Zoo database

Gila Monster

Heloderma suspectum

Natural diet Gila Monster

Gila monsters are carnivorous and often prey on small vertebrates such as birds, reptiles and rodents. Besides this, insects are occasionally consumed. Naturally, they may consume up to one-third of their BW in one meal. In captivity, this amount is often divided over multiple days.

Vertebrates
Vertebrates

Feeding advice Gila Monster

Feed quantity per day

1-3%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 1,8 kg and eats 2% of its body weight, it will get
 
1,8 x 0,02 = 0,04 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

99% Meat and whole prey
1% Supplements

Proportions (fresh product)

0,99 x 0,04 kg = 36 g meat and whole prey
0,01 x 0,04 kg = 0 g supplements

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of prey

Whole prey

Supplements

In moderation

Variety of insects

Not recommended

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

  • Hepatic lipidosis
  • Metabolic bone disease
  • Infectious stomatitis

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least one feeding moment per day.
  • The supplements should be given according to the appropriate dosage that is mentioned on the labelling.
  • Foraging behaviour can be stimulated by dispersing the food throughout the enclosure (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).