WHat do u think of this???

[LORI34205]

I was told this could be a likely reason as to why my juvenile savannah(15 inches)is an *******,i dont know why it makes sense but i havent gave him crickets in a while and he is quite unhandlable without his leash(and that takes 20 minutes to put on the struggling *******.



"Crickets or mealworms are offered 4 days a week, crawler mice (thawed) are offered once a week (typically two to three crawlers per animal), and turkey is offered once a week as well. We strongly encourage folks to feed meat no more than twice a week. Crickets should make up the bulk of a baby monitors diet, and the animal will grow terrifically if fed on supplemented crickets alone.

Meats are offered for additional protein and calories, but you must keep in mind that these are small babies, and as such have small digestive systems. Loading them down with too much meat will not only encourage compaction and digestion problems, but it will act like monitor steroids on these guys, and you will then have an aggressive terror on your hands. Many customers have called to ask about the aggressiveness of their new baby, and more often than not, it is the case that they simply enjoy watching their animal chase and eat the mice, and they have been feeding nearly an all meat diet. When switched back to a cricket based diet, these same animals return to their predictable, tractable selves, within a few weeks. Raise a terrific baby, not a holy terror, follow our recommended diet."

[chuck911jeep]

First of all, if you want a tame monitor, never feed him with live prey. Second, never let him associate you as a food source. It work for me..

[LORI34205]

i dont feed live.

[V.hb]

I really find it disturbing you refer to your monitor as a *******.. I mean really, its a lizard not a puppy dog... Find someone in your area that speacializes in lizards and give it to them... I dont see why you leesh this animal either, to show it off?? these are not display animals for your whole neighborhood, they're meant for you and you only and of course those that wish to come into your home or property and view!

Depriving your animal of food of course will slow him down, but why would you want to do that? my main recommendation to you use continue a varied diet, much like the one described above and continue handling your animal. If he will eat, and you handle him you obviously dont scare him that much. so continue handling. Make it easier on yourself, grab a pair of welding gloves and use them for handling.. best of luck to you.

[Steeve B]

Lorie I mean no offence but this is total nonsense! About the feeding, monitor aggressive behaviour is almost never related to food type, to my knowledge only heat and breeding (teritorial) can do so. In any case I thing I read something as ridiculous on PE care sheets, if this was the case then many zoo animals who’d have a diet change, then wed be concerned about the animals natural behaviour, I can see it coming, Tiger attacks keeper because he was fed red meat. Do you see just how ridiculous this is? We are lucky to be able to handle such predators as monitors, why on earth who’d we whant them to become something else?

handling your monitor is ok unless he stops feeding, him struggling is a sure indication that he doesn’t like the treatment STOP, be thankful he doesn’t turn and bite you, perhaps you shod re-evaluate the situation, putting monitors on leash isn’t to walk him like a dog, its only a way to prevent an escape, sure if you pulled him a few times aim quit certain he who dent like the leash. Same goes if you just tie him to a tree or something, he will not understand why he’s restrained, and will rapidly hate the leash.
The most successful monitors on leash that I know of, are never walked but simply harnessed and carried in arms, these monitors don’t bother about the leash as it never offended them, even zoos putt large monitors on leash as a safety precaution, bravo for doing so with your animal.
Rgds

[LORI34205]

Well vhb i dont remember saying that i walk him around with his leash, i put the leash on him so i can take him out of his cage,not so i can walk him!And he can be a little bastad at times,i will call my animal what i want.I put the leash on him so he does not escape me,hes a fast little bugger

[LORI34205]

this is the part that intrested me

Many customers have called to ask about the aggressiveness of their new baby, and more often than not, it is the case that they simply enjoy watching their animal chase and eat the mice, and they have been feeding nearly an all meat diet. When switched back to a cricket based diet, these same animals return to their predictable, tractable selves, within a few weeks. Raise a terrific baby, not a holy terror, follow our recommended diet.

[LORI34205]

I love that monitor in your avatar!!

[V.hb]

LORI as steve said, heat and breeding are really the only stimuli's for aggressiveness. Sorry I dont understand the whole leash concept anyway you use one but if it works, i guess its ok.

Keep your sav on a diet of crickets, worms, and rodents.. continue to handle him, and don't hand feed mice.

[LadyHawke]

a varied diet in any monitor's feeding is the best as their wild counterparts are opportunistic feeders
thats how i feed all my monitors, and i have 2 savannahs that will eat a stunned prey item (a few times a week, along with other items) and have never had any aggressive behaviours....and i have a small and a large one and both are quite handleable, in fact i have never been bitten by either, let alone they never try
i also had a asian water monitor (about 18 inches) and he ate live, and was the most docile monitor i ever had

[Steeve B]

That’s the part aim talking about, meat=protein protein=energy an energy deficient diet result in anaemia, varanids are good at conserving energy, even an adult wild Niloticus will not defend when very cold or when energy is too important to waste. Also IV tried breeding varanids on insect alone; they failed, indicating a lack of nutrients. Even leopard gecko breeders have better breeding when supplying some rodents to the diet.

You know aim not judging you in any way; all aim saying is who ever wroth this statement is really off track and shod not give advising in this sense.

Rgds

[LORI34205]

Jdouglass

hes on ssnakess.com directed me to it