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Feeding the Dumeril's Monitor
Dumeril's monitor can be fed a variety of foods. Their powerful jaws allow them to crack mullusk shells fairly easily so these can be offered. When they are juveniles you can feed them prey such as crickets, mealworms, small mice and various seafoods. Juveniles should be fed everyday or every other day as much as they will eat. Don't worry about obseity in juvenile monitors. As they grow you can increase the size of food items you offer. They should still be given as much variety as you can provide. A subadult-adult Dumeril's monitor can be fed crickets, roaches, mealworms, chicks, small rats, seafood and ground turkey. As adults they can be fed less often and their diet should be monitored to avoid obesiety. Try scenting your prey if encounter a feeding problem; it might do the trick.
Another habit of some Dumeril's is prey dismemberment. This is when your monitor uses its nails to scratch at the prey and rip it apart.At first it was thought maybe the prey being offered was too large, but they would do this even with food that could be easily swallowed in one gulp. Many owners see the same behaviour. Keeping the nails trimmed helps a little but not much. This prey dismemberment leaves the keeper with a wonderful mess to clean up. Note: Fresh water should be available at all times.