what to feed baby water monitor

They should be fed mostly insects, with raw chicken, mice, whole chicks, fish, and eggs. Feeding pet water monitors

requires a varied diet and a careful feeding schedule. These giant lizards will often eat as much as they can, to the point where they can easily become obese.

Full Answer

What do baby monitor lizards eat?

A well-fed lizard may not be interested in feeding for a few days while smaller frequent feedings may yield a constant appetite. Baby monitors tend to be highly insectivorous and their captive diets should reflect this; a diet comprised primarily of gut loaded crickets and varying species of roaches are a good choice.

What supplements should I give my baby monitor?

Baby and juvenile monitors should have their food dusted with a high quality calcium/vitamin D3 supplement at every feeding. In conjunction with a suitable source of full spectrum lighting, these supplements will allow for proper skeletal growth and muscle development.

How often should I Feed my hatchling water monitor?

It’s recommended that hatchling water monitors are fed daily to every other day for their first year of life. This will be the period of time when the most growth occurs and the diet needs to provide the necessary nourishment for extreme growth.

When can I give my Baby water?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends offering your baby a small amount of water starting at around 6 months. 1 Why wait? Well, provided you are breastfeeding on demand or offering enough infant formula your baby will get the appropriate amount of hydration from that.

What do baby water monitors eat?

They should be fed mostly insects, with raw chicken, mice, whole chicks, fish, and eggs. Feeding pet water monitors requires a varied diet and a careful feeding schedule. These giant lizards will often eat as much as they can, to the point where they can easily become obese.

What can I feed a baby monitor?

Crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and roaches should be considered required items in the monitor diet. Many roach species are now available to monitor owners, and keepers are strongly encouraged to maintain a small breeding colony of them as a constant source of feeders.

How often do you feed water monitor?

two to three times weeklyYearling monitors can be fed whole prey items about three to four times weekly, while full size adults over two years old can be fed less frequently, typically two to three times weekly. It is important to remember that water monitors are opportunistic feeders and will rarely refuse a meal.

Do water monitors eat eggs?

Diet: The Asian Water Monitors eat insects, crabs, mollusks, snakes, eggs, fish, birds, rodents, and other lizards. They enjoy to chase their prey rather than to stalk and ambush, and their forked tongue is used to smell their prey.

Can monitor lizards eat fruit?

While most monitor lizards are carnivorous, eating eggs, smaller reptiles, fish, birds, insects, and small mammals, some also eat fruit and vegetation, depending on where they live.

Do monitor lizards eat vegetables?

Can my savannah monitor eat fruits and vegetables? Given that savannah monitors are strictly insectivorous, plant matter is not a natural part of their diet and should not be offered in captivity.

How long do water monitors live?

The lifespan of an Asian water monitor is around 15 years. With good care and a healthy diet and environment, these lizards can potentially live for 20 years or more.

Do water monitors bite?

The main weapon of the Asian water monitor is a whip-like tail which can injure you, but is not fatal, and a bite which contains a very mild venom. Both can cause lacerations requiring stitches. In the wild these lizards can be found near heavily vegetated, watery areas in Southern China.

What do Argus monitors eat?

Insects, fish, frogs, snakes, birds and small mammals are all on the dinner menu of this indiscriminate predator. Captive Argus monitors can be easily persuaded to eat nonliving items such as strips of meat, dog food, eggs and other types of food.

How do you tame a water monitor lizard?

0:012:02Taming Asian Water Monitors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can pat them on the head. They'll climb right out. And just hang out with you they're theMoreYou can pat them on the head. They'll climb right out. And just hang out with you they're the coolest little lizards you can get anywhere.

How do you socialize a water monitor?

0:452:21Water Monitor Basics # 2 - Do's and Don'ts NERD Style SocializingYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I become the focus of what they want so if I give them a cage where they can hide.MoreAnd I become the focus of what they want so if I give them a cage where they can hide.

Can monitors eat egg shells?

0:522:42Savannah Monitor Eating A Half Dozen Eggs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI love how they do that they like throw. It down their throat.MoreI love how they do that they like throw. It down their throat.

What does a monitor lizard eat?

Monitor lizards feed on a huge variety of food types (eg. insects, crabs, snakes, fish, etc); they control the population of their prey, and in turn are a source of food to larger predators (eg. crocodiles).

How long can monitor lizards go without food?

In simple terms, adult lizards can live longer without food than a neonate. In short, a lizard can live without food depending on its age, size, and species. The basic life span without food for a lizard is anywhere between 2 weeks to 2 months.

How often do baby monitors eat?

Adults should be fed several insects 1-2 times a week (larger monitors may eat less frequently). Juveniles should be fed 2-3 times per week. Babies should be fed every other day.

How often should you feed a monitor lizard?

Adults should be fed 1-2 times a week depending on their body condition (obese monitors should eat less often than under weight monitors). The bulk of an adult Savannah monitors diet should consist of rodents (mice to small rats), the occasional baby chick, insects, eggs, and fish should all be offered as well.

How much water should a 6 month old drink?

When your baby is ready for solid foods, you might consider offering small amounts of water with meals, in a cup so that baby can try sipping. Four to eight ounces of water per day is adequate for babies who are over 6 months old. 1 This isn't meant to provide hydration, since breast milk and formula will do that.

Why is water bad for babies?

Nutritional deficiency: Offering water to young babies puts them at risk of diarrhea and malnutrition because they could fill up on energy- and nutrient-free water and drink less breast milk or formula. 2.

Why wait to give baby formula?

Why wait? Well, provided you are breastfeeding on demand or offering enough infant formula your baby will get the appropriate amount of hydration from that. And because breast milk and formula provide important nutrition along with hydration, you don't want your baby to opt for hydration without nutrition before they're at an age when they're getting nutrition from food sources.

What do tamed water monitors learn?

Tame Water Monitors may learn tricks, bond with their owner, and actively seek human attention and companionship.

Where do water monitors live?

The Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator), also known as both the common water monitor and Sumatran water monitor, is a large species of monitor lizard native to South Asia. As their name suggests, they can always be found near water, so their native environment includes many coastal wetlands and islands.

What temperature should monitor lizards be?

72°F-75°F. UVB lighting for monitor lizards is still a source of debate amongst keepers. While they may not require UVB lighting to survive, most reptile species will thrive with UVB lighting. The most convenient way to provide UVB is to use a mercury vapor bulb, which offers UV light and heat for basking.

What is an Asian water monitor?

Like most other Varanid species, Asian Water Monitors are known for being intelligent and interactive animals in captivity. However, their exceptional size and predatory nature require experience, confidence, and caution during handling and interaction.

How much does an Asian water monitor weigh?

More typically, mature Asian Water Monitors weigh 20 to 40 pounds and measure 4 to 5 feet long. Their long tail makes up ½ to ⅔ of their total length.

Why is the Asian Water Monitor so popular?

The Asian Water Monitor is a popular pet, thanks to its hardiness, adaptability, and prevalence in the wild.

Do Asian water monitors swim?

Asian Water Monitors spend much of their time relaxing, exercising, and even defecating in the water. They need a container that’s large enough to submerge entirely and, preferably, actively swim in.

Where can I find water monitors?

They’re found as far north as Northeast India and all the way down to the insular regions of Southeast Asia. Within these regions, they have proven to flourish in a variety of landscapes throughout this range, including urban settings such as the metropolis of Bangkok, Thailand! Although Varanus salvator are considered a lowland species, they have been found at elevations as high as nearly 6000 feet above sea level. This species is harvested in large numbers for their leather, body parts and meat throughout much of their range. The successful expansion of this semi-aquatic lizard can be credited to many of their unique adaptations, including their intelligence and size.

What temperature should a water monitor be?

Therefore, ambient temperatures in their enclosures should be maintained in the low to mid 80º Fs. Although temperatures can be allowed to drop slightly at night within reason, many keepers perpetually maintain conditions constant with great results. When adequate temperatures are combined with a large water reservoir, the humidity levels in the enclosure will rise.

How big is a hatchling monitor?

A hatchling monitor can initially be housed in an enclosure with the size equivalent to a 40 gallon reptile terrarium (dimensions of 36”x18”x16”). There are commercially available alternatives to glass tanks readily available, as an actual tank is not recommended because glass enclosures often do not adequately maintain the temperature and humidity required.

How often do water monitors cycle?

Breeding pairs of water monitors will require a large enclosure measuring at least 8’x8’x8.’ Properly fed females kept under correct husbandry parameters can cycle several times a year and it is important to recognize when a female is cycling. Females tend to have strong appetites and feeding responses while cycling in an attempt to increase their caloric intake in preparation for potentially becoming gravid. Since females tend to have regular cycles, scheduling breeding based on the last time she laid eggs is also possible. The preferred monitoring method at our facility however is ultrasounding female water monitors. Ultrasounding takes the guesswork out of breeding. When a female possesses optimally sized follicles, in the 15-25mm range, a male is paired with her. If she is receptive and copulation is successful, she may become gravid and will lay eggs approximately 30-45 days later.

How many eggs do squid hatch?

Depending on the age and size of the female, clutches range between six to 18 eggs, although more or less is not uncommon. There must be deep substrate of proper composition and consistency present in order to increase the likelihood of successful nesting. Females prefer their nesting site substrate at 86ºF, and will spend several days digging “test holes” until she finds a suitable nesting location. In a correctly maintained enclosure, meeting such requirements should be straightforward. Once the female has laid her clutch, the eggs are placed in a plastic container filled with hatchrite media and incubated at 86ºF. At this temperature babies will begin to hatch in six to seven months. Hatching baby water monitors is truly one of the most rewarding experiences as a reptile keeper.

Do water monitors have color mutations?

Although their requirements may be a bit of a challenge, if you rise to the occasion, you will be rewarded with an intelligent and captivating reptile. Captive propagation has resulted in some of the most impressive color mutations available, and the future of combining these mutations is still ahead of us. As our understanding of water monitors grows, we will continue to see their popularity grow.

What do monitors eat?

This monitor is an obligate carnivore, which means it only eats meat. It is far from picky, and will eat almost anything it can catch and tear apart. Some common prey items include fish, lizards, snakes, birds, rats, turtles, frogs, crocodile hatchlings, and carrion.

What is the water monitor?

Water Monitor. By. Animals Network Team. The Asian Water Monitor, also known as the Common Water Monitor, is a large reptile that lives throughout Asia. This widespread monitor lives throughout large regions of southern Asia, and it is one of the most common species of monitors in the region.

What is the behavior of a water monitor?

Behavior of the Water Monitor. This species spends most of its time foraging for prey and sunning itself. Younger reptiles are much more wary of predators, while larger individuals do not have as much to fear. When threatened, they climb trees and leap into the water to swim away.

What do zookeepers feed their animals?

Zookeepers also feed them a variety of foods, including rats, mice, ground carnivore diet, rabbits, fish, and more.

How do juvenile monitors escape predators?

Aerial Escape – Juvenile monitors sometimes flee predators by climbing into trees. Granted, this method does not always work, because some predators can climb too! When this happens, these reptiles take a page out of the green iguana ’s book, and launch themselves from the tree into a nearby water source to swim away.

How big is a squid monitor?

They are quite large monitors, and some individuals measure over 9 ft. long. Large adults can weigh 40 lbs. or more. The heaviest specimen on record weighed 110 lbs. and some unverified reports exceed 150 lbs. or more.

When do water monitors reproduce?

Reproduction of the Water Monitor. These reptiles breed between the months of April and October. After mating, it takes about a month for the female to lay eggs. The larger the female, the more eggs she can produce. Females lay their eggs in rotting vegetation, usually logs or tree stumps.

What is the diet of Asian water monitors?

Asian water monitors are hypercarnivores. This means their diet is 100% meat and wholly consists of other animals and their eggs. There are even reports of water monitors uncovering and eating human remains.

What temperature do Asian water monitors need?

This enclosure must have areas to climb and swim. They also need a temperature gradient, with highs from 120 to 150°F for basking and lows of 74°F for cooling off.

How big are monitor lizards?

As well as having an appearance straight out of Jurassic Park, these lizards are heavy too. They tip the scales at 44 to 54 pounds. Male adults can grow over eight feet long. Females are slightly shorter, growing up to six feet. Despite their size, monitors are quite agile and can easily climb trees with the help of their curved claws and strong legs.

How long does it take to get used to an Asian water monitor?

Asian water monitors can get used to being handled if introduced to it from a young age. Building trust with your water monitor can take several months, but this long process is both rewarding and very useful. A tame monitor is a lot easier to manage in case of an emergency than a distrustful one!

What do opportunistic predators eat?

This results in a naturally varied diet that includes: rodents, domestic animals, birds, crabs, snakes, lizards, young crocodiles, eggs and turtles.

Do water monitors work?

Feeding pet water monitors requires a varied diet and a careful feeding schedule. These giant lizards will often eat as much as they can, to the point where they can easily become obese. Water monitors are a lot of work, but provide a rewarding and unique experience when cared for properly.

Can Asian water monitors be pets?

Experienced reptile enthusiasts have been raising these lizards as pets for over twenty years. But, keeping an Asian water monitor as a pet lizard is difficult because of their giant size and aquatic lifestyle.

Where can I find water monitors?

In the wild, this water monitor can be found in the mangrove swamps of Southeast Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

Why do monitors need water?

Providing plenty of clean, fresh water is absolutely essential for the health and happiness of your monitor. They love to soak in water, and they need enough to be able to fully submerge themselves.

Why do Asian water monitors need a certain temperature?

Digestive issues: Asian water monitors are prone to food impaction and constipation. They need a certain basking temperature to be able to activate their digestive enzymes. If the basking area is not hot enough, their food will not be digested completely, and this can lead to a serious impaction.

How to know if your monitor is set up correctly?

You’ll be able to know if you’ve set it up correctly because your monitor will demonstrate a consistent basking and roaming pattern.

What goes into an Asian water monitor enclosure?

Asian water monitors are very intelligent and active reptiles, so your enclosure should contain lots of things that are going to create both physical and mental stimulation.

What is a monitor lizard?

These lizards have the characteristic monitor body that features a long neck and snout, serrated teeth, sharp claws and almond-shaped eyes. A long, muscular tail is also typical for a monitor.

What is an Asian water monitor?

Asian water monitors are a fascinating reptile that have earned plenty of respect and interest from humans over the years. These massive lizards are no joke!

What kind of water can babies drink?

Babies can drink the same water as the rest of the family. You do not need to purchase special water for babies. That said, always check the water quality in your area to ensure it’s safe for drinking; this information is available through your local health department.

How much water can babies have?

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests offering up to 8 ounces (227ml) of water per day starting at 6 months old; however, it is our strong opinion that water should be limited to less than 2-4 ounces (59-118 ml) a day to avoid displacing valuable nutrition from breast milk or formula. 4 If you’re concerned about baby’s hydration status, monitor the number of wet diapers and energy levels, and contact your pediatrician. Generally speaking, babies should have 4-6 good, wet diapers every 24 hours.

When can babies drink water?

Water may be introduced in small amounts after 6 months of age. When infants less than 6 months of age consume water, it puts them at risk of life-threatening electrolyte imbalance and inadequate intake of calories, protein, and essential nutrients. 1 2 3 Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, small amounts of water can be offered starting around 6 months as long as baby is growing and gaining appropriately, but water is optional before 12 months of age.

How should water be offered?

Offer water in an open cup or straw cup to help baby develop cup-drinking skills.

How do I know if my child is getting enough water?

First, remember that almost 90% of breast milk and infant formula (standard mixing) is water! Children less than 12 months of age do not necessarily need extra water, but practicing cup drinking at this age is developmentally beneficial and can help acclimate your child to the taste of liquids other than breast milk or formula.

Can I give my baby water from a bottle?

It is best to refrain from offering water in a bottle. When water is first introduced around 6 to 9 months of age, the focus is more on skill-building than consumption. For this reason, it’s best to offer water in an open cup.

How to encourage water drinking?

The best way to encourage water drinking is to model the activity yourself. In other words, show them how it’s done!

What do monitors eat?

Recent studies have shown that presumed rodent eaters such as savannah monitors, actually consume mostly termites, millepedes, and scorpions. In captivity, these foods may be difficult to procure, but other insect species are readily available, and should be part of every monitor diet.

What are the prey items on a monitor?

Depending on the species of monitor you are keeping, other prey items such as fish, shrimp, and baby chicks can be offered, the frequency of which will depend upon your specific situation.

Can monitors eat non rodents?

Keepers who have been working with monitors for any length of time may be aware of this dietary option, while it's existence may come as news to less experienced hobbyists. Quite a few years ago, keepers and animal nutritionists at the San Diego Zoo were experimenting with non-rodent diets for their larger monitor species. At the time, they were working intensively with Komodo Dragons, but the diet that they derived is acceptable for all monitor species.

Can you raise monitors on a rodent diet?

Keepers who choose to raise their monitors on a rodent-only or mostly rodent diet should be encouraged to avoid unweaned mice, as they have little or no calcium, and are fairly deficient in other vital nutrients. Furthermore, animals fed a diet high in mice should be exposed to basking temperatures at the very high end of the recommended range, and given ample space to run around, dig, and thermoregulate.

Do monitors eat mice?

However, most monitors only rarely eat rodents in the wild, and if fed artificially high numbers of them (as often occurs in captivity) they can quickly succumb to a variety of health problems. Mice and rats are generally considered to be too high in fat for most captive, exercise-deprived monitors.

Who wrote the notes on feeding monitor lizards?

Notes on the Feeding of Monitor Lizards - By Jonathan Rheins

Should you feed rodents to captive monitors?

The debate over whether or not to feed rodents to captive monitors is a heated one. In all likelihood, there is probably not a right or wrong answer. Instead, the keeper must carefully evaluate other aspects of their husbandry and from that decide to what degree rodents should contribute to their pets diets.