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need everyone's imput
At first I was just looking for lizard people to comment but when I thought of all the brainpower in the snake staff here at RTB and some of the members---I changed my mind. This is all opinion stuff and I would like everyone's.
Iguanas have been sold/imported/studied to death and basically people have agreed that a diet minus animal protien is better overall for the health of the animal. After being studied in their natural environment they were said to eat little or no animal protien and their bodies seem to do better without it. Some people will feed a little here and there but basically they are herbivores.
Now cyclura are basically said to have similar needs in diet. At least that is what I have always thought. Someone big in the cyclura community went into the field and studied certain species of cyclura this year and his findings were a little suprising. After returning from a few gorgeous islands--he claims (and others also feel) that cylcura in nature will eat insects, carrion and plant matter. He feels a diet lacking animal protien is bad for them.
Then there is a segment of the population who feel completely opposite and they seem to be raisng healthy cyclura as well.
My two babies are just that---babies. They have been fed a diet void of all animal protien since I got them as hatchlings. After reading this info I decided to see how they would react to a plate of superworms, then a few pinkies.
The movement of the superworms drove them crazy....they saw the shadows of the worms through the plastic plate and nearly ripped them from my hands. Then when offered pinks...the rhino never had a prayer. The Blue Rock Ig downed the whole bunch...never came up for air.
They did not hesitate at all and their instincts kicked in immediately.
What does this mean? I'm not sure.
I have always contended that lizards are smarter then people when it comes to their needs. They will always choose the better bulb, basking temp and hide. As far as diet goes I would think that anything I offer them they would have a choice with in the wild....and in nature they will choose what is healthy for them. A Komodo Dragon will eat anything meat---but their bodies are made that way.
Why would they go so crazy over something that is bad for them? I plan on posting this on the UVB list as well since I really admire a few of the members there....I will also email Bert at agama.
What does everyone here at RTB think?
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