Monitor Lizard Feeders

Large Feeder Insects for Monitor Lizards and Tegus — The Insect-Based Diet Guide

Monitor lizards and tegus are powerful, intelligent reptiles with equally powerful appetites. Savannah monitors, Ackie monitors, black-throat monitors, Nile monitors, Argentine tegus, and their relatives have dietary needs that scale with their impressive size — and modern husbandry is increasingly clear that an insect-based diet is healthier than the rodent-heavy approach that was once standard. At All Angles Creatures, we raise large, gut-loaded feeder insects specifically suited for these big lizards.

The Shift from Rodents to Insects

For decades, the default diet recommendation for monitors and tegus was whole prey — primarily mice and rats. While whole prey has its place in a varied diet, the reptile-keeping community has increasingly recognized the serious problems with rodent-heavy diets for monitors:

• Obesity: Rodents are extremely calorie-dense — 20-30% fat. Savannah monitors fed primarily on mice and rats develop severe obesity, which is the leading cause of premature death in captive savannah monitors. The obesity epidemic in this species is staggering.
• Fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis): Chronic high-fat diets lead to fat accumulation in the liver — a life-threatening condition that is epidemic in captive monitors and directly linked to rodent-based feeding.
• Nutritional imbalance: A diet of whole rodents lacks the variety of nutrients that wild monitors get from eating insects, snails, scorpions, crabs, and other invertebrates. Wild savannah monitors eat primarily invertebrates — not mammals.

The insect-based approach uses discoid roaches as the protein foundation (20% protein, 7% fat — far leaner than rodents), supplemented with specialty feeders for calcium, hydration, and variety. This mirrors the natural diet of most monitor species more closely than a rodent-based approach ever could.

Best Feeders for Monitors and Tegus

Large Discoid Roaches — The Protein Foundation

Protein: ~20% | Fat: ~7%

Large discoid roaches are the cornerstone of the insect-based monitor diet. A full-sized discoid roach delivers concentrated protein in a clean, low-fat package — dramatically leaner than a mouse (~20-30% fat). Unlike rodent feeders, roaches do not carry the same parasite risks and their lower fat content is essential for preventing the obesity that kills more captive savannah monitors than any other cause. Roaches gut-load exceptionally well, absorbing calcium and vitamins from produce that then transfer to your monitor at feeding time.

A juvenile savannah monitor can eat 15-30 large roaches per feeding. An adult may eat 20-50. These are big lizards with big appetites — bulk ordering makes economic sense for monitor keepers.

Silkworms — Ultra-Low-Fat Supplement

Fat: ~1% | Moisture: ~83%

Silkworms at 1% fat are the leanest feeder option available for monitors — 7x leaner than discoid roaches and 20-30x leaner than rodents. For savannah monitors, which are the most obesity-prone monitor species in captivity, regular silkworm feedings help maintain lean body condition. The 83% moisture supports hydration in large lizards with high metabolic water demands. Silkworms are also valuable for monitors recovering from illness or surgery — their soft bodies and easy digestibility make them the gentlest feeder for compromised digestive systems.

BSFL — Calcium Without Dusting

Calcium: ~9,340 mg/kg | Ca:P: 6.92:1

Monitors and tegus have high calcium demands driven by rapid growth rates and large body mass. Juvenile monitors grow fast and need calcium for bone density that keeps pace with their size. Adult females producing eggs need even more. BSFL deliver the most concentrated natural calcium available — far more efficient than relying solely on dusting, which is inconsistent and often insufficient for large lizards. Offer 15-30 BSFL per feeding 2-3 times per week.

Hornworms — Hydration and Enrichment

Moisture: ~85% | Ca:P: 3.07:1

At up to 4 inches long, large hornworms are substantial enough to interest even a full-grown monitor. Their high moisture content helps keep large lizards hydrated, and their bright green color triggers strong feeding responses. Use as a hydration supplement 1-2 times per week alongside the primary insect diet.

Species-Specific Notes

Savannah Monitors (Varanus exanthematicus)

The poster child for the insect-based diet movement. Wild savannah monitors eat a diet consisting overwhelmingly of insects, snails, scorpions, and other invertebrates — vertebrate prey makes up a small percentage of their natural diet. Feeding captive savannah monitors a rodent-based diet is nutritionally inappropriate and the primary driver of the obesity epidemic in this species. A lean savannah monitor is a healthy savannah monitor — if you can see a slight outline of ribs and the belly does not drag, your animal is at a healthy weight.

Ackie Monitors (Varanus acanthurus)

Ackies are smaller monitors that thrive on insect-based diets throughout their lives. They are active, lean monitors that rarely develop the obesity issues of savannah monitors. Excellent candidates for a roach-based diet supplemented with BSFL, silkworms, and hornworms.

Argentine Tegus (Salvator merianae)

Tegus are omnivores with enormous appetites, especially during their spring and summer active season. They eat insects alongside fruits, vegetables, eggs, and occasional lean whole prey. BSFL and silkworms mix naturally into the omnivore meals that tegus eat. Reduce feeding during brumation season as metabolism slows dramatically. Florida has a massive tegu community — our Florida-based shipping ensures fast, safe delivery to tegu keepers across the state.

Black-Throat Monitors, Nile Monitors, and Other Large Species

Adult black-throats and Nile monitors are large enough that discoid roaches alone may not provide sufficient food volume. Supplement with other protein sources including lean whole prey (offered once every 1-2 weeks, not daily), hard-boiled eggs with shell for calcium, and large quantities of BSFL. The insect-based approach still forms the daily foundation — whole prey is the occasional supplement, not the other way around.

Bulk Ordering for Big Appetites

Monitors and tegus eat a lot of insects. A single juvenile savannah monitor can go through 150+ large roaches per week. For keepers with multiple large lizards, individual package purchases are not economically sustainable. We offer bulk discoid roaches and bulk BSFL at volume pricing designed for exactly this situation — reducing your per-unit cost while ensuring you always have feeders on hand.

The Complete Monitor/Tegu Feeding Strategy

• Primary protein staple: Large discoid roaches (gut-loaded, calcium-dusted)
• Low-fat supplement (2-3x/week): Silkworms (1% fat — combats obesity)
• Calcium boost (2-3x/week): BSFL (9,340 mg/kg calcium — no dusting)
• Hydration treat (1-2x/week): Hornworms (85% moisture)
• Occasional whole prey (1-2x/month): Appropriately sized lean rodent or hard-boiled egg with shell
• For tegus: Add fruits (berries, mango, banana) and vegetables (squash, greens) as part of their omnivore diet

Shipped Fresh from Florida with Live Arrival Guarantee

Every order ships from our climate-controlled Florida facility in insulated packaging. Our no-questions live arrival guarantee covers every shipment — if any feeders arrive dead, we replace or refund immediately. Feed your monitors and tegus the way nature intended — with high-protein, low-fat invertebrate prey from All Angles Creatures.

Learn More

• Discoid Roaches for Monitors and Tegus: Feeding Guide
• How to Gut Load Discoid Roaches
• Discoid Roach Nutrition Facts
• BSFL Nutrition Facts
• High Calcium Feeder Insects

— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures