Water Monitor HELP!

My buddy has a water monitor and it hasn't ate in a month it has been "sleeping" a lot and had drool from his mouth. I told him I think it has ri for sure but i'm not a lizard guy so I just want to make sure I told him the right thing to do I told him to raise the temps until you can get him to the vet. The vet isnt open until monday is there anything else he should know?

It would help tremendously if you posted photos of the conditions the monitor is being kept in, so we can troubleshoot.

It needs a basking spot at least 95 F and warming if he can make that happen.

If it's off food, there is something very wrong. How big is it and where did it come from?

A 95F basking spot is too cool. Monitors need 120 - 150F basking spots.

Sounds to me like your friend is keeping his lizard way too cool. It cannot properly digest, so it won't eat.

I just love it when people with no clue jump right into these animals...

Chris

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Originally Posted by wilomn

It needs a basking spot at least 95 F and warming if he can make that happen.

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No the basking site need to be at least 130,but that is surface temperature,and you can only read that with a temp gun.Without pictures of your set up or a detail of how he is set up it would be hard to help.I'm going to assume that it is being kept in a fish tank with a screen top,and his temps are to low.If so cover the top with foil,with a screen top you are letting all the heat and humidity out.


greg

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Originally Posted by gbassett

No the basking site need to be at least 130,but that is surface temperature,and you can only read that with a temp gun.Without pictures of your set up or a detail of how he is set up it would be hard to help.I'm going to assume that it is being kept in a fish tank with a screen top,and his temps are to low.If so cover the top with foil,with a screen top you are letting all the heat and humidity out.


greg

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Anyone know the definition of "least"?

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Anyone know the definition of "least"?

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Pronunciation: \ˈlēst\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English leest, from Old English lǣst, superl. of lǣssa less
Date: before 12th century
superlative of 1little
1 : lowest in importance or position
2 a : smallest in size or degree b : being a member of a kind distinguished by diminutive size <the least bittern> c : smallest possible : slightest


Happy to help :D

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Originally Posted by flynn

Pronunciation: \ˈlēst\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English leest, from Old English lǣst, superl. of lǣssa less
Date: before 12th century
superlative of 1little
1 : lowest in importance or position
2 a : smallest in size or degree b : being a member of a kind distinguished by diminutive size <the least bittern> c : smallest possible : slightest


Happy to help :D

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hahahahaha

Sorry I cant provide pics he told me about it over the internet so... He's had him since it was a juvi and now its a good size but yea I do remember him keeping it in a glass tank with screen top.

Wow I'm surprised no one put this take it to a vet raise the temps also what is his humidity and how big is the monitor and its enclosure, and what is it eating and how often.

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Originally Posted by jere000

Wow I'm surprised no one put this take it to a vet raise the temps also what is his humidity and how big is the monitor and its enclosure, and what is it eating and how often.

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Greg and I have both asked for specifics as to how the monitor is being kept. In fact, mine was the first user comment in the thread.

The majority of issues monitors have in captivity have to do with husbandry errors. Temperatures, diet, cage structure, humidity levels, stress and lack of security, etc. If they go off food, it's for a good reason and is usually caused by lack of safety. Survival from predators (including humans) trumps eating.

While "take it to a vet raise the temps" is a wonderfully generic response, again it would be nice if some more specifics about the animal's conditions were available, that would help us tailor the response.

For example, now that we know the monitor is being kept in a fish aquarium which cannot hold humidity worth anything, we can assume dehydration as a primary factor and make recommendations to construct a proper enclosure, but without seeing photos (such as a photo of the animal), we can throw out educated guesses all day long and possibly get nowhere.

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Originally Posted by allergenic

Greg and I have both asked for specifics as to how the monitor is being kept. In fact, mine was the first user comment in the thread.

The majority of issues monitors have in captivity have to do with husbandry errors. Temperatures, diet, cage structure, humidity levels, stress and lack of security, etc. If they go off food, it's for a good reason and is usually caused by lack of safety. Survival from predators (including humans) trumps eating.

While "take it to a vet raise the temps" is a wonderfully generic response, again it would be nice if some more specifics about the animal's conditions were available, that would help us tailor the response.

For example, now that we know the monitor is being kept in a fish aquarium which cannot hold humidity worth anything, we can assume dehydration as a primary factor and make recommendations to construct a proper enclosure, but without seeing photos (such as a photo of the animal), we can throw out educated guesses all day long and possibly get nowhere.

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Since it's been a month, and drool is never good. BG thinks the best thing for this animal right now is making sure the temps and humidity are right, and take it to a QUALIFIED VET ASAP. A Qualified VET can tell him how to care for it properly.

Big Gunns doesn't think that animals "usually" go off feed for lack of "safety"(it is a cause though). It's usually husbandry(which can include "safety") that's the problem. Temps and food it basically doesn't "like" are bigger problems when it comes to a Water Monitor. BG does agree that a scared animal may go off feed though.

Get this animal to a Vet ASAP.

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Originally Posted by allergenic

Greg and I have both asked for specifics as to how the monitor is being kept. In fact, mine was the first user comment in the thread.

The majority of issues monitors have in captivity have to do with husbandry errors. Temperatures, diet, cage structure, humidity levels, stress and lack of security, etc. If they go off food, it's for a good reason and is usually caused by lack of safety. Survival from predators (including humans) trumps eating.

While "take it to a vet raise the temps" is a wonderfully generic response, again it would be nice if some more specifics about the animal's conditions were available, that would help us tailor the response.

For example, now that we know the monitor is being kept in a fish aquarium which cannot hold humidity worth anything, we can assume dehydration as a primary factor and make recommendations to construct a proper enclosure, but without seeing photos (such as a photo of the animal), we can throw out educated guesses all day long and possibly get nowhere.

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Whoops sorry i put two sentences together i meant no one said take it to a vet the rest was just questions that might help i did'nt mean no one asked for specifics.

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Originally Posted by Big Gunns

Big Gunns doesn't think that animals "usually" go off feed for lack of "safety"(it is a cause though). It's usually husbandry(which can include "safety") that's the problem. Temps and food it basically doesn't "like" are bigger problems when it comes to a Water Monitor. BG does agree that a scared animal may go off feed though.

Get this animal to a Vet ASAP.

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The number one reason a monitor will stop eating is stress.There are a number of thing that could cause the stress,temps to low or high,the humidity is to low,or lack of safety.A monitor kept in a fish tank with no place to hide,and an owner trying to force themselves on them,they are going to stop eating.Lack of safety will cause a monitor to stop eating,in fact it is common for young Water monitors to regurgitate when they become stressed

greg

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Originally Posted by gbassett

The number one reason a monitor will stop eating is stress.There are a number of thing that could cause the stress,temps to low or high,the humidity is to low,or lack of safety.A monitor kept in a fish tank with no place to hide,and an owner trying to force themselves on them,they are going to stop eating.Lack of safety will cause a monitor to stop eating,in fact it is common for young Water monitors to regurgitate when they become stressed

greg

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So what you're saying is basically what BG said, just in a different way. We can go back and forth on the number one reason(if your husbandry sucks the animal will be "stressed")....whatever way you look at it...this animal needs a Vet. "Stressed" animals don't usually "drool" though, they get skinny and die. Animals that are kept too cold, usually "drool".

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Originally Posted by onlyjays9p

Sorry I cant provide pics he told me about it over the internet so... He's had him since it was a juvi and now its a good size but yea I do remember him keeping it in a glass tank with screen top.

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Big Gunns thought he read this. It's not a baby and it's been kept in this enclosure for a while, so BG doubts it's "stress". It probably(we don't know since this is second hand) has an RI from poor husbandry(kept too cold).

I'm not arguing with big guns,what I'm saying instead of giving band aid advice get to the root of the problem.You can take it to the vet,and the vet can make him right but if you don't fix the problem your back to square one.

greg

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Originally Posted by gbassett

I'm not arguing with big guns,what I'm saying instead of giving band aid advice get to the root of the problem.You can take it to the vet,and the vet can make him right but if you don't fix the problem your back to square one.

greg

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Thats if you can find a qualified vet that knows something about monitors. Finding good herp vets can be quite a challenge

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Originally Posted by gbassett

I'm not arguing with big guns,what I'm saying instead of giving band aid advice get to the root of the problem.You can take it to the vet,and the vet can make him right but if you don't fix the problem your back to square one.

greg

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Big Gunns didn't give any "band aid" advice.:P If he takes it to a "qualified Vet". The Vet is clearly going to tell him what he's doing wrong with his husbandry. We can't tell him, because we are getting this info second hand. We don't know how he's keeping it exactly.

No worries about arguing with BG.....everyone understands you're gonna lose.:rofl:


ps. "lose". This word means you're not gonna win. This is the correct spelling everyone. It is not spelled "loose". This is BG's new mission in life...to make sure everyone can spell "lose" correctly.:D

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Originally Posted by Big Gunns

If he takes it to a "qualified Vet". The Vet is clearly going to tell him what he's doing wrong with his husbandry.

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Here I'm going to disagree with you.As stated by Dan it will be hard to find a qualified vet.There is only a small handful of people who work with them in the field,let alone know how to properly treat monitors.Most vet will treat all reptiles the same,even the ones who specialize in reptiles..Most vets are following outdated information,so they would have no clue on proper husbandry.Keeping and understanding monitors has come along way in the last ten years or so,

ps I have 5 kids,I dont lose

greg

Sorry everyone I didnt mean to cause such a ruckus lol I'll tell you as much as I know he keeps it in a larger fishtank and has a 10-20 not sure gal tank inside that he keeps full of water with water filters he feeds it twice a week rat's and goldfish and eggs I think he kept two larger basking bulbs on and a fluroencent light He has a screen top on it I'm sure Ive missed some of the foods he feeds it I havent talked to him in a while or been to his house this was just brought up to me online so I figured I'd ask here for help for him. he said yesterday it ate again, also hes had it since it was a baby and now its about as round as a nfl football so hes had it for a few years and this is is first problem hes had with it. He really takes well care of it he plans on taking it to the vet monday hes followed everything the pet store has told him since day one but i'm assuming they didn't know half of what you guys know. I personally keep pythons, lizards are to much work for me :) so that's why I asked.

2 Things i saw that could be a problem. He only feeds it twice a week and he also lets it eat goldfish.
Moniters need to eat every day. Unless its an adult. Then scale it back to 4 or 5 times a week. Rats,chickens,shrimp,eggs,ground turkey/chicken.
Do Not feed them goldfish. They are bad for anything to eat.
Here is a pic of me holding one of my Friend Jims water monitors. Its an old pic and he is about 2 times the weight now.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...afridge003.jpg

All I'm going to say is you cannot state "kept in a larger fish tank" and "takes well care for it" in the same paragraph.

Your friend is slooooooowly torturing that poor animal to death. Just because it isn't dead yet doesn't mean it's not suffering.

I think this monitor will eventually "lose" this battle.

Chris

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Originally Posted by mumps

All I'm going to say is you cannot state "kept in a larger fish tank" and "takes well care for it" in the same paragraph.



Chris

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Bullsnot.

Maybe YOU can't but that does not mean no one else could, would or even should.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Bullsnot.

Maybe YOU can't but that does not mean no one else could, would or even should.

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So you think Varanus salvator can be maintained in a fish tank????? :O:O

Perhaps for the first couple months, but outside of large aquariums (I'm talking SeaWorld here), there is not a fish tank manufactured large enough to house one of these incredible animals.

I was starting to agree with you on some of your other posts, but you just lost the battle. Bullsnot yourself.

Chris

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Originally Posted by mumps

So you think Varanus salvator can be maintained in a fish tank????? :O:O

Perhaps for the first couple months, but outside of large aquariums (I'm talking SeaWorld here), there is not a fish tank manufactured large enough to house one of these incredible animals.

I was starting to agree with you on some of your other posts, but you just lost the battle. Bullsnot yourself.

Chris

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You have made assumptions.

I don't see where he said it was a forever home.

As you yourself have stated, it's quite doable, paraphrasing, in the short term.

Are you privy to information which we are not?

................

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Originally Posted by gbassett

Here I'm going to disagree with you.As stated by Dan it will be hard to find a qualified vet.There is only a small handful of people who work with them in the field,let alone know how to properly treat monitors.Most vet will treat all reptiles the same,even the ones who specialize in reptiles..Most vets are following outdated information,so they would have no clue on proper husbandry.Keeping and understanding monitors has come along way in the last ten years or so,

ps I have 5 kids,I dont lose

greg

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Like Willy said about Mumps...You are doing a lot of "assuming"...you know what they say about people that do that.:D You're assuming he can't find a qualified Vet, you're assuming what the Vet will tell him to do. "Hard" to find, and impossible to find are two different things. If he looks, BG is sure he can find one...he may need to drive a while though. BG will agree that if he doesn't find a "qualified Vet" he is sure to get bad advice...that's why BG said to find one.


If you have 5 kids...you've already lost....your freedom.:P

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Originally Posted by onlyjays9p

Sorry everyone I didnt mean to cause such a ruckus lol I'll tell you as much as I know he keeps it in a larger fishtank and has a 10-20 not sure gal tank inside that he keeps full of water with water filters he feeds it twice a week rat's and goldfish and eggs I think he kept two larger basking bulbs on and a fluroencent light He has a screen top on it I'm sure Ive missed some of the foods he feeds it I havent talked to him in a while or been to his house this was just brought up to me online so I figured I'd ask here for help for him. he said yesterday it ate again, also hes had it since it was a baby and now its about as round as a nfl football so hes had it for a few years and this is is first problem hes had with it. He really takes well care of it he plans on taking it to the vet monday hes followed everything the pet store has told him since day one but i'm assuming they didn't know half of what you guys know. I personally keep pythons, lizards are to much work for me :) so that's why I asked.

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It does sound like it may need a larger enclosure. We really need to hear from the owner so we can ask all the pertinent questions. It's good that he's going to see a Vet, but it better be a qualified one, otherwise this animal may be worse off than it was before.

You can not keep Monitors in fish tanks.I have kept baby monitors in fish tanks,but they suck.Most people use screen top(bad choice)with a screen top you are letting all the heat and humidity out of the cage,so the solution is to cover the top,but once you do this is becomes very difficult to maintain the proper temperature gradient.The other problem is once you have them setup properly,they grow fast


greg

Like I said, for the first couple of months. Why bother setting up an enclosure for the first couple of months?

Anyway, back on topic. Yes a "qualified" herp vet is required. I would also raise temps immediately, raise humidity levels immediately, cover that screen top immediately and find a forum with experienced varanophiles immediately. There are some here, but there are much better resources available...

Chris

Chris,I'm not disagreeing with you I also use them for the first couple months.I find it easier to make sure they are feeding and basking.all I'm saying is that most people buy a Niles and Waters and think they can keep them in a fish tank for a couple years,they use the pet store package and the animals end up like this guys monitor.

greg

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Originally Posted by gbassett

Chris,I'm not disagreeing with you I also use them for the first couple months.I find it easier to make sure they are feeding and basking.all I'm saying is that most people buy a Niles and Waters and think they can keep them in a fish tank for a couple years,they use the pet store package and the animals end up like this guys monitor.

greg

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I agree 100%. My V. ornatus is just about one year and 2 months old. What size fish tank holds a four foot monitor??? None. He's pretty well outgrown his 8x4 now...

Chris