Not confusing in that I dont know how but more I dont know exactly when and what.

I usually feed Sullivan every 3-4 days 2 mice, along with crickets and mealies through out the week. and then very rarely canned cat food with the nutrients as close to the bagged monitor food as I could find (I dont know what is ideal %'s nutrient wise for him only went off of what the bag had for comparison) Every other to every third feeding I supplement with calcium

I have been told by several people that canned cat and dog food is ok occasionally and some even saying that is all they feed theirs(i felt extremely worrisome about that)... It kinda makes me nervous which is why I looked for one that is as close as I could to the same nutrients

I had never read this before until recently when I decided to look that many people feed theirs ground turkey... why not chicken? what would be the difference. I know that you are not supposed to feed raw chicken to anything which is why I ask. Wouldnt them both being poultry make them both a no no???

I am just worried that I am not feeding him and giving him all that he needs... or that I should be feeding him differently. The only reason I ask is because I cant find a definate answer. Even in books it says to base there feeding on their size(how fat or not fat they are)

any help, as always, much appreciated

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Randy

I plan to live forever... And so far its working

0.2.0 Ball Python (Jaxxie and Kyree)
1.0.0 Savanah Monitor (Sullivan)

Without knowing the size of your monitor it's a bit hard to anwser all your questions but I'll do what I can. For small savs under 1 foot feed every 2-3 days adults and juvies do well with two feedings a week. I use mice as a main diet so I can control how much they eat. Though once or twice a week I give inverts as a extra (Crickets, snails, what ever else is avalible).

For growing monitors it's ok to give a little cat food once a month or so. It's a very rich diet so 2 tbs. is a good amount. Ground turkey, I think is more often used due to the fact of it's lower fat content. And like alway ajust feeding amounts based on weight.

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Ok so I suppose that I am doing alright. when I got him I would say he was a max of 6 inches and he is now about 2 feet long... prolly closer to 23 inches

__________________
Randy

I plan to live forever... And so far its working

0.2.0 Ball Python (Jaxxie and Kyree)
1.0.0 Savanah Monitor (Sullivan)

I think a variety in different protein sources is good. I think people talk about ground turkey because it's cheaper than chicken. Mine seems to relish canned pink salmon.
I believe it's better to feed live prey most of the time though. Just for the exercise in chasing it down. Savs seem to get lazy and fat if their food comes to easy.
I'd skip the cat food if I were you. It's high in fat. And only use a weight maintenance or diet dog food.(It's lower in fat)
Along with the calcium you can get a powdered vitamin supplement that is good to give once a week.

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Git'er Done!

Monitors require that their diet be based on whole prey items. Rodents are an excellent staple. Followed by insects. Usually people that are feeding canned food regularly is because of the convenience for them.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

I would add that they need a big enough enclosure where they actually have to RUN to catch their food. Again,"Exercise"!
They don't necesarilly have to run in a linear fashion. Just put some obstacles in their way so feeding is not so easy. in doing this they will have better muscle tone and their feet and claws will be strong. In nature their moving about all the time. In captivity, they usually just sit there and wait for a meal to be dropped in.
You can also get a "Lizard Leash" and take them outside for some exercise. You can also get a deep plastic tub and fill it halfway with lukewarm water and let him swim for a few minutes at a time.

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Git'er Done!

My daughter takes care of the Savannah Monitor at her college, and also has one here at home. Both are fed Monitor/Tegu food, at the request of their perspective veterinarians. The one at school is older, and was diagnosed with fatty liver disease when given to the school by someone who couldn't keep him anymore. He gets fed daily but only about a tablespoon or 2 of food. He eats from Mr. Spoon. My daughter puts a little food on Mr. Spoon (a certain type of spoon only or he won't eat) and then makes him follow it around the room for a bit before she lets him "catch" it and eat it. Every now and then he grabs her pant leg or shoe instead - yuk! The one we have at home is very small for his age, and we don't know if he will get very big, although he is more than twice the size of when we got him. He had to have a small bit of his tail surgically removed and has only one functioning eye. He gets fed more food than the sav at school, because he was so underweight and size. The vet says to get him to eat as much as he will. He will not eat crickets or things like that, probably relates it to being starved. He was very mean when we first got him. He likes his monitor food, but I have to feed him like a baby. He gets put on a lead and taken out for playtime and walks. He is becoming stronger, but may always be a little fragile. Here though we love the Monitor/Tegu food and order it by the case. One can will last our sav and Tegu a few days to a week. This time of year their intake is slowing down tho. My vet always comments on how well muscled my reptiles are from their exercise periods, even the snakes.

I take him out and put him in the tub for feedings just like I do my snakes and we walk him like 2 times a week on a leash already... Just like feeding live to my snakes I dont like to for him either ... especially since recently he he got bit on the nose and left him with a litte cut

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Randy

I plan to live forever... And so far its working

0.2.0 Ball Python (Jaxxie and Kyree)
1.0.0 Savanah Monitor (Sullivan)

hey my sav eats 2 pinkies every other day should I give him 1each day

It depends on his size, But 1 pinkie a day is the same as 2 every other day.

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Git'er Done!