Sumatran Water Monitor Growth

[Timmy87]

So I have had my water monitor for about 3-4 months. It has grown some. My friend bought his around the same time and they were both identical in size but since then his has grown alot bigger. there is probably a 3-4 inch difference. And I was wondering if I have stunt his growth. Is it possible to stunt a water monitors growth? I do have him in a tank that is 2.5 times his length. it eats like crazy. feed him about 4-5 pinkies every 3-4 days. My temp under the basking spot was about 95 degrees and I recently put in a flood light and its about 120ish now. i just barely bought a calcium spray for its food too to see if that helps him grow. Any feedback/advice would help.

[marvelfreak]

What do you feed him besides pinks and how often?

[Timmy87]

just pinkies for now. and about every 3 days i throw about 4 in his cage and he eats about 3 right away. and the last one he will eat like a day later.

[Rofeki]

What does your friend feed his? bigger cage? different temps and humidty? I have an asian water monitor and he averages about 2-3 inches a month. Personally i think you should widen his diet a bit, try some scrambled eggs with the shell mixed in, and also try dubia roaches if you have, or just use crickets( not a big fan of them but they do work)

[marvelfreak]

Although captive monitors often eat rodents, it now known that this high fat diet soon leads to obesity and lethargy. A varied diet, high in insects, small fish,crustaceans and other low fat content foods, is by far the best. Incorporate vitamin D3 calcium powder into the diet twice weekly for babies and ovulating females, once weekly otherwise.

[Rofeki]

Marvelfreak is absolutely correct, also try some raw turkey and if available cut up catfish. and dont forget to sprinkle food everyday with calcium powder

[Timmy87]

thanks guys

[mo9e64]

marvelfreak is partially right about a rodent diet-if you do not practice proper monitor husbandry feeding your monitor an entirely rodent based diet will lead to obesity and a lethargic monitor.Kept properly will astonish at what they can eat,they should at least be fed daily when juveniles as much as they can eat.In a proper cage which gives the monitors choice of temps, basking spot the area of their SVL of 110-120f for juveniles and higher for adults and ambient temps around the rest of the enclosure low 70's to mid 80's.The biggest enemy of monitors is dehydration-restrict airflow in cage,provide plenty of hides and a good deep dirt substrate you should have no problem with humidity.Provide these conditions and you can feed your monitor entirely rodents-they won't get fat or lethargic and possibly reverse the stunting.You have to remember these monitors need a cage at least 2x total length by 1x total length wide,a Sumatran Water Monitor should be 4-5' at 1 year of age. Good luck Moe