Django the Nile Monitor - Page 4

Pirarucu · 02-06-13, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I don't think it's snake people necessarily. They tend to just have the most cash. I believe a lot of people think Kevin McCurly to be a good varanid keeper. This could be wrong based on all the new information we possess though.

I just think that all the information we're now learning has to be taught to them. They're just using what used to be acceptable husbandry and to them what they thought was best. I think passing along information and hoping they read it and use it is the only option at this point.

It won't happen over night but over the years it will become more prominent. At least I hope so.

Well said, it's not so much because they are snake people but because as you said they have more money, and are too used to the minimalist husbandry techniques that are commonplace for snakes, and are simply not aware that those techniques don't work for monitors.

Vegasarah · 02-06-13, 09:46 PM

Just got word that I'm getting back a few bucks from my deadbeat parents for school. (Long story!) so looks like I'll be able to start that full build pretty soon here. I'm just trying to decide how big is too big as far as pi$$ing my roommates off goes. Before I hear any scolding- this is a temp build till he gets too big for it and goes up to the rescue to live in his adult enclosure.

Width is the biggest issue, I can make it 7 feet long and 4 feet deep, but I don't want it sticking out from the wall too much!

I wish I could take good pictures of his burrows, he's got one huge one with three different openings. I only know they are connected because I can see him through the glass at some parts! He pauses, glares at me through the little window, then continues to the back corner and out of sight. It's pretty cute. He's a fantastic little guy, he seems to be getting much more used to me. Not as flighty and willingly comes up to the opening when I take the top off like 'hey, you got foods for me?'. Then gets all jacked up and tripods a bunch as soon as he sees the tongs in my hands. I'll try and get a video of it if my roommate will take one for me of feeding time. He's still goofy with those night crawlers, trying to rip them in bits and such.

Also saw him do something cool today, he's shedding (surprise surprise) and he turned his head around and pulled off a bit of his skin with his teeth very gently and then spit it into his water dish. He did it with such precision, it was interesting.

monitorlizard · 02-07-13, 05:15 PM

They've Ben Seigel has had that nile for years. Hence their previous name albino nile.
They have also been trying to sell it for years LOL.

Vegasarah · 02-09-13, 02:36 PM

After Django had a day spent finishing off the last of the nightcrawlers and 5 minnows, I went out and bought more fuzzies.

Guess who ate 9 of them in a row? 0.0

He's an eating machine, I am just in awe sometimes. He was literally trying to clamber up out of the tank to get at these mice. He caught some air on the first few just before I could get them down to his level. I came in sort of sideways and he grabbed my hand and used my arm as leverage, launching himself off it and onto the end of the tongs with the mouse. (Owww. Those claws are like razors, he cut me up pretty good)

After that feast, I let him alone for about an hour and came back and just hung out with him for a while and talked to him. He gives me the most incredulous looks sometimes, but I want to get him as used to people as I can. I let my hand dangle down in the tank, wiggling my fingers every minute or so. He seemed pretty agitated by this at first but after a little bit he actually inched over to check out my pink nail polish. He got so close I started to get nervous he might try to see what fingers tasted like. But he just flicked his tongue on them and moved away.

How do you all keep up with this massive amount of food while still trying to provide variety? It's getting very pricey, I can't wait for the reptile expo so I can buy a few hundred feeders at once!

murrindindi · 02-09-13, 03:06 PM

Hi, it really isn`t about variety, it`s about nutritional value, a diet based around rodents and fish is absolutely fine, and will ensure he/she grows very well indeed so long as the other parameters are in place.

jarich · 02-09-13, 03:45 PM

Most of us grow at least one or two feed sources in order to help with costs. Roaches are a good one, mice/rats, worms, etc.

As far as all those fuzzies go, you would be better off feeding adult mice instead. The calcium levels are much higher as the bones have calcified/ossified. They have better amounts of Vitamin A too.

Pirarucu · 02-09-13, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasarah

How do you all keep up with this massive amount of food while still trying to provide variety? It's getting very pricey, I can't wait for the reptile expo so I can buy a few hundred feeders at once!

Breeding them helps. A large roach colony pays for itself fast, as do rats and worms.

Vegasarah · 02-09-13, 11:27 PM

I already have a roach colony but it's not very big yet.

He us only a baby, adult mice would be too big for him.

Another question: can he have chicken eggs or ground turkey or anything like that? Obviously only every once on a while, whole prey is still primary of course.

jarich · 02-10-13, 02:43 AM

Sorry had to go back and look at your pictures again. I thought he was a little bigger than that. Can you get hoppers or juveniles? They are sort of the next step up, and again give you the extra boos of calcium and Vitamin A. Wont be long before he is eating adults anyway I suppose

As far as your question about eggs or turkey, I guess the question is, what need does it fulfill? Both of those things are sort of like reasonably decent filler. They arent bad, they just arent particularly good either. Its energy, and these guys need lots of it, but nutritively its nothing special. Personally, I think we need to think about monitor diets like a continuum. Its not only about the individual nutrition of each item, but in how they interact as a whole with your reptile. There are so many facets to consider, and many we probably dont yet know about. Which is why, in my opinion, its always best to both feed whole prey items, and a variety of them. (Sorry Stefan, we will have to agree to disagree there)

We are lucky to have at our disposal, in the US and Europe, a large number of high quality prey items, and the variety is growing every day. So again, the question becomes not, "is it ok to feed eggs or turkey?" but rather, "why would you?".

murrindindi · 02-10-13, 10:00 AM

We know for certain that the larger species (including V. niloticus) live long, healthy and productive lives fed a rodent based (or exclusively) diet. As far as feeding eggs (I use fertised quail) it`s perfectly acceptable to include those (and the fish), nothing else is really needed, but obviously you can offer more if you wish. Ground turkey is something I personally wouldn`t offer (or dog and cat food, or tinned monitor treats, etc).
I too like to offer some variety (sorry Josh, we`ll just have to agree to agree to some extent)!

dinosaurdammit · 02-10-13, 10:05 AM

if you want to do eggs, get fertilized quail eggs or pigeon eggs.

Vegasarah · 02-11-13, 06:49 PM

Thanks everyone, I just thought he might like a little variety. I know that in the wild they will eat carrion and also eggs if they find them. It just got me thinking about raw meat and chicken eggs.

Where do I find fertilized quail eggs? I wouldn't even know where to start with that one...

dinosaurdammit · 02-11-13, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasarah

Thanks everyone, I just thought he might like a little variety. I know that in the wild they will eat carrion and also eggs if they find them. It just got me thinking about raw meat and chicken eggs.

Where do I find fertilized quail eggs? I wouldn't even know where to start with that one...

look on craigslist for people who breed game birds and ask to buy the fertilized eggs. Or even get yourself a pair and breed them for the eggs. As long as you take the eggs they will continue to lay eggs.

infernalis · 02-11-13, 09:39 PM

Generally, in the wild, it's crocidile eggs, Lizard eggs & snake eggs.

Vegasarah · 02-11-13, 09:45 PM

Never thought about keeping quail as feeder producers. I see them around here all the time, running across the road and whatnot. I'm pretty sure that the feed store near my house sells baby quail. Maybe they know of somewhere I could get just the eggs. I'll also probably be buying baby quails from them to feed in the future when Django gets a little bigger.