This is more or less just a heads up as I dont like to see people duped.

There is product out there called Monitor Diet. I call it slop in a can but I digress. It claims to be specially formulated for carnivorous reptiles. Okie dokie.

But if you read the label you will see it is almost exactly the same as low grade dog food. I compared it to Mighty Dog. Its almost exact as far as nutrient content and ingredients. At a greatly inflated price since it has a picture of a lizard on it. The same way you can buy spagnum moss at Home Depot for a few bucks for a big bag or get a tiny bag at the pet store for 4x the price because it has a picture of a lizard on it. Grrrrr.

I dont consider anything in a can appropriate for varanids. Thats just me. As Ive said before they are garbage cans. A healthy monitor could eat a tire and come back for seconds. I am not on the bandwagon of Chicken Littles who say that feeding dog food, or Monitor Diet or chicken gizzards will give them fatty liver diesease or whatever. I dont think an occasional feeding of ANYTHING meaty will harm them. BUT...and this is a big BUT...this stuff is no different than plain 'ol low grade dog food. Its not some magic stuff in a can that will propel your varanid to new heights of vim and vigor.

Maybe all the Watchdog stuff has gotten to me. So now you know. And knowing is half the battle. Woof.

Thanks V. Watchdog applies to people as well as products! Good info never hurts, but bad info can kill!

Good heads up post V :yourock: I have seen that as well with other stuff in pets stores. Just because they can find a product that you can find outside of a pet store and then they put it in a pet store is all the reason they think to slapp a price 5 times as much on it. :machinegun:

Maybe a list somewhere of products that can be found outside pet stores for a lot less would be helpful to those who don't know?? Just and idea :)

Good idea John!

Good catch V man! Its crap like this tha causes newbies to kill reptiles....

Not to mention it gives newbies a bad taste for reptiles in general.

Could used this info a while back. LOL. I was actually recommended this stuff by the owner of a shop that has green trees and other monitors when I was trying to find something that my monitor would eat besides crickets. He said he uses it, and that they love it. So, I buy a can, take it home, open it up.. and dump it in the trash. I'd have to say it's probably worse quality than low grade dog food. I think the brand was ZooMed. Really nasty stuff. I also tried these "Monitor Bites" thingies that are sold in a box, look like little squares of jellowy meaty stuff.. I'd have to say to save your money and don't buy any of that crap.

Could used this info a while back. LOL. I was actually recommended this stuff by the owner of a shop that has green trees and other monitors when I was trying to find something that my monitor would eat besides crickets. He said he uses it, and that they love it. So, I buy a can, take it home, open it up.. and dump it in the trash. I'd have to say it's probably worse quality than low grade dog food. I think the brand was ZooMed. Really nasty stuff. I also tried these "Monitor Bites" thingies that are sold in a box, look like little squares of jellowy meaty stuff.. I'd have to say to save your money and don't buy any of that crap.

True true.

They may eat it. As far as "loving" it thats hard to say. I mean, most of the larger monitors will eat anything with gusto. So its hard to say what they really like and what they just eat.

I always say if you're looking for something other than whole prey items go with fresh ground turkey with calcium/vitamins added. At least you know exactly what you're getting. Turkey! Period! I wouldnt use it as the bulk of the diet but it can be a supplement.

FYI Jeff Lemm of the SDZ recently successfully hatched a clutch of green trees. Very rare indeed. 5 months incubation. OOF! The adults were raised on a 50% turkey diet. Personally I think thats a bit high but you cant argue with success. Then again, Jeff is no newbie :D

Maybe a list somewhere of products that can be found outside pet stores for a lot less would be helpful to those who don't know?? Just and idea :)

A dandy of an idea. Im gonna work on that. And everyone can add to it.

Before I even get started folks Home Depot is a TREASURE TROVE of reptile stuff! NO foolin'!

I have an old school reptile vet and to rehab most insect and rodent eating lizards he uses high grade dog food. He told me years ago that it is the same stuff....forgot all about that until I read your post...

Good stuff V :cheers:

True true.

They may eat it. As far as "loving" it thats hard to say. I mean, most of the larger monitors will eat anything with gusto. So its hard to say what they really like and what they just eat.

I always say if you're looking for something other than whole prey items go with fresh ground turkey with calcium/vitamins added. At least you know exactly what you're getting. Turkey! Period! I wouldnt use it as the bulk of the diet but it can be a supplement.

FYI Jeff Lemm of the SDZ recently successfully hatched a clutch of green trees. Very rare indeed. 5 months incubation. OOF! The adults were raised on a 50% turkey diet. Personally I think thats a bit high but you cant argue with success. Then again, Jeff is no newbie :D

I read about his clutch. I recently tried turkey with my little one, as he has decided he doesn't like mice anymore, but he wasn't interested. I put it under one of his hides, but he really didn't seem to know what to do with it. He sniffed it a couple of times, but no eat. Seems the only thing I can get him to eat lately is crickets. I know they are primarily an insect eater in the wild, but I'd like for him to get some other whole prey as well. Damn picky ass monitors. I hae never tried giving him an egg.. I may try that sometime if he continues to refuse everything else. But I will NOT be going out and getting any of that canned crap for him.

I read about his clutch. I recently tried turkey with my little one, as he has decided he doesn't like mice anymore, but he wasn't interested. I put it under one of his hides, but he really didn't seem to know what to do with it. He sniffed it a couple of times, but no eat. Seems the only thing I can get him to eat lately is crickets. I know they are primarily an insect eater in the wild, but I'd like for him to get some other whole prey as well. Damn picky ass monitors. I hae never tried giving him an egg.. I may try that sometime if he continues to refuse everything else. But I will NOT be going out and getting any of that canned crap for him.

Im of the opinion that a varied diet isnt really necessary. Insects and rodents, done. If he wont eat the mice give'em the crickets. As long as the prey is fed a good diet he should be fine.

My Kimberlys go off and on. They go roach crazy for a while, then they want mice, then back to roaches. Once in a while they go on strike and I give them some turkey which I really dont wanna do with them but I do and they charge back up. They will eat thawed or a while, then only live. Blah. Picky picky.

Funny thing I started them on small crickets but ever since they went roach they wont touch a cricket. No way, no how. Funny.

Its all garbage!!!!Canned crap!!!
You wanna make your own mix???
Get a blender with some roaches,butterworms,turkey,and a few dozen pinks!!
Blend until thick!!!!
BLBC baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rockon:

Im of the opinion that a varied diet isnt really necessary. Insects and rodents, done. If he wont eat the mice give'em the crickets. As long as the prey is fed a good diet he should be fine.

My Kimberlys go off and on. They go roach crazy for a while, then they want mice, then back to roaches. Once in a while they go on strike and I give them some turkey which I really dont wanna do with them but I do and they charge back up. They will eat thawed or a while, then only live. Blah. Picky picky.

Funny thing I started them on small crickets but ever since they went roach they wont touch a cricket. No way, no how. Funny.

Yeah, that's what I've been doing. His diet isn't too varied when he'll eat it, pretty much mice and crickets, but I worry with the crickets only as some of the books say that monitors can get some type of liver problems from eating crickets only. I don't know how much stock to put in it, as I guess there are probably alot of other factors involved in those cases. It would make ME feel better if he'd just take the damn mice too, though. I guess he knows what he wants, and I'll just keep offering him mice and insects and he'll eat what he feels like eating. As long as he eats something I won't worry about it too much. I really appreciate all these great posts. Being my first more "advanced" monitor, I do worry about whether or not I'm doing right by him. All these posts about monitor husbandry have been a great help. Once I get a new house and more space, I've been thinking about looking into getting some Kimmies since learning more about them. They seem extremely interesting. It'll have to be after I get a pair of beccariis and maybe a macraei too, but I really think they'd be some interesting additions to the mad house.

Its all garbage!!!!Canned crap!!!
You wanna make your own mix???
Get a blender with some roaches,butterworms,turkey,and a few dozen pinks!!
Blend until thick!!!!
BLBC baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rockon:

Sounds delightful.

Remind me not to ask you for a margarita...

Yeah, that's what I've been doing. His diet isn't too varied when he'll eat it, pretty much mice and crickets, but I worry with the crickets only as some of the books say that monitors can get some type of liver problems from eating crickets only. I don't know how much stock to put in it, as I guess there are probably alot of other factors involved in those cases. It would make ME feel better if he'd just take the damn mice too, though. I guess he knows what he wants, and I'll just keep offering him mice and insects and he'll eat what he feels like eating. As long as he eats something I won't worry about it too much. I really appreciate all these great posts. Being my first more "advanced" monitor, I do worry about whether or not I'm doing right by him. All these posts about monitor husbandry have been a great help. Once I get a new house and more space, I've been thinking about looking into getting some Kimmies since learning more about them. They seem extremely interesting. It'll have to be after I get a pair of beccariis and maybe a macraei too, but I really think they'd be some interesting additions to the mad house.

Try some hornedand or tomato worms man......
Works wonders with the whole tree complex.:cool:

Its all garbage!!!!Canned crap!!!
You wanna make your own mix???
Get a blender with some roaches,butterworms,turkey,and a few dozen pinks!!
Blend until thick!!!!
BLBC baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rockon:

Wow. That sounds absolutely disgusting. I think it would end up with a couple pints of vomit before it ended up getting to the monitor. They'd probably love it vomit and all, though.