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One of the pleasures of working with Gilas in
captivity is their almost universal fondness for
readily available foods, namely mice and rats.
The typical Gila will eat whenever food is
placed before it. In fact, they will easily eat
to the point of obesity. Weight gain is also
facilitated by a naturally low metabolic rate.
Avoid obesity—an obese Gila is not a
reproductively fit Gila.
Gilas
are easily maintained
on a diet of mice or young rats (freshly killed
or frozen-thawed). Feeding eggs to Gilas should
be avoided (a mouse can be
dipped in pasteurized egg whites to entice the
rare reluctant feeder to eat).
Frequency of feeding will depend on the
individual animal and the time of year. For a
maintenance diet I feed adult males about every
two weeks. In preparation for egg laying and to
recover from egg laying, I feed females twice a
week. Gila Monsters have unusually low metabolic
rates, and will eat until they become obese if
allowed to do so.
Fresh
water should be provided in a bowl that is not
easily tipped over. If a
large enough bowl is provided, it is not unusual
for Gilas to spend long periods of time soaking.
If they are allowed to do so, the water bowl
will need daily cleaning. I prefer to provide
water in a disposable 16 ounce deli container.
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