sides. Keeps everyone in place. Bug Stop is available in the Supplies and Cleaning classifieds here.

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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

Is bug-stop toxic to the lizard? I can see his face getting in it as he grabs the roaches

>> Giant hissers are slow breeders, so you shouldn't get overrun...

For what it is worth, I have found my hissers to be extremely prolific breeders, and as long as I feed them, keep them warm, and remember to water them I literally cannot feed them off fast enough. This means, of course, that I need more monitors to help me keep the roaches down . (This is me looking forward very eagerly to getting my car paid off, so I can afford to expand my collection a bit).

Luke

One more thing about feeding technique. Is it better to provide 3 or 4 roaches in the bowl when you know the lizard is going to eat them, or is it better just to leave them in the bowl and let him snack at his leisure...replenishing whenever the stock gets low?