What do monitor lizards eat? The two most asked-about pet monitors, savannah and ackie monitors, eat mostly insects. Mice or rats are an occasional meal, not the main diet. Vet care sheets suggest gut-loaded insects as the base and link rodent-heavy diets to obesity. Tegus, often kept like monitors, eat both animal and plant foods. They can take rodents as they grow.
That's the short answer. Below, you'll find a diet chart by species and a plain look at where rodents fit. You'll also see how often to feed and what size to buy.
Keep a monitor or tegu in the Tucson area? Mike breeds live feeder mice and rats. Call or text Mike: (520) 451-4380.
What does a monitor lizard eat? Diet by species
"Monitor" covers many species, and their diets differ. Here are three lizards that keepers often ask about. Big monitors, like water monitors, have different needs, and we don't cover them here. Always check a care sheet for your exact species or ask a reptile vet.
| Lizard | Main food | Where rodents fit | How often adults eat | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah monitor | Gut-loaded insects | Mice or rats "only occasionally" | 2 to 3 times a week | LafeberVet |
| Ackie monitor | Gut-loaded insects | Young mice or rats as an occasional treat | Every other day | ReptiFiles |
| Tegu (not a true monitor) | Animal and plant foods | Pre-killed or frozen-thawed rodents as they grow | Every 3 days after age 3 | LafeberVet |
What does a savannah monitor eat?
In the wild, savannah monitors are scavengers that roam far to find small prey. That's from LafeberVet, a vet reference site. The care sheet was written by Dr. Christal Pollock, a veterinarian.
At home, LafeberVet suggests gut-loaded insects as the base. Its list includes large crickets, superworms, king mealworms, silkworms, grasshoppers and cockroaches. ("Gut-loaded" means the insects ate a nutritious diet before you feed them out.)
What about rodents? LafeberVet says: "Mice or rats may be offered, but only occasionally to reduce the risk of obesity." Its list of health problems includes "obesity (rodent-based diet)."
As for timing, LafeberVet says adults may be fed two to three times a week.
What do ackie monitors eat?
Ackie monitors are small and eat mostly insects. ReptiFiles says they're "primarily insectivorous," and that rodents "do not appear to be a particularly large part" of their natural diet.
ReptiFiles lists young mice and young rats as options. It says eggs and whole rodent prey "can be used as an occasional treat." The reason is simple. Rodents are rich in energy, so use them sparingly, or your ackie can get fat.
ReptiFiles' schedule: hatchlings and juveniles eat daily. Subadults and adults eat every other day. Females that are laying eggs eat daily.
What do tegu lizards eat?
Tegus aren't monitors, but keepers often group them together. The difference matters at mealtime. LafeberVet's tegu care sheet says "most tegus are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter." It lists vegetables, plus fruit in smaller amounts.
As tegus grow, they often lose interest in insects. LafeberVet says they "can gradually be transitioned to larger prey items, such as appropriately-sized, pre-killed or frozen-thawed rodents."
LafeberVet says young tegus should eat every day. After age 3, it says every 3 days is enough. It also warns that adult tegus "are prone to obesity."
Can monitor lizards eat mice? Where rodents fit
Yes. Mice and rats are a normal part of many monitor and tegu diets. The key word is part. Every source above treats rodents as an add-on, not the main meal.
Here's why. Rodents pack a lot of energy into one bite. LafeberVet and ReptiFiles both tie heavy rodent feeding to weight gain. So use rodents to add variety and whole-prey nutrition, then go back to the staple.
Live or frozen rodents? Be careful here. LafeberVet's tegu sheet says "feeding live rodents is not recommended due to the risk of injury to your tegu." For tegus, pre-killed or frozen-thawed is the vet-backed choice. The savannah monitor sheet doesn't say either way.
Thinking about live? Use the same rules snake keepers use:
- Pick a small size your lizard can handle easily.
- Stay and watch the whole time. Never leave a live rodent alone with your lizard.
- If your lizard isn't interested, take the rodent out.
Skip wild-caught rodents and insects. ReptiFiles warns that wild insects can carry disease and parasites. Here's why a wild mouse is a bad idea too.
What size rodent for a monitor or tegu?
The care sheets above don't give one gram rule for lizards. LafeberVet's tegu sheet simply says "appropriately-sized" rodents. So start small, and check your species care sheet or your vet.
Mike lists the weight of every size, so you can match what your care sheet calls for:
| Size | How big | Price each |
|---|---|---|
| Hopper mouse | 7 to 12 g | $1.35 |
| Semi-Adult mouse | 13 to 17 g | $1.55 |
| Adult mouse | 18 to 30 g | $1.80 |
| Small rat | 45 to 85 g | $3.00 |
| Medium rat | 85 to 175 g | $4.35 |
Prices are per animal, plus 6.1% Arizona sales tax. Buy 10 or more and save 10%. At 25 or more, save 20%. At 50 or more, save 30%. Sold as feeders, not pets. Larger rat sizes are on the live feeder rats page, and every size is in the feeder size guide.
How often do monitor lizards eat?
It depends on the species and age. From the sources above:
- Savannah monitor adults: 2 to 3 times a week (LafeberVet)
- Ackie hatchlings and juveniles: daily; adults every other day (ReptiFiles)
- Young tegus: daily; after age 3, every 3 days (LafeberVet)
Rodents fit inside that schedule as an occasional meal. Weigh your lizard now and then. If it keeps gaining, cut back on rodents first.
Where can you get feeder rodents near Tucson?
Mike breeds live feeder mice and rats in the Tucson area. Every size lists its weight in grams. No shipping. No dry ice. If you'd rather feed frozen-thawed, that's a fine choice too. Mike sells live animals only for now.
Call or text Mike: (520) 451-4380. Tell him the size and how many you need. He replies the same day. Nothing ready in your size? Get batch alerts, and he'll let you know when the next batch is ready.
Monitor lizard feeding FAQ
Can monitors eat mice every day?
That's not what the care sheets suggest. LafeberVet says savannah monitors should get mice or rats "only occasionally" to reduce the risk of obesity. Insects should be the staple.
What size rodent for a savannah monitor?
LafeberVet doesn't give a gram rule. Start with a small size your monitor can handle easily, and check with your vet. Mike lists grams for every size so you can match your care sheet.
Do tegus eat rats?
Yes. LafeberVet says growing tegus can move to "appropriately-sized, pre-killed or frozen-thawed rodents." Tegus also eat plant foods. Adults are prone to obesity, so rodents shouldn't be the whole diet.
Live or frozen rodents for monitors?
For tegus, LafeberVet says live rodents aren't recommended because of injury risk, and it suggests pre-killed or frozen-thawed. The savannah monitor sheet doesn't address it. If you ever offer live, stay and watch, and take out any rodent your lizard doesn't eat.
How often do monitors eat?
LafeberVet says adult savannah monitors may eat 2 to 3 times a week. ReptiFiles says adult ackies eat every other day. Young lizards eat more often.
What does a monitor lizard eat in the wild?
LafeberVet describes wild savannah monitors as scavengers that roam far to find small prey. ReptiFiles says ackies are mostly insect eaters in nature.
