Bosc care?

[B&WTegu&Beardies]

Sometimes when I am bored I research an animals care, so I searched Bosc/Savannah monitor care whilst reading a couple of different caresheets they seemed to conflict on advice like, feed rodents as stable diet, feed insects as a stable diet, no uvb, uvb is a must! I am quessing they mean if you fed a diet of rodents and vitamin and calcium supplements you wouldn't need uvb, there is still a risk of mbd though?? Their diurnal, basking lizards right, don't they need uvb then..? And wouldn't a diet of snails, different types of insects and the occassional rodent be more natural? (Ofcourse with the vitamin and calcium supplements)

I am just confused, if I had one I would have uvb!

Curty.

[linda.t]

found this hope it helps

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizar...-want-sav.html

[B&WTegu&Beardies]

Ahh thanks, I think I started reading that thread before but I must of been interupted because I don't recall reading the rest!

Curty.

[luke123]

lol funnily enough i was too xD

[R0NST3R]

Originally Posted by B&WTegu&Beardies

Sometimes when I am bored I research an animals care, so I searched Bosc/Savannah monitor care whilst reading a couple of different caresheets they seemed to conflict on advice like, feed rodents as stable diet, feed insects as a stable diet, no uvb, uvb is a must! I am quessing they mean if you fed a diet of rodents and vitamin and calcium supplements you wouldn't need uvb, there is still a risk of mbd though?? Their diurnal, basking lizards right, don't they need uvb then..? And wouldn't a diet of snails, different types of insects and the occassional rodent be more natural? (Ofcourse with the vitamin and calcium supplements)

I am just confused, if I had one I would have uvb!

Curty.

It's that BIG debate again witht he Monitors and UV. They do not NEED UV but it has been proven that they do better with UV. Things such as more active, better colouring and so on.

As for the diet, to many rodents make a fat Bosc, simple as that. Mine was a bit on the big side but we got onto the insect, snails, odd few rodents diet and the weight came off and made the bosc look more healthy.

[B&WTegu&Beardies]

Originally Posted by R0NST3R

It's that BIG debate again witht he Monitors and UV. They do not NEED UV but it has been proven that they do better with UV. Things such as more active, better colouring and so on.

As for the diet, to many rodents make a fat Bosc, simple as that. Mine was a bit on the big side but we got onto the insect, snails, odd few rodents diet and the weight came off and made the bosc look more healthy.

Thanks for that! Are they prone to obesity or being over weight?

Curty.

[R0NST3R]

I couldn't tell you if they are prone to it. I can tell you mine was on a mainly rodent diet at first but then after a lot more research and help from people on here and repticzone I found that insects was better as a staple. My boscy lost a bit of weight and was a little more active. He's now with some one else due to a £$"$£%^^%% of a landlord, lost more weight is is doing a lot better....

[zukomonitor]

Hi there

I would say that as captives they are definitely prone to being over weight.

People dont always understand their wild situation and often feed them to satiation causing them to rapidly gain weight, while this is rarely a problem in growing boscs its the adults that pay for it.

The UVB issue can be as complicated as anyone wants to make it, but like you said - diurnal animals do best with.... our best attempts at 'immitating' the sun. Thats my view anyway. I give my savs uvb, it is not just down to vit D3, it is also about appetite and behavioral stimulation.

Ive found that when you actually ask many monitor owners do they us UVB they do, but the debate still goes on............

Zuko

[Dextersdad]

Originally Posted by B&WTegu&Beardies

Thanks for that! Are they prone to obesity or being over weight?

Curty.

Yes they can easily get overweight in captivity as they have HUGE appetites and will normally overeat if allowed. They can also be lazy. Too many rodents in their diet I would say is not a good thing. Mine has about a 15-20% rodent diet. The rest are a variety of bugs with the occasional egg as a treat. Costs a lot to feed them live but that's part and parcel of careing for one.

In the wild they do cover a lot of ground whilst looking for food and so the lack of this in captivity can result in them being overweight.

[B&WTegu&Beardies]

Originally Posted by Dextersdad

Yes they can easily get overweight in captivity as they have HUGE appetites and will normally overeat if allowed. They can also be lazy. Too many rodents in their diet I would say is not a good thing. Mine has about a 15-20% rodent diet. The rest are a variety of bugs with the occasional egg as a treat. Costs a lot to feed them live but that's part and parcel of careing for one.

In the wild they do cover a lot of ground whilst looking for food and so the lack of this in captivity can result in them being overweight.

When feeding if you hid their rodent treat or egg treat would they find it like my tegu does?

Curty.