Sardines?

[Skits]

Can a water monitor eat sardines? I just got my water monitor a couple of days ago and I got him a pack of large fresh sardines, wanted to know if he could have some. :yes:

[murrindindi]

Hi, if the sardines are whole (including the head and guts) then yes, he/she can have them.
Can you give some details of how you`re keeping the monitor and put a few photos up? Thanks!

[Pirarucu]

Yes, he can eat sardines as long as they don't have any preservatives or other chemicals on them. I also would like to see his enclosure.

[Skits]

Alright awesome. I have tanks in the way of most of the enclosure at the moment as we're building new tanks in the room right now, but as soon as it's done, I'll have some pictures up. Right now he's in a 6x2, which I know he will outgrow soon. The monitor in question is only about a year old (maybe two) and only about 2 and a half feet right now. He has a basking temperature of about 110, and a UVB light (10.0). He has a large water bowl which he LOVES, I'm planning on finding him something larger. He has soil substrate mixed with eco-earth. I'm definitely going to have some pictures, I want any constructive criticism I can get. I have a very hard time finding information on these monitors, so far I'm going with what I've researched on their natural habitat, and the few websites I've read off of. In a couple of months, we'll be building his permanent enclosure which will be much better.

If anyone has any tips, please feel free to put me in the right direction of care. :)

[murrindindi]

Hi again, you need to raise the basking surface temps, I recommend a range between approx. 50 to 60c (120 to 140f). The lowest ambient (air) temp should be around 24c (75f). If this is a female the substrate needs to be heated to between approx. 26 to 30c (78 to 86f), the lower figure being deeper down.
You need to feed whole prey only, no lean meats/turkey mixes, etc.
The water needs to be heated to the low 80`s to 90f (approx. 28 to 32c) as they may spend extended periods in there, sometimes overnight (it does not mean they are necessarily dehydrated if they do that).
The is absolutely no doubt that captive Varanids kept under supportive conditions do not need exposure to real or artificial UVB to remain in good health, long lived and productive, though there`s no evidence to suggest it`s harmful (if artificial, used according to the manufacturers instructions).
If this monitor is 2 years old it`s very small, likely due to the previous poor husbandry (if it`s only one year still a touch on the small side but not badly so), again it depends on the previous conditions.

[Skits]

Thanks a lot for the tips, they're very useful. It's not easy finding good information online. I'll add a second light in his enclosure to keep the temps hotter. I found out he loves being underwater when I thought he drowned himself in his bowl, haha. He definitely loves it in there. He ate half of a whole sardine which is awesome! I'll stop feeding him any other leans. Can he still have eggs? What other whole animals can he have?

He was left in a petstore when I got him. No idea on how he was kept before, age, anything. The guy simply didn't want him anymore because he was getting too big. He was originally not for sale, but after talking with one of the workers for a while, he decided he could let him go with us, we paid him 60$. I knew exactly what I was getting into, and will definitely have the space for a lizard this big. I estimated his age on his size really, but he seems very healthy and decently tamed which is awesome. I don't think he was in such bad conditions previously.

[murrindindi]

You can feed inverts such as roaches, crickets/similar if the monitor will take them (mine would never touch any). Whole prawns, shrimp, either fresh or saltwater fish, rodents (f/t or f/k), chicks, fertilised eggs (quail eggs are a decent size for a sub adult), I buy them on Ebay here in the U.K, not sure if they do that in America?
A diet based on fish and rodents works very well in my experience.
You can`t really estimate age with size because obviously it depends on how well the animal was supported previously.
Photos should help whenever you can get a few up!

[formica]

I feed my Sav Sprats sometimes,he absolutely loves them! much cheaper than sardines, i got a kilo for £1.5 the other day, even at the supermarket they are only about £3 a kg fresh :)


re chicken - are there are any reasons why chicken cannot be fed occasionally? I have a big box of frozen chicken parts, including legs, thighs, kidneys, livers, and various other offal parts from a range of animals, none of which will probably ever be eaten by me (except maybe the thighs), I was hoping I could slowly get thru it by feeding it to my Sav as supplement to his whole prey diet...but if there is something about chicken which makes it an issue, then i wont...? I do understand that simple chicken flesh does not contain the balance of nutrients required, thats not wot i'm asking about.

[Toothless]

I feed my Sav Sprats sometimes,he absolutely loves them! much cheaper than sardines, i got a kilo for £1.5 the other day, even at the supermarket they are only about £3 a kg fresh :)


re chicken - are there are any reasons why chicken cannot be fed occasionally? I have a big box of frozen chicken parts, including legs, thighs, kidneys, livers, and various other offal parts from a range of animals, none of which will probably ever be eaten by me (except maybe the thighs), I was hoping I could slowly get thru it by feeding it to my Sav as supplement to his whole prey diet...but if there is something about chicken which makes it an issue, then i wont...? I do understand that simple chicken flesh does not contain the balance of nutrients required, thats not wot i'm asking about.
I personally dont, just because I don't have any, but I don't see a problem with giving some occasionally as a treat.

[Skits]

Hi, thanks for the replies. They're helpful :) I'll definitely try adding variety into his diet using the things said to feed him.

Here are some pictures of the little guy. I'll have some of the enclosure soon enough. These are from the first day we got him, I'll put recent ones in a minute. Also I realize the holes in the wall of his enclosure are extremely inefficient. I'll be replacing them once I can get a full reach of the entire enclosure (this weekend)

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/988753_10151895019789471_1995253396_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1000370_10151895019814471_1965804893_n.jpg
https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1012878_10151895019994471_1812951479_n.jpg
https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1454728_10151895019964471_1224927971_n.jpg

Edit:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/988755_10151930459094471_1534353794_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1453502_10151930459134471_1410564337_n.jpg

[formica]

great looking monitor :)

if that wall is MDF, you need to seal it with varnish asap, MDF is full of chemicals which wont do your monitor (or you) any good (including things like formaldehyde and some nasty VOC's, the concentration of those chems released is considered to be unsafe...its not a case of being extra cautious)