Raw meat

[reptile man]

I know its a touchie subject but i dont see any thing wrong ihave seen big healthy monitors that are fed raw meat that are 13yrs+

[BryanB]

I don't see anything wrong with bringing them road kill but I know nothing about captive monitor diet.

[War Machine]

The question is why?

Raw meat isn't whole prey, they aren't receiving the calcium, and other prime nutrients from whole prey. Bones, and structure of a rodent (or alike) offer much more then a preserved piece of meat.

And thats not even touching the chemical aspect of it.

You're just creating more work for yourself, and wasting more money.

[BryanB]

The question is why?

Raw meat isn't whole prey, they aren't receiving the calcium, and other prime nutrients from whole prey. Bones, and structure of a rodent (or alike) offer much more then a preserved piece of meat.

And thats not even touching the chemical aspect of it.

You're just creating more work for yourself, and wasting more money.

So would road kill work? Just asking I have no desire "right now" to own a monitor lizard

[War Machine]

So would road kill work? Just asking I have no desire "right now" to own a monitor lizard

Would it work? Yes, to keep the animal alive, but thats about it.

You have no idea what the animal was exposed to, its just a "flight risk".

If you can't afford to feed the Varanid properly, and efficiently, you should not have Purchased the Monitor. Same goes for any animal really.

[BryanB]

I agree. I was just interested in the possibility.

[EmbraceCalamity]

So would road kill work? Just asking I have no desire "right now" to own a monitor lizardI know nothing about monitors, but that sounds like a bad idea. How would you know what's in the body? What if it had been shot before it died and there's a bullet in there? What if it was sick with a serious disease? What if it had an infection? What if it had ingested toxins from pollution? What if it had eaten some inorganic matter like bits of plastic?

~Maggot

[BryanB]

I feel the need to state this is something I would not do and was just curios my animals eat better than I do.

[infernalis]

I won't lie... as long as you are providing a varied diet, with LOTS of whole prey, a few venison strips, Chicken giblets or a cut up squirrel are not going to cause harm.

Now if you try and provide this as the PRIMARY diet staple, there will be problems down the line.

[dinosaurdammit]

I won't lie... as long as you are providing a varied diet, with LOTS of whole prey, a few venison strips, Chicken giblets or a cut up squirrel are not going to cause harm.

Now if you try and provide this as the PRIMARY diet staple, there will be problems down the line.

THIS


also it doesnt hurt to give them small bone items like goat knuckles- at least in my dealings. Its got the bone, the cartilage, some tendon and meat all on it. Granted its a rare treat but he sure does love some goat knuckles. I think meat items should be used as treats and nothing more. You wouldnt survive well on nothing but cake and ice cream as good as it is so why treat your monitor this way?

[infernalis]

what I see all too often, is people find out that they can get a big bucket of chicken innards for the price of a cup of coffee, and suddenly it becomes a staple item.

[Pirarucu]

I won't lie... as long as you are providing a varied diet, with LOTS of whole prey, a few venison strips, Chicken giblets or a cut up squirrel are not going to cause harm.

Now if you try and provide this as the PRIMARY diet staple, there will be problems down the line.Well said.
I should also say, as long as roadkill doesn't have any lead in it or anything, it should be fine for a monitor to eat. Rotten and diseased just adds flavor for monitors. They have an incredible immune system if properly supported.
Of course, the other worry feeding a rotten and diseased animal is that it could quite easily give you something. Rabies, anyone?

[Wildside]

Well said.
I should also say, as long as roadkill doesn't have any lead in it or anything, it should be fine for a monitor to eat. Rotten and diseased just adds flavor for monitors. They have an incredible immune system if properly supported.
Of course, the other worry feeding a rotten and diseased animal is that it could quite easily give you something. Rabies, anyone?

Is it really possible to get rabies from roadkill? As a matter of fact is it possible for reptiles to get rabies?

[AjaMichelle]

Reptiles cannot contract rabies. Rabies infects mammals.

[Zoo Nanny]

Coming in contact with body fluids of even a dead animal with the active virus is considered contagious to all mammals. Reptiles and birds can not be infected. Although if you are bitten by a reptile shortly after it's eaten road kill I would get the vaccine. Just not worth the risk.

[infernalis]

Anyway, rotting carrion is a treat most monitors won't pass up.

Most monitor lizards are even immune to snake venom, and in the wild will eat cobras, mambas, brown snakes, and whatever other assorted snacks wander into range.

Savannah Monitors are known to eat scorpions and giant African millipedes, animals that are toxic to almost every other life form.

However, sadly, the Australian species are falling to the common cane toad.

How sad is that, The mighty Perentie can devour the worlds deadliest snake, but is poisoned by a frigging toad!

[millertime89]

Most monitor lizards are even immune to snake venom, and in the wild will eat cobras, mambas, brown snakes, and whatever other assorted snacks wander into range.

ingested snake venom, don't go sticking a viper in with your water monitor.

However, sadly, the Australian species are falling to the common cane toad.

How sad is that, The mighty Perentie can devour the worlds deadliest snake, but is poisoned by a frigging toad!

Evolution is an extraordinary (and heartless) thing isn't it? Because the Perentie never encountered Cane Toads as it evolved, it never built up an immunity to the toxin like species over here that encounter them frequently did.

[infernalis]

Evolution is an extraordinary (and heartless) thing isn't it? Because the Perentie never encountered Cane Toads as it evolved, it never built up an immunity to the toxin like species over here that encounter them frequently did.


Exactly... There were no toads in Australia at all, so the native animals cannot eat toads.

[Pirarucu]

Is it really possible to get rabies from roadkill? As a matter of fact is it possible for reptiles to get rabies?Reptiles cannot get rabies, but if you've been handling a bloody carcass infected with rabies, I'm positive you can contract the virus.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Most monitor lizards are even immune to snake venom, and in the wild will eat cobras, mambas, brown snakes, and whatever other assorted snacks wander into range.Is it bad that all I can think about is the honey badger video? >.>

~Maggot