Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Again, what a moused based diet and a year makes. Another example of another species. More to come. FR

Nice mertens whats with the red/orange flecks on the eggs?

Any of my pictures can be used to also show how a base diet of mice works. That is what my monitors are also being fed and raised on. Including my big male dumeril pictured a few threads down.

As the eggs start to hatch, the shell breaks down. That is common with all our larger eggs. We have not had a problem with it, as it only occurs of eggs that hatch. So, for me, its a good thing.

Well Jody, put up the progress pics. If we sit on our thumbs, the theory boys think they win. hahahahahahahaha. Really its not about winning, its simply pointing out something that works, as I say, realiable. It surely doesn't mean its the only way. Just one that works.

What I find so very hard to understand is, why people think its, one way or another. When in fact, its only a direction that can include lots of variation or not. Thats why I call it rodent based.

Yes I have tested strictly mice, as a test. I don't understand why these really smart fellas do not understand that. Just because you test something and it works, does not mean you have to, "only" do that. Is that something they teach in school? you know, theres only one answer to a question, or you will fail. hmmmmmmmmmm good thing I ditched(another nooner) the day they taught that. FR

Hey Frank
What are your thoughts on the "difference" between feeding a base diet of mice vs. a one base diet of rats for lets say, adult 2 year olds (36 inch) argus/flavi monitors? From your experience, what different long term results will they produce? Thanks
RoadSpawn

I raise and feed mice, I have tested mice thru generations of many species. I have fed rats to my crocs at first, but then switched to mice. The only difference I saw was, it took more rat to equal a lesser amount of mouse. But indeed, I only noticed that and did not test it.

So I can assume that rats are OK and will do the same. But I have not tested rats, so its only an assumption.

That goes for many other most likely OK, food items. They are probably fine, but I have not tested them.

Consider, its not my job to test everything, other are perfectly able to do so.

Consider, I offer experience, not assumptions and theories, that some others offer.

The good part is, there is plenty of room left for discovery by all of us. Test it yourself. Poor results are not terminal, you have plenty of time to switch back if you do not like the results. FR

Thanks for the reply.
I've noticed my female has been hiding alot (Flavi/Goulds). This behavior is not "normal" for her, she is usually very active and all over the place. I've also noticed some sort of goo in the water container and small white particles, again not common with them. It leads me to believe she is either cycling or something is wrong with her. What's your opinion on this matter. Thanks
Roadspawn

i've heard that for rudis a mouse only diet can make them fat and they are more insectivorus. have you tried a mouse only diet with these guys? at the moment i feed mine mostly superworms (dusted) and i feed him mice sparingly, should i continue to do this or switch him to mice?
thanks
-jake

She has bred hers many times, and the babies appear to be growing well. I think, but am not sure, she feeds crickets and mice.

I know many people who fed mice to rudis, without problem. Its one of those old wifestails. I have heard it about all species of monitors. Its not the food item that made them fat, it was all around poor husbandry. As I have said a thousand times, rodents are not doughnuts. FR