I know it is obvious that if the lizard is small, such as the Leopard Gecko we can hand-feed. But seriously, share your experiences / knowledge...I just read an article that stressed on Lizard keepers who hand-feed their pets. The article spoke on the Tegu Lizard and said if a keeper must hand-feed then he / she should not purchase one. But I would like to hear it from you guys on various species of Lizards that you know about or have had experience with for my own understanding since I plan on keeping Lizards.
What Lizard Not To Hand-Feed?
- Thread starter Sarcosuchus
- Start date
Handfeeding is usually frown upon because animals willl associate it with food.
For example, ever wonder why a rabbit will bite if you stick your fingers through the bars? It is because the owners stick food through the bar with their own hand instead of placing it in the cage itself from above.
For example, ever wonder why a rabbit will bite if you stick your fingers through the bars? It is because the owners stick food through the bar with their own hand instead of placing it in the cage itself from above.
That's true, or else it would focus on your hand for food everytime you go to it or having to do something it its enclosure and attack even when there's no food out of excitement and believing that there is.
I would say, definitely don't hand feed monitors that get over 3 feet long. Eventually, they will bite the hand that feeds them, and it won't be nice.
it is also a good thing to get a good feeding response with tongs (although i suppose you could do it with your hand) but it offers plenty of reasons to do it (such as making sure each animal is feeding if kept communually), can not put yourself in danger of being bitten... not all animals take food gently, and as you so rightly pointed out, association with hand as food can be a pain every time you want to do any maintanance.
I read a story of someone who kept a species of dwarf croc associated HIM with food, everytime the croc noticed him, he would come towards him expecting food. This association of course made life difficult with such a creature when you wanted to do things beside feeding, and so i think he tapped the basking lamp reflectors before feeding, and eventually it learned...
Monitors i know are also competant at learning when it is feeding time, as i'm sure a lot of other lizards are too.
I read a story of someone who kept a species of dwarf croc associated HIM with food, everytime the croc noticed him, he would come towards him expecting food. This association of course made life difficult with such a creature when you wanted to do things beside feeding, and so i think he tapped the basking lamp reflectors before feeding, and eventually it learned...
Monitors i know are also competant at learning when it is feeding time, as i'm sure a lot of other lizards are too.
sicxspeed;888660; said:
learned my lesson the hard way with that one,hand fed a 3' black throat and he got more then just the rat
but i hand feed my 3' legless from time to time,i may get bit every now and then but thats half the fun of it
