Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

Just a brief poll of sorts. Even with the interesting information contained in Bennett's new book about Savannah Monitors (which seems to indicate they eat more insects than anything), how many of you Savannah owners out there feed a soley insect-based diet, how many feed insects with rodents, and how many feed rodents exclusively.

Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper Lincoln Park Zoo
Small Mammal/Reptile House
Chicago, IL
Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center
at Elewa Farm
City of Lake Forest, IL

surely the cost of feeding a sav exclusively insects would be just a tad on the steep side.
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see yah laterz people
jason

hello, i adopted out my sav because of all the time i have been putting into my breeding projects.

we fed f/t adult mice consistently. the problem i believe with obesity in most people's savs is not rodents, but husbandry, thermal gradients, etc. if the temps are right, then everything else flows.

andrew
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VARANUS CREATIONS

Breeders and Hobbyists of Kimberly Rock Monitors, Red Ackies, Argus, Argus x Flavi crosses, Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Argus x Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Bredl's Pythons, Dunn's Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, South American Boas, Atheris Squamiger, Leopard Geckos and rare Spiders.

Andrew,

I agree with you in regards to feeding the rodent-based diet. I believe as long as thermal gradients are present in the right ranges and ample opportunities exist for exercise rodent-based diets won't cause obesity, also provided the owner doesn't over feed the animal. We have a Black Throat at the education center that is over two years old and has had exclusively rodents and chicks. He's not obese and we attribute that to proper gradients and the exercise that comes with his being used regularly in educational programs. Also at the zoo we house three species of monitors (Nile, Blue Tail, and Black Tree), all of which have a largely rodent-based diet. None of them exhibit signs of obesity and in fact our Black Trees have successfully bred for us, making us one of now only 6 other zoos to have had success in breeding Black Tree Monitors.

Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper
Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago, IL
Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at
Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

oh, and i think i would say i do this as compared to an insect only because: it works and that is what counts for us as breeders or hobbyists. sure, i can try and go out and match wild diets, but it does not matter. they are not any better off with a varied diet or with one that is simply proven. and that is proven.

andrew
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VARANUS CREATIONS

Breeders and Hobbyists of Kimberly Rock Monitors, Red Ackies, Argus, Argus x Flavi crosses, Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Argus x Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Bredl's Pythons, Dunn's Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, South American Boas, Atheris Squamiger, Leopard Geckos and rare Spiders.

I STILL haven't found a uk savannah breeder so this is all just academic to me but I'm still interested. My thoughts are that although nutritionally speaking a varied diet is not proven to be any better than an exclusively rodent diet, would a varied diet be beneficial in other ways? I've read a few caresheets that say the exercise of chasing live insects is beneficial. Most seem to say that it helps prevent obesity but i'm thinking that since obesity can be prevented by a carefully regulated diet and proper temps it isn't necessary to make them run around as well. But then would the extra exercise help with the general health of the animal? Presumably not being obese doesn't necesarily mean that the monitor is healthy. This makes me think of my two housemates. One is overweight and one is as thin as a pencil but neither gets much exercise and neither is particularly healthy. Also would a varied diet provide a more interesting life? I like to give my bearded dragons a variety of insects and veg just so they don't get bored of eating the same thing, although I feed crickets and collard greens as a staple.
Finally I'd like to say that these are just some thoughts and questions and I don't intend any of it to appear critical, especialy since you are an experienced breeder and I'm just some guy. Thanks.

ps. If this stuff has already been discussed, please could you point me to the relevant posts. Thanks again.

In a week or 2.