Varanus (Odatria) gilleni feeding on E. macularius

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Tariq Stark

New member
Probably not making myself very popular posting this thread (remember Jan Grathwohl his thread several years ago?) but I do want to share I picture with you guys. This picture was taken by a very good friend of mine. He keeps V. gilleni, whom are known to display sauriophagy in situ. Every now and then he feeds them Eublepharis neonates that need to be culled. This particular gecko was extremely small at birth. It should not be very wise to keep this neonate alive let alone possible let it reproduce. The gecko was killed before it was fed to the monitor. Personally I don't have a problem with these practices. I do the same with all my geckos and other herps.

3171223083_b9ddd90c38_m.jpg


For a larger picture go to:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1355/3171223083_b9ddd90c38.jpg?v=0

Tariq
 
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Tariq Stark

New member
Jan Grathwohl said:
Interesting shot Tariq :) - thanx for sharing (and i'm impressed you remember my thread which must be a few years old now ;))
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I actually came across it while searching for something else on the forum. If I remember it correct that topic is about three years old! Caused quite a stir though ;).

Tariq
 
MattL

MattL

New member
Now honestly, posting this in the leopard gecko forum wasn't a good idea. I personally don't care, and wished there was more photos, but you are definitely asking for some heat if you post it here. Other reptiles would be better, because I'm sure the leopard gecko lovers don't really want to see their "pets" being eaten. Just my 2 cents though.

Matt

By "other reptiles" I meant in the subforum, not other reptiles being fed to Varanus species :D
 
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Geckos and Goannas

Geckos and Goannas

New member
Very nice. Im going to put my self on the burner here and admit I have fed deformed and unhealthy (neonate) Eublepharis and R. cilliatus and Pogona vitticeps to my Varanids. My adult V. tristis LOVE them. Its just a VARY VARY rare treat though. maybe once or twice a year.
 
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Tariq Stark

New member
MattL said:
Now honestly, posting this in the leopard gecko forum wasn't a good idea. I personally don't care, and wished there was more photos, but you are definitely asking for some heat if you post it here. Other reptiles would be better, because I'm sure the leopard gecko lovers don't really want to see their "pets" being eaten. Just my 2 cents though.

Matt

By "other reptiles" I meant in the subforum, not other reptiles being fed to Varanus species :D
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Hi Matt,

I understand what you mean. It is indeed a very likely possibility that I will get some heat over posting this picture. But that is not my intend. I just wanted to point out that culling, in the sense of eliminating obviously inferior neonates, is a very essential part of maintaining healthy stocks. How people want to go about this, feeding them to other reptiles/animals, feeding them back to the parents or "just" euthanize them, is a very personal choice of course. Personally, I don't like to "waste" these animals and feeding them to some of my other reptiles (or to the animals of friends) is my method.

Why am I posting this in the "Eublepharis section" ? Well, because a leopard gecko is being fed to the monitor. This picture is in this case not about a monitor feeding on a leopardgecko. It is a picture displaying a method of culling inferior Eublepharis. If it were to show a Nephrurus being eaten I would have posted the picture in that section.

Not trying to ruffle any feather here guys. I love E. macularius. So much even that I'm willing to cull weak neonates so I can give other enthusiast great, strong animals.

Tariq
 
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cindy

cindy

New member
Hi Tariq,

I don't have any problems with the pic, wich I would have if it were healthy, live animals. Than it would be a sick, provocation to all leo lovers...:)fight:;-))
For me, it seems like a very acceptable solution for sick, deformed and severely injured animals.

My only question is; How do you kill sick or deformed leo's, in a humane way????
I've heard that putting them in a freezer, is extremely painfull (unless the animal has been sedated first)
I have two sick leo baby's myself, and been wanting to put them out off their misery for a couple off days now. But I haven't got a clue how I can do this, without causing to much hurt....:(
Hope you have a suggestion!!
Kind regards,

Cindy
 
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Tariq Stark

New member
Hi Cindy,

I actually do have a method of euthanizing sick, deformed etc animals. Throwing the animal very hard to a floor or wall or a quick blow to the head with a hard object. This might sound cruel to some but it is a way to ensure the animal is instantly dead. It is absolutely no fun to do this- nor should it be!!- but it is a responsibility all gecko (any animal in fact) enthusiasts must be willing to take. Hope this helps.

Tariq
 
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Tariq Stark

New member
I don't have any problems with the pic, wich I would have if it were healthy, live animals. Than it would be a sick, provocation to all leo lovers
Click to expand...

I actually would not mind that. I know a lot of people who feed perfectly good Eublepharis to other reptiles. We love our leopardgeckos of course but yes, even they can be a food item. There really is no difference feeding a monitor (for example) a cricket or a gecko. No difference (ethical) in my opinion anyway. Not trying to compare a in situ situation to ex situ one, but Eublepharis do get predated by other animals in the wild.

Why wouldn't it be a good idea to post a picture of a healthy leopardgecko being fed to another reptile in this section? I'd say, why not? We're all trying to learn about our animals and the fact that they can function as food for other animals can be very educational indeed. Many people know this but seeing it is quite something else all together. This does not diminish the fact that we love them all the same :).

Finally. What I always find very remarkable is that people who only keep en breed invertebrates never feel so strongly about their favorite group of animals being eaten. They accept that their animals, even though they're wunderfull, are a part of the diet of lots of animals. As are our geckos.

Tariq
 
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lassethorsen

New member
Great picture. Thanks for sharring.
I to feed all misshaped or i other ways bad hatchlings to the other reptiles, that's a natural thing for a reptile to eat another reptile.
I would personaly say that it is the right thing to do. if you put it in the garbage it's a wast of perfecly good food and to let it live is just wrong.
 
clint545

clint545

New member
Great picture and interesting. I can't believe this thread is 2 pages in and still civilized:)
I think alot of times pics/topics like this really depend on the way they're presented, and the reasons for presenting them to the general forum members. It was well done, and I can't understand why ppl would get upset about this one:)
 
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MattL

MattL

New member
Tariq,
I completely understand your argument, but I know how some people can be about their "pets". Just a little worried as to where it could have gone, but it seems to not have :)

I'm sure I too will be feeding off any sick, unhealthy, and weak hatchlings to our exanthematicus.


Matt
 
cindy

cindy

New member
Hey Tariq,

Thanks for the tip!! Now I just need to aquirre enough courage to actually do this... I've done it with some gerbils, etc in the past, but never with a reptile.
If I don't trow hard enough, the animal suffers more than I intended.:cry:
I'll let you now if I succeeded, oké?!

By the way; good point there. (refering to feeding healthy, live leo's)
I guess it can be compared with someone saying that it's awefull, cruel, etc to kill pigs or cows for our benefits, while he or she sits at MC Donalds, eating a hamburger....:coverlaugh::blushing:
Kind regards,

Cindy
 
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van_veen456

New member
I believe its the most humane way (according to PETA) but it should be done right (as in, keeping the bag with the CO closed for at least 60 minutes, possibly longer)

I prefer the method Tariq suggests. It never gets easy though...
 
leogirl16

leogirl16

New member
it makes me made when people who post these pictures or videos then get criticized for doing so. not saying anyone here did, but has anyone seen the youtube videos where people are showing a snake or monitor eating? then u scrol down and see all these people criticizing the person who posted it? it makes me mad! its nature, in captivity or in the wild they have to eat! their going to eat what is being fed to them or what they catch. its what their programed to do from birth, to survive they have to eat, or be eaten.
thank you for sharing this picture with us!
 
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