Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am housing my 2 mo. old Asian Water Monitor on a substrate of 50% potting soil, 25% play sand, and 25% Vermiculite (same mixture as Pro Exotics). When he eats, he does your typical monitor thing and takes the thawed pinkie and shakes it and rips at it before swallowing it. In the meantime, the pinkie becomes dusted in the substrate, and the monitor ends up swallowing the substrate that sticks to the pinkie. Can this harm him? Do they have a resistence to this?

Yes substrate can cause harm. It depends on the situation and the substrate.

If your potting soil is laced with something like pestacides, fertilizers etc. then it could harm him.

If your thinking oh no he ate some leaves or dirt etc. will he be ok? Yes, in the wild they do not have a waiter to hold there food or set it on a clean plate. Some species eat dirt to better their health. For instance the macaw eats high amounts of clay. They do this to help protect themselves from poisons etc..

Ok getting off topic, anyways your little one should be fine. They will digest and pass most anything if conditions are right.

I think my two actually prefer their food items covered in dirt. LOL!! I used to put their food in a bowl, but find they react better when I just leave it on the dirt for them. As Jody said, a healthy monitor will pass just about anything, BUT, I would be a little concerned about the vermiculite only because if it expands when it gets wet, this could cause problems. Honestly, I don't know what kind of expansion properties, if any, vermiculite has, but that would be my main concern. Also, Frank has stated that most (all?) play sand is crushed rock and so has very small sharp edges as opposed to natural beach sand which has been worn smooth by natural wave action. Just some things to think about..... Billy

>>I am housing my 2 mo. old Asian Water Monitor on a substrate of 50% potting soil, 25% play sand, and 25% Vermiculite (same mixture as Pro Exotics). When he eats, he does your typical monitor thing and takes the thawed pinkie and shakes it and rips at it before swallowing it. In the meantime, the pinkie becomes dusted in the substrate, and the monitor ends up swallowing the substrate that sticks to the pinkie. Can this harm him? Do they have a resistence to this?