BTS Shed

[Vegasarah]

Originally Posted by Gungirl

Calm down and climb off your high horse. I never said I would feed chicken to my BTS either. I don't even like giving dogs' dog food, I think its processed crap. Sorry you find what I said rude but pull your head out of your arse and understand that other people have different methods that work just as well if not better.

I do understand that people have different methods, as I said in my previous post. Because I'm pretty sure YOU were the one to call MY method 'nasty'. OP feeds chicken, but makes up for the lack of calcium and minerals by feeding a great amount and variety of greens. Anyone choosing to ignore 20+ years of research about BTS diet is welcome to do so, I will not call them 'nasty', that's for sure. I wasn't trying to prove anything, I was just trying to offer some helpful advice to others on this forum regarding diet. And I managed to do so without being rude, which you did not accomplish.

I don't appreciate the reprimand, and I don't think that you are actually sorry for being rude. I don't have my 'head up my arse' as you so eloquently put it, nor am I up on any kind of high horse. I don't need to get into some petty argument with some stranger on the internet, I have better things to do with me time. Thanks, have a good day.

(Sorry, OP, didn't mean to hijack your thread here. Still curious about humidity though! )

[Zoo Nanny]

Aside from his water bowl I don't add additional humidity. I had always read that BTS when given a constant water source for bathing were better off. I've also been led to believe that a varied diet of greens and vegetables that ensure all needed vitamins and minerals were healthier for the animals, eliminating the risk of kidney disease from added supplements. I have read of many breeders who feed dog/cat foods. When they had the big pet food recall a few years back I vowed I would never use commercial pet foods again. It's just too risky in my opinion. I already lost one dog to it.

[Vegasarah]

That is true, just a nice soaking dish is preferred to a humid environment. It cuts back on problems with mouth rot, respiratory problems, and other bad stuff. I just wondered that maybe if the humidity was really high it would make the shed skin actually have a smell. It's dead skin so if it was damp maybe that would cause the smell? But I guess that is not the case. The mystery remains!

Your diet sounds really great. Dog food is of course not needed to have a health skink. I totally understand you not wanting to take the risk with the dog food. It sounds like you are a great example of how you don't NEED dog food, because you are providing all he needs through other means. Other people who do not have such a great diet start to see problems without dog food. I only ever supplement baby reptiles, and only once a week for their first year and then I stop. There is a danger of over supplementing as you already know. Gut loading and proper diet should more than cover needed vitamins and minerals. I'm sorry to hear about your dog, and understand your aversion to commercial pet food.

[Zoo Nanny]

My dog lasted a year after the food recall. During that time I cooked for her daily. The vet gave me a recipe for her. She had severe kidney and liver damage from Iams. I had thought about trying the tegu chow for him. Have you ever tried it?

[Vegasarah]

I got a small sample of the Mazuri gel diet for carnivores that is the whole prey. I fed it to both my bts and my bearded dragon and they both liked it mixed in with their greens. I know they have another diet that is without the bones in it that might be good for you. The one with the bones I would feed daily to my monitor rather than my bts. They have another diet that is for insectivores that I'm sure would also be great to feed. It's like making jello, you add the hot water and let it set. But you can freeze it or refrigerate it too. It is a little expensive but I'm sure it would last you forver if you only have the one bluey.

[Zoo Nanny]

I worked with the gel at the zoos for some of the primate insectivores. Maybe I'll contact Mazuri and see if they would send me a sample. Quite a few pet food companies will send out samples to people, can't hurt to try. Thanks for the info.

[Vegasarah]

Yeah, I really like Mazuri products. The tortoise chow is just awesome, I can't say enough about it. I got my sample from one of the dealers near my house, but I would try emailing them and telling them about your use of the product in the zoo, then asking if you could try some of the other carnivore diets and that you will write a review. Usually that's what they like to hear lol.

I would feed more Mazuri if I didn't have so many mouths to feed lol. I might get some as a supplement for my baby monitor, I wonder if he would eat it.

[moshirimon]

Originally Posted by Gungirl

Calm down and climb off your high horse. I never said I would feed chicken to my BTS either. I don't even like giving dogs' dog food, I think its processed crap. Sorry you find what I said rude but pull your head out of your arse and understand that other people have different methods that work just as well if not better.

Whats your method? just curious on some other bts diets. i had one some years back and fed it dog food, along with greens, fruits, and the pinkies

[red ink]

Originally Posted by Gungirl

I would NEVER feed my BTS dog food that is nasty.

High quality dog food is fine for them Kat... easy way to get blueys in the backyard in spring as well as giviing the next gen a kick start in life...

I feed mine whole vertebrae prey once every three weeks and the rest of the time boiled chicken breast and veggies as well as dog food when I can't be bothered boiling chicken (or when I run out of it).