Do Savannah Monitors have Salmonella? Can i feed my monitor raw hamburger meat and how often?

Question

I read that some reptiles (mainly lizards) carry salmonella. I have a savannah monitor and i have researched and tried to find the answers to my question, but no luck. So i thaught id post a question here on yahoo. If anyone knows any information on this or where i can maybe find the answers, please let me know. I also read that you may give your lizard raw hamburger meat. But they did not specify what type of lizard, and what age etc. Any input is helpful. Thank you

Answer 1

What others have said is true. With the exception of canned food, it is mainly used as a filler for the diet, as it has hardly to no nutritional value. Your main source of food should be whole prey; mice, rats, crickets, grasshoppers, large worms, even chicks. There are exceptions though, eggs are perfectly fine, include the crushed shell for a source of calcium and some bulk to hold it together through digestion.(or when large enough whole eggs) Cooked meat is also fine, most reptile owners use it as a main source of food. This increases the ability to use a variety of meats and change the lizards diet. Be sure though if you do use meats to supplement calcium properly, also never cook them with oils, butters, and the like. As for salmonella to be sure you have to get the reptile tested, always treat it as if it does though. Wash after every session and cleaning.