Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

viper_183 · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:32 am Post subject: New Bosc

After a few years of keeping Reps i have decided i want to get a bosc monitor, I'm hoping to get one at the weekend and have the viv and everything practically set up.
My problem is after looking on the web and reading many books on the bosc's i have found contradicting info on what their main diet should be mice or insects and the same contradicting info on whether they need a uvb tube or just a spot lamp.
Some of the info says they have to have uv the other say they don't and that just a basking light will do and on the diet side some say to feed mainly mice every 2-3 days with insects given every now and then but others say to give an insect diet every other day with a mouse being given once a week.
Could you help me clear up these contradictions as i want to make sure I'm going have everything set up right and give it the right main diet.
Thanks
_________________
9.9 Corns
1.0 twainese beauty
0.1 Columbian Rainbow
1.1 Royals
3.6 Leopard Geckos
1.1 Water Dragons
1 Dog
2 Cats

WelshBoscOwner · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:45 am Post subject:

I'm no expert but sought advice and my setup is:

1. Heat bulb (on thermostat).
2. UV bulb.
3. Sand and soil mix for substrate (if it's a small baby Bosc then don't use substrate).
4. Water bowl big enough for the Bosc to get into for a soak.

I also have a heat mat on one end of the viv, under a ceramic tile. This keeps the temps up at night, as the room is not heated. A lot of people advise against them as Boscs will dig, if you use one then put a ceramic tile on it to stop him getting at it, and thermostat the mat so that at night the temp is about 10-15C lower than daytime temps. The mat must only be on the hot end of the viv, he needs to be able to cool down if he wants to.

I feed my Bosc insects daily for 6 days. 4 of the feeds are dusted with calcium powder, the other 2 days I add a dusting of Nutribol. On day 7 I give one or two mice (depending on size). I feed the crickets with fruit, veg and shop-bought cricket food. You can also give him hoppers or locusts, depending on his size.

Boscs can be prone to weight gain (from what I am told), the insects are low in fat and give exercise (by chasing them). Mice have a high fat content and give no exercise, so I use them as a weekly treat.

Hope this helps

teguchick · I'm new here... Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

I agree with thread, my boscs are adult & sub-adult, they are fed daily with rats or mice - which are routinely dusted. My sub-adult is an eating machine, however im assured that you cannot overfeed bosc of under 1yr old so im not worried.
My adult will leave mice/rat if not hungry, and they arent overweight either.They also devour locusts and crickets. They also have fruit and some greens too.

Mine are on sand for easy spot cleaning, have basking lamp with thermostat, heat mat with matstat and uv light. My adult loves his huge s/s dog bowl for soaking then pooing in. my sub-adult however will fill the water dish with sand - to the brim!

lot of dosh to part with............but worth it

best of luck
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1.0.0 Argentinian B & Tegu
1.1.0 Bosc Monitors
1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
0.0.2 Crested Geckos
1.1.0 Royal Pythons
1.1.0 W. Hognoses
1.0.0 Mexican milksnake

viper_183 · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject:

Hi,
Thanks for the info. We got it at the weekend and have a uv as well as basking light. We also confirmed with the shop we got him from as to what and when they were feeding it and it turns out they are doing a mainly insect diet with a fuzzy or 2 at the end of the week. So i will keep it on that shedule for the moment to save giving it too much upset.
It is a great little thing though about 10-11ins in length inc tail and really good character already.
I'm hoping it won't take too long to tame it enough so as the kids can have a handle but it won't be just yet.
_________________
9.9 Corns
1.0 twainese beauty
0.1 Columbian Rainbow
1.1 Royals
3.6 Leopard Geckos
1.1 Water Dragons
1 Dog
2 Cats

martin day · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: New Bosc

My problem is after looking on the web and reading many books on the bosc's i have found contradicting info on what their main diet should be mice or insects and the same contradicting info on whether they need a uvb tube or just a spot lamp.

if you look at an adult boscs teeth they are pointed which is used for grabbing insects if youve ever seen an adult bosc in the wild they are a lot more leaner than cpative ones due to them be optunistic feeders that will raid things like termite mounds they will occasionally come accros a dead bird or rodent but only occasionally
theyre bigger african cousins the albigs have much blunter teeth used for grabbing and crushing so its more likely they would eat more rodents than a bosc would
about a uv theres been a debate about this for years now i think personally they need it, people dont use it as they think theyre bosc get enough calcium from the rodents they feed them which is an unhealthy diet for a bosc to have, they have a reputation to be lazy and put weight on easily
they have uv in the wild plus they have an ocassional rodent so why should they not have uv in captivity for the sake of £15 for a tube its better to be safe than have it develop m b d which it could well do if its a baby as they shouldnt be getting any rodents then they will need there calcium and i dont think just dusting insect would be enough

WelshBoscOwner · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:28 am Post subject:

I use an Arcadia compact UV bulb (looks like an Energy Efficient bulb and is low wattage). In most reptiles (with some exceptions, such as nocturnal ones), UV is used to break down calcium into Vit D3, which is important to their health.
As a Bosc is diurnal (active during the day), it would naturally get UV exposure, so keeping it without a UV bulb wouldn't give it a 'natural' environment.
I use 'Bone-Aid' calcium powder on all insect feeds and Nutrabol for vits and minerals twice a week. There are many different calcium powders out there, the important thing is to check that they are low in phosphorous (as phosphorous is a calcium-binder and will prevent absorbsion of the calcium, depending on the quantity).

Be very careful on the dosage of the Nutrabol too. On the tub I have, it states a large pinch per Kg of food, I tend to do a small pinch with 20 crickets (I find using the end of the feeder tongs is good for the dosage). If you give too much Nutrabol, the Bosc (or any reptile) can overdose.

Boscs are pretty hardy reptiles, just keep an eye on the base of the tail as that is where the fat reserves are stored, if this seems overly 'plump' (or his belly touches the floor when he walks) then your bosc has too much fat and is at risk of liver disease. He should have his belly clear of the floor when walking.

My Bosc is off to the vet on friday, he is forever moving his hides and I think he caught the end of his tail, the last 1 to 1.5cm is dark and thin. He is fine in himself and eating, but just going to have him checked and maybe have the end bit removed.

johne.ev · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject:

Hi.
I believe that the tail problem can also be caused by dehydration.

WelshBoscOwner · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:01 am Post subject:

Mark F · I've settled in... Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 30

I've just put Mercury's in my setups on the advice of a reptile rescue center, yes they might not need it, but a reptile that actively basks in the wild under sun most utilize UV in some way. If your a newbie the only way you find out if you've done it right is in half a dozen years when your monitor is running around healthy, why take the risk for the small price of a UV bulb?

mdf