Savannah monitor questions

i was thinking of getting a monitor but i am not %100 percent sure if it is the right pet for me, i just wanted to know if anyone on the site could give me a basic feeding schedule for a week so i can see what i would be getting myself into, i know they get big and all that stuff but i cannot seem to find a reliable feeding schedule so i can see what a basic week of feeding looks like, thanks

Mine is a pig. Harboiled eggs, rat pups and roaches

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Mine is a pig. Harboiled eggs, rat pups and roaches

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So what is your week of feeding look like? What do you feed on what day?

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Originally Posted by alphahippo

So what is your week of feeding look like? What do you feed on what day?

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Nothing set.
I do throw roaches in every morning to give him something to "hunt" throughout the day.

Monitors are not like snakes, they have a fast metabolism and they need to feed very often. 5 main feedings in 7 days is the rule of thumb but you gotta watch your animal and make sure that it is neither thin or overweight.

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Originally Posted by Najakeeper

Monitors are not like snakes, they have a fast metabolism and they need to feed very often. 5 main feedings in 7 days is the rule of thumb but you gotta watch your animal and make sure that it is neither thin or overweight.

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this helps alot, thankyou i was having trouble finding a guide to follow and this pretty much answers it perfectly.:)

IMO feeding is the easiest part for large lizard care, providing the correct size cage and husbandry is the larger undertaking as there are no "off the shelf" enclosures that are suitable for large lizards, so you end up doing some carpentry, electrical work, etc.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

IMO feeding is the easiest part for large lizard care, providing the correct size cage and husbandry is the larger undertaking as there are no "off the shelf" enclosures that are suitable for large lizards, so you end up doing some carpentry, electrical work, etc.

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ya i understand that, i am good with woodworking etc, so that is not a huge concern for me.

I've been doing a lot of research because I am also planning on getting a savannah and I read that it's not good to feed your Savannah hard boiled eggs. The list of bad feeding includes hard boiled eggs chicken parts and dog and cat food. One surprising fact that I read is that they are primarily insectivores in the wild although many people feed them mice and rats as well. When I first started looking at monitors I thought they ate only mice and rats like snakes do but they need more variety.

I had a savanna years ago. He passed away suddenly. He was on bugs, eggs and rodents, chicken parts and other meats. Took him for necropsy bc I felt he just died way too soon. I was told his liver was too fatty.. Was told it was likely the rodents being fed to him. Reality is, I should have been feeding him mostly bugs..and very rarely rodents and eggs and other meats, if ever at all.

That was my experience. I would reccomend a diet mostly consisting of bugs, not eggs or rodents or birds or meats like what humans eat. Keep in mind, years ago..this is what they told us to feed our savannas..and it was incorrect.

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Raw or hardboiled eggs would not be a good consistent diet. I would question the not feeding rodents thought as they are opportunistic feeders too.

I felt the same before getting my savvie, he was rescue and I just could not turn away hence why I have so many animals.!!
I done some research and when he came home I started him on a varied diet. His main is the Turkey recipe and he has done really well on it. So I mix 500g quality turkey breast mince (this has less fat content), along with 2 good quality free range eggs (easy for me as I have chickens and turkeys), 1 tablespoon good qualiy calcium and 1 tablespoon nutrabol.
I also add in morio worms, I then measure out his feed amounts and freeze in small tubs. And thaw on the day. He wasn't in the best of condition but now he is looking so well, and such a huge character, very tame also which took around a month of persistent handling, now he can't get enough attention. I would not be without him. I say go for it.
Good luck

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Raw or hardboiled eggs would not be a good consistent diet. I would question the not feeding rodents thought as they are opportunistic feeders too.

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I agree, many savannah monitors actually do just fine when fed rodents and chicks. Variety is key with varanus.