need everyone's imput

[NicoleRussell]

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?

	Ultra Violet Radiation B Ultra Violet Radiation B

[Ed_r]

Why would they go so crazy over something that is bad for them?

The same way we all go crazy over pizza, candy, chips, Soda, Mc Donalds, and other disgusting foods we all crave.

I would take a closer look as to the season they are there? Fruit supply greens supply (types) maybe the insects are a better alternative than what is available.

[eddie]

Why would they go so crazy over something that is bad for them?

I have the same thoughts when I see people buying Hagen Daas..

As for their diet, I am sure that much more is to be discovered in the wild, just like other critters, such as pink toe Ts being labled as bird eaters way back when.. GTPs and other arb snakes being thought to only eat birds for a long time..

	Green Tree Python Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis)

[NicoleRussell]

Animals were more readily abundant on these island then then others (where the whole cyclura habitat is being destroyed)---he noted that the cylura were visably larger as well.
It's not the same with lizards I think Ed---take mine for example.
They have access to fruits, veggies---everything. I have never offered animal products. The first time I do, they go wild like they haven't eaten in months.
With people we are notoriously unhealthy. We eat garbage when given the choice and sometimes smoke and do all sorts of things an animal---working on pure instinct would not. If they are out in a jungle somewhere---the world is their oyster. Why would they choose carion if they are not omniviores?

[NicoleRussell]

eddie that's another thing---I think snakes are opportunistic feeders too. But we all know for a fact they don't eat fruit. They are totally carnivorous. You can through apples in the cage all day and everyone agrees (including the sanke) that it will not get eaten.
With this though---it seems when given the choice these guys want whole prey.

[eddie]

Yes.. but snakes have also been known to eat heat pads and towels

The snakes and tarantula reference was towards bad or incomplete studies/observations in the field, just to give an example of a few that had been noted as doing something after one or two observations or poor trains of thought in study

[John_White]

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.

Not a very strong pro animal protein argument. Does he have any facts to back-up his statement?
I don't know much about cyclura, but I'm sure some invertebrates are consumed (inadvertently?) as they forage in the wild.