Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey all, i just required a somewhat freshly imported black roughneck monitor. i bet a lot of you are thinking "why?" but because i've always loved roughnecks but never actually kept one and i didn't want it to die...now, my point is...i have gotten it to eat, but not much...a few dozen crickets, and one piece of shrimp. oh, and it took one pinkie mouse..i typically don't like feeding monitors rodents, but it needs to gain some weight so i'm trying to get it to eat anything i can to put some weight on it. i've tried commercial canned foods, meal worms, wax worms, salmon, and just about anything else i could get my hands on...and for the most part seems rather uninterested. now, i have about 7 years experience with various monitors, but i'm just looking for some friendly tips on getting this little guy to eat more and a bigger variety because all it seems primarily interested in are crickets...it's about a 12-14" monitor so keep in mind it's just a tiny baby...any friendly input would be greatly appreciated...

- shane
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Shane

Friendly imput? Geeze, that takes all the fun out of it. Hahaha
Have you tried roaches, buttonquail or fertile quail eggs?
I don't have any rudis "YET" but these all get eaten by my lizards.
Why don't you like using mice? My lizards all claim they taste like chicken.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

i do not like feeding rodents to monitors in general because, in the research i've done, most monitors are rarely eating them, they usually seem to thrive more on egg, inverts, sea food, foul, and other reptiles in the wild...and i just like simulating their natural diets...that doesn't mean i don't give them to them at all, just not often...and yes, i've tried roaches, but no quail or quail eggs...i'll try those, thanks
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Shane

Hi shane,
I enjoyed your reply - my thinking exactly for specialist monitors, like V. rudicollis.

Wild reports show crabs, frogs (rana sp.), and shellfish stomach gut contents. Try those.... cockroaches and insects should spark a feeding response from it too...

Good luck Shane,
mbayless

pretty much all monitors are specialists...but yeah, i see what you're saying. especially monitors like rudicollis, jobiensis, indicus, exanthimaticus(i seem to spell that one wrong off and on so don't laugh if i did), etc...they all seem to be very specialized and people don't realize that and feed them improper diets and end up killing their animals through malnutrition...
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Shane

Hi shane
I have kept black and brown rough's for quite some time, all of my rudi's love crayfish and whole bodied shrimp!I feed these 4-5 times a week.try your local "asian" market you will find some interesting shellfish in a variety of sizes.Small crayfish ect can be found in bait shops.These items are cheap and easy to find!I find my roughnecks absolutely thrive on this diet(I also offer small mice once a week)Rudi's look so cool when eating-just like a bird!Lots of small meals= more fun!
Cheers Ben Aller

Offer small food items. They do not like large prey. Crickets, roaches, and pinky mice, would be my choice. The other thing is to leave your new critter be so it can adjust to being in your cage and around you. An imported monitor takes awhile to adjust to captivity.

My rudi's will eat shell fish, insects, birds, eggs, or rodents. They will not eat any type of fish no matter how hungry they are. They will simply shake there heads in discust.

Also remember if your animal is picky it may not always have to do with the food item. It could be something else worng with the husbandry. Such as dehydration, or stress with a wild caught animal.

alright...i was looking for food items...not talking to me like i'm freakin' 10 years old...i have about 7 years experience with monitors, i've just never had a rudicollis before...you're basically telling me a bunch of crap i already know
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Shane

I never yelled or degraded you. I simply told you what the problems could be and what I feed mine.

Not sure where you had the problem with my reply but if you are that easily offended then maybe you shouldn't ask any questions.

You asked I answered with my opinion is that not what is supposed to be done? Or did you want me to just agree with you and everyone saying oh yes only feed them insects and shellfish cause thats what they eat in the wild. Or was I supposed to say something like mine eat bugs , and rodents. To me that is a very simple answer and anyone can say that. I was trying to help you out but you obviously do not need my help. You obviously posted the question to only get answers you agree with or no answer at all. So i won't bother wasting my time with you then.

Sorry to try and help. Hope your monitor does well for you. But since you have 7 years experience and know so much i am sure it will be fine.

TTFNYFL

i appreciated the dietary aspect of your post, but stating such simple things like "it's an imported monitor so leave it alone" and "could be husbandry"....that's something very basic and rather useless to state
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Shane

How the heck is anyone suppose to know what you know or don't know? You are a stranger!

My guess is that you have been messing with it and you know you shouldn't have. Play nice
-H-

i understand i'm new to this forum, but that doesn't mean you should automatically assume i'm doing stuff to and/or with my lizards that i shouldn't. i'm not saying i'm the most experienced keeper, but i definitely know that when you purchase a freshly imported monitor you shouldn't handle it until it is an established animal. as for the other replies, i understand and agree with what you are saying...and i agree and apologize for any offense...and holly, don't automatically assume bad husbandry just because i've never posted here before
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Shane

This forum is supposed to be a happy place where monitor lovers can share ideas, help each other out, and guide people who are "new" to reptiles & cultivate their interest.

I think we should all attempt to be polite, informative, and non-judgemental, and not rude here.

Thanks!
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Zsa-Zsu and Corny the Corn Snake
and Monaco the Argentine B&W Tegu
and Meanie the Black Throat Monitor

Hahahaha, Listen, I only say that because most new monitors are messed with to an extent, you can’t help but mess with it. A lot of people I know on the forum (not me) have lost eggs from messing with them, (I’ve never even had eggs!) even though they KNOW they shouldn't have, it’s human nature. -*Try and fight the dark side*- I would have to say from what I have heard it's common. Don’t let me around a baby monitor, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a baby, it would be sooooo hard not to mess with it, hoping everything was alright... Well, I have at LEAST 16 more month before I can get (support) anymore monitors.

You have a mangrove too right? We have something in common I look forward to seeing pics, ( I love pics) hehe
Goodluck with yours! -H-

Many posters are new or need the basics. I dont think he was questioning your experience, rather throwing additional info out to anyone who reads it. Other people will read the post and get information out of his explaination, what you think is basic is not to others.

Also i get my monitors to eat fish by heating it up first and serving it warm, they dont seem to like cold at first (might work for you, might not). I use really shallow water tubs that the fish make waves in so the monitors see the movements easy (live fish). Fish must not be a large instinctual food for monitors, im not saying fish is better or worse then other food sources, but fish generaly is better for most living things then mammals. I like the fish because the monitors have to sort of hunt the fish, they spend time and energy trying to catch them (i think thats a good thing) and dont get banged up like going after rodents (which i serve live).

I was about to type pretty much the same thing.
Alot of newbies will read trying to find the answers to their question from other peoples post because they are afraid they will sound stupid if they ask a simple question.
I am interested in rudis and find Jody's post most helpful.
Now if he will just come up and add on to my house so I can fit more lizards in it. I might get some sooner.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.