Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, I recieved my Savannah Monitor back in May and I've asked other people I know who keep these guys as well... For a while he was doing really well eating Superworms, crickets...etc.. Then he steadily decided he didn't want anymore insects and just wanted the rat pinks I give him...Some say its normal.. some say it isn't for them to do this.. I'm looking more for opinions.. He's about 12 or 13 inches.. hard to get an accurate measurement of him at this stage.. and thats up from 8 inches in May... In a 5x4x2 enclosure.,. basking spot 125 or so.. ambient about 84.. cool end around 75.. night temps and substrate temps kept by an undertank heater and bask during the day by a Halogen bulb.. His fecal came back clean of parasites.. His other favorite food right now.. is strips of beef though he gets at least one rat pink.. 1 day or 2 old.. every day since he seems to be growing quite well on them.

Once they get a taste for mice,crickets are no good.It's like being offered a fastfood burger that runs away from you or getting a NY strip steak that lays there.Which do you think you would take?All of my monitors completely refused insects after a couple times of rodent feeding.It's better for them anyway.Good luck.

I disagree to this. I've fed my sav plenty of mice, always whole prey, never beef strips. Im still feeding it a lot of grashoppers, crickets, roaches, snails and much more. So far, it have never refused a meal. It just nessasery to keep feedig it insects, and make sure that they are allways a bit hungry. A monitor is supposed to be hungry. Not starving, but still allways hungry for just one more cricket. Mine is, and its not skin and bones
When a reptile is refusing a free meal, its simply because it knows, that its dumb keeper will offer it something more interesting, but rarely better.
Try let go without rodents and beef for a week if nessesery and keep offering it some insects it will have to chase down. BTW, dont feed a sav beef, there is way to much fat in it.

>>Once they get a taste for mice,crickets are no good.It's like being offered a fastfood burger that runs away from you or getting a NY strip steak that lays there.Which do you think you would take?All of my monitors completely refused insects after a couple times of rodent feeding.It's better for them anyway.Good luck.
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Thank you for both of your replies and opinions.... As I said, I've seen both arguements presented....and in my experience, because I have tried to outwait Kiros on the insects issue and it just didn't work.... He refused all food for like 4 days straight until I gave him a rat pinkie....The beef was something just to vary his diet.. once or twice a week... not a staple by any means... And he loves it.. I've tried chicken and turkey and he turns his nose up on it.... So... I guess, on this issue, I'll have to see what works...and so far it has been....he's growing well.. He may eventually take larger insects again.. then again he may not.. Only time will tell...

BRG was correct on saying what he did. Many breeders feed, and have fed rodent based diets for years now with much success. Believe me man, I used to be an insect feeder. I used to argue hard and long on the topic, but through eventually having an open mind, I gradually began doing what the experts advised, and started seeing positive results in my animals overall conditions. Rodents are where its at. Ive been keeping monitors for well over 5 years now. Boscs, BT's, Niles, Waters, Dumerils, Timors, Mangroves and Ackies. Im no expert, but I've learned what I know, through trial and error.-And a lot of time at this forum getting ideas and viewpoints.

Rgrds,
Michelle

I've heard alot on both the diets.. I personally, do prefer a rodent diet.. not only for the health of the animal but also for ease of feeding. Not to mention, as I breed my own rodents, I know what he's getting as food and that he has a completely nutritious diet...

Im not all against a rodent based diet, however I think its important NOT to exclude insect from the diet. I see no harm in feeding rodents, as I also do that myself, but never strips off beef, chicken and turkey. These subjects should be last resort, if you dont have anything elso to feed the little critter. And who dont have a bag of mousecikels in their fridge?

You do not disagree in this point of view?

Im not an expert on monitors at all, I got my litte bosc this year, so this is my first monitor ever, but Im not a total herp newbie. Ive kept retiles for over ten years. However im suprised that people dont read anything about them, before buying one.

>>BRG was correct on saying what he did. Many breeders feed, and have fed rodent based diets for years now with much success. Believe me man, I used to be an insect feeder. I used to argue hard and long on the topic, but through eventually having an open mind, I gradually began doing what the experts advised, and started seeing positive results in my animals overall conditions. Rodents are where its at. Ive been keeping monitors for well over 5 years now. Boscs, BT's, Niles, Waters, Dumerils, Timors, Mangroves and Ackies. Im no expert, but I've learned what I know, through trial and error.-And a lot of time at this forum getting ideas and viewpoints.
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>>Rgrds,
>>Michelle
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