Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am trying to find different foods for a mangrove monitor.

After reading several articles that stated that "wild" mangroves consume many different types of animals as food, which include rabs. I can't get live insects because I live on Guam and all of the places that I e-mailed wouldn't send fozen mice here either. So right now I am raising mice for feeders. But I want to add varity to my monitors diet. I always see small hermit crabs at the beach here. Would it be ok to feed these to my monitor. I could gut load.

Also is it ok to feed my monitor, skinks and geckos that I find around my house? I heard that freezing can kill parasites. Maybe I could freeze them for a few days before giving thwem to my monitor.

Hi Guamturtle,

You can feed your mangrove crabs or anything else on the island you find there, as any and everything you find alive there is food for V. indicus. A 1966 report tells of piglets being taken away squealing into the night like a 'night-monster' had taken a maiden!

I would surely love to learn more about the V. indicus on Guam presently - how many do you think there are there? The only book I know that speaks of V. indicus in Guam/Pacific is Michael McCoy's 'Reptiles of the Solomons' which can still be purchased for I think $5 - $7 from Wau Institute, Bishop Museum, Hawaii. It is an excellent little book.

I am writing a in-depth article about V> indicus, and if you would like to share materials with me on them, I will share what I have, which is considerable material, going back to 1940's when V. indicus was brought to Guam by Japanese Imperial Army for rodent control (of their primary food protection: rice, and Saki).

Cheers,
mark bayless

Sure I'll share the info that I have on the mangrove monitors here on Guam. What kind of info are you looking for? Pics? I sent you an e-mail through KS.

joe