Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, so it's pretty well common knowledge that many, or most, Varanid species are highly opportunistic feeders, therefore their captive diet can (and probably should) be highly varied with/for success. I've been looking but haven't yet found any really relevant discussions relating to how much of a percentage of a Varanid's (talking medium to large sized species here) diet should be comprised of whole prey items and how much can consist of "bulk foods" like ground turkey, eggs, insects, etc. So, for you folks who have kept monitors for some time or at least know a bit relating to my inquiry, what have you used with success? It seems like for many adult monitors, a feeding regimin of 3 to 4 times per week is suitable, but of those feedings, how much non-whole foods do you use compared to whole animals? And when feeding whole animals, do you tend to use mice, rats, chicks, rabbits, etc., or do you tend to stick with one or two types only? I look forward to your replies.
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

Seems your clumping two different things into one.

"Varanid species are highly opportunistic feeders, therefore their captive diet can (and probably should) be highly varied with/for success."

To me then your saying they are opportunistic to make up for nutritional value of prey. Such as a humans diet of needing this or this to compliment this or that. You should be thinking of it more in a wild perspective. Does a lion eat a zebra one day and a wildabeast the next to vary his diet? Does this then offer nutritional importance for him? NO

There is no need to add ground turkey, etc. into the diet. However there is a need for whole prey items. There is a reason they made suppliments and it has little to nothing to do with whole prey items, mice, rats, chicks, etc.. It however does have a big role to play with ground turkey or other prepared diets.

As for a feeding schedule I would prefer noone thought in that manner. The schedule should revolve around the individual animal at hand, not about my animals or some numbers on a caresheet.

I want to repeat what Jody said. I don't just want to say, ditto of what Jody said, But, instead repeat it, plus.

Whole food items have shown great success. One type of whole food item, such as mice or rats(healthy ones) have shown great success as a sole diet. With a whole food diet, their is no "need" to suppliment. That understood, you can add or feed all sorts of things, if you have a solid understanding of a whole prey diet to start with. As an example, I have a female monitor that is going on its 59th clutch. Her diet has been mice, period. What that means is, no other diet of any kind as supported that in any kind of monitor.

A varied diet in nature is merely because they eat what they find, but I will guarantee that if a wild monitor finds a mouse house, it will exploit it until its gone.

About feeding schedules, a set schedule has nothing to do with how reptiles work. A set schedule is a product of man and how he eats. Not how or why monitors eat.

Monitors feed to support tasks, like exsistence, growing, reproducing, etc. Monitors are different then mammals because they do not maintain a constant level of metabolism. Therefore, they do not feed on a consistant schedule. They feed on a task generated schedule.

Feeding monitors is a bit like dancing. They lead, you follow and support. But remember, they lead. Consider, your support allows them to take a step, then you follow. Good luck FR

Is there any calcium in the shell of shellfish? Should this be a regular practice if convinient? Suplemented or not?

I now adhere to the whole food diet that has been discussed so many times but do wonder about crayfish, shrimp, and other crusteations that are sapossedly a large part of the diet in the wild. Any help would be great? thanks Dan