Monitors & Tegu's

[Whosthedaddy]

Can anyone suggest how much a 6 month old Sav should be eating per day?

I know that monitors have a rep for eating what ever offered and I want to just make sure that I'm not over feeding it already.

When I asked about what the shop was feeding them on the reply was pinkies or fuzzies. Bought a dozen pinkies to be getting on with, however, the way that 'Dave' inhales them without even touching the sides I think the latter would be more appropriate. They are kind of small.

In terms of live food he seemed to like the medium / large locusts and now got some medium brown crickets to try as no large meal worms today. Not as veracious in the strike and the fact that they are damn hard to catch I think it'll be back to locusts next time.

I'm a bit reluctant to leave live food in the viv due to a fear of escapees. So far bar a few, he has taken everything from the hand. When the odd cricket has been declined or escaped from his glare there is no chase for them? This is the other nagging thing in the back of my mind. I thought at this age they should be like a kid high on sugar?

Bearing in mind that the small pinkies = a fuzzy:

Morning:
2 pinkies

Lunch:
1/2 dozen medium / large locusts or the equivalent quantity in other bugs.

Evening:
2 pinkies

[kayshields]

how big can monitors get? could you keep one in a three foor tank?

[ShaneLuvsMonitors]

How bigs your bosc mate? At that age it should still be wolfing down crickets like theres no tomorrow.

You can also try:

cockroaches, GALS, turkey mince, prawns, crayfish, lean cuts of beef, liver,

[ShaneLuvsMonitors]

Originally Posted by kayshields

how big can monitors get? could you keep one in a three foor tank?

Thats a v. broad question and there isnt a single species of monitor i would consider keeping in a 3foot tank...

Monitors range in size from 8" to 10' plus...

[Whosthedaddy]

Originally Posted by ShaneLuvsMonitors

How bigs your bosc mate? At that age it should still be wolfing down crickets like theres no tomorrow.

You can also try:

cockroaches, GALS, turkey mince, prawns, crayfish, lean cuts of beef, liver,

10" maybe?

I like the idea of variety in his diet, another reason as to why i'd like to feed him a few times a day. Helps with interaction and prevents gorging I suppose?

[ShaneLuvsMonitors]

Originally Posted by Whosthedaddy

10" maybe?

I like the idea of variety in his diet, another reason as to why i'd like to feed him a few times a day. Helps with interaction and prevents gorging I suppose?

Well id cut down on the number of pinkies your giving him and maybe swap it to two fluffs twice a week and increase the no of inverts your giving him it should increase his appetite for them and chasing them...

[stainthedane]

Siggy scared the crap out of me today!!!!

Took my darling tegu out to eat, and I look and something about her left eye looks weird... I thought she was keeping it half closed cause she was still sleepy, but no, it looked, like, Swollen!!!! I was so worried!! I'm instantly thinking about calling the vet, and what could it be, etc. until I get up close and i see that it's her bottom eyelid thats "swollen" and her cute little eye is blinking at me underneath it.

She's shedding and no sooner had I put her down, she started scratching at it and the whole flake of the bottom eyelid came off....

Geez, my heart was racing. Lol I was like "What did I do!?! I haven't done anything wrong!!!"

[Chuckwalla]

Picture Time, some of our beauties

[Whosthedaddy]

What was on the menu in the last pic?

Anyone else noticed that monitors have weird markings going from horizontal stripes on the head to spots on the body and vertical bands on the tail? Could they not make up their minds what they wanted?

[Chuckwalla]

Originally Posted by Whosthedaddy

What was on the menu in the last pic?

Anyone else noticed that monitors have weird markings going from horizontal stripes on the head to spots on the body and vertical bands on the tail? Could they not make up their minds what they wanted?

Chicken Breasts mate.