Can someone give me some insight on Black Rough Necks?

For the past 12-16 months, I've been building a monitor collection.
My fear is, that in the coming months and years, we will see a complete ban on importation of all Reptiles and Amphibians.
For over 30 years, I've been keeping all types of herps, and being successful with most.
I've decided to focus mainly on the Monitors now, and have sold/traded off most of my other 2000 animals.

Which leads me to this post.

The Mangroves, waters, crocs, ackies, all the species are doing great.
Growing, eating and some are even breeding now.

My problem is with Small Black Rough neck monitors.

They come in looking great. I set them up... they feed, look like they are doing great.. and within a month... started having die offs.

So, I got more.... all looked good, did more research.... twiked the set ups.... still they ate and looked great... and then.... die off....

Does anyone have any suggestions or any idea why they are so touchy??

Could be because they were imports and imports are often more difficult to keep alive. My sister had a Savannah monitor which we believe was a "bush baby" and it just died off about a month or so later.

When you get the monitors, do you ever take them to a vet first to get them checked out as healthy and get a fecal done?

Well, thanks for your input, but the quote "are they import, and that is the reason" is kind of a knee jerk response.
90% of the monitors I have, are imports.
I pancur each and every one of them when I get them.
I believe it is more of a husbandry issue then a "health" issue.
I could be wrong, but I don't think so.
I guess what I am asking is: Does anyone have success with Rough Necks?

I've not lost one Baby Mangrove, or Timor or Blue Tail.
Not one Croc, Water or Yellow Tree.
But the baby Black Rough Necks..... every one......

Just looking for input......

But thanks again for your insight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thebigsquease

Well, thanks for your input, but the quote "are they import, and that is the reason" is kind of a knee jerk response.
90% of the monitors I have, are imports.
I pancur each and every one of them when I get them.
I believe it is more of a husbandry issue then a "health" issue.
I could be wrong, but I don't think so.
I guess what I am asking is: Does anyone have success with Rough Necks?

I've not lost one Baby Mangrove, or Timor or Blue Tail.
Not one Croc, Water or Yellow Tree.
But the baby Black Rough Necks..... every one......

Just looking for input......

But thanks again for your insight.

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Sorry I wasn't clear, I was saying that some imports do die off due to a number of reasons.

But for the next Rough Neck you get, take it to a vet and see what they have to say about it, maybe the Rough Necks have something that Panacur can't get rid of, or maybe you need an antibiotic prescribed from the vet to get rid of it.

I'm just naming the possibilities, but since every one has died off then you could take it to the vet to get a second opinion. I work around monitors every Saturday so it's not like I don't know much about them, I'm just naming some possibilities. We are pretty successful with keeping our monitors too, I haven't seen one dead monitor since I've been there.

That would work out great... if there were Vets here that actually knew anything about Reptiles, or Monitors even.
That is the biggest problem... I have them calling me, asking questions!
I live in Indiana, and at the largest city, Indianapolis......
And there is no.....vet that I "trust" with my animals.
I've had them kill more then heal. True.
So, at this time, I'm looking at the husbandry angle more then the health one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thebigsquease

That would work out great... if there were Vets here that actually knew anything about Reptiles, or Monitors even.
That is the biggest problem... I have them calling me, asking questions!
I live in Indiana, and at the largest city, Indianapolis......
And there is no.....vet that I "trust" with my animals.
I've had them kill more then heal. True.
So, at this time, I'm looking at the husbandry angle more then the health one.

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They could be just a harder species to keep alive.

You can try finding a vet you haven't been to that has good reviews. What caresheets have you been looking at?

Ok, here we go. What type of setup do you have for them? What are the temps, and humidity? What do you feed them? Any other info will help. The more we know the more we can help.

Actually, what I am looking for is........
Someone or some one's....... that have been successful with keeping raising baby Black Rough Neck Monitors.
I want to hear from them......
Not pick apart my husbandry set up.
I mean, thanks and all... but that isn't going to help.
I need to hear from people who have been successful keeping this species.
Thanks.......

I feel you're asking on the wrong website. I have no experience with rudis, but go to varanus.nl, and do a search on there.

You will find much species specific information there. This site is more of a "look what I got, isn't it cool" type of thing.

Good luck,

Chris

ok thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

They could be just a harder species to keep alive.

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Actually they are supposed to be one of the easiest and hardiest of the monitors to keep.
It is either related to them being imports (some type of illness) or the setup is not correct or a combination of both.

Or you may have something infectious in your enclosure. I would check everything over carefully, maybe do a complete clean out and disinfection.

Just a thought

Here is the info on one of the top 5 reptile vets in the world. He is held in VERY high regard and I can tell you....he knows his stuff. I am so lucky he is right here in Tucson and it is were I take my reptiles. I might suggest giving him a call and seeing what he has to say. I think he would talk to you on the phone...he is a great guy!!

Orange Grove Animal Hospital
James L. Jarchow, DVM
3091 W. Orange Grove Rd
Tucson, AZ 85741
(520) 877-2626
http://www.svg-vets.com/index.html

I would like to thank you all for your comments.

I was actually looking for someone who works with Rough Necks.
Not posts giving suggestions on cleaning cages, seeking vets, etc.

But thanks anyway. I'll take the suggestion to go to forums with more advanced hobbyists with Monitor Lizards.

In the interm, I did get a phone call from a importer that says that baby Black Rough Necks are almost impossible to keep alive. He stated that most are collected in "rubber tree plantaitons" and when the babies drink the water they are "posioned". That once it happens, there is no saving them. It's slow and 100% fatal.

So with that in mind, I'll no longer buy babies, and look at larger imports.
Maybe that will work better...... who knows..... it's worth a try.....

Also he told me how most "collectors" get their animals.... they pour posion in the water, wait a bit... and then just walk down stream and pick up all the animals.... baby monitors, small lizards, frogs, etc.......

Easy and most recover in no time, to only be dead a month or so later for being posioned.....

So, heads up if you are ever looking to buy WC from INDO. I can't say if it's true or not.... but .... with the percentage of die off's..... one has to wonder...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thebigsquease

I would like to thank you all for your comments.

I was actually looking for someone who works with Rough Necks.
Not posts giving suggestions on cleaning cages, seeking vets, etc.

But thanks anyway. I'll take the suggestion to go to forums with more advanced hobbyists with Monitor Lizards.

In the interm, I did get a phone call from a importer that says that baby Black Rough Necks are almost impossible to keep alive. He stated that most are collected in "rubber tree plantaitons" and when the babies drink the water they are "posioned". That once it happens, there is no saving them. It's slow and 100% fatal.

So with that in mind, I'll no longer buy babies, and look at larger imports.
Maybe that will work better...... who knows..... it's worth a try.....

Also he told me how most "collectors" get their animals.... they pour posion in the water, wait a bit... and then just walk down stream and pick up all the animals.... baby monitors, small lizards, frogs, etc.......

Easy and most recover in no time, to only be dead a month or so later for being posioned.....

So, heads up if you are ever looking to buy WC from INDO. I can't say if it's true or not.... but .... with the percentage of die off's..... one has to wonder...

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Sounds like how some SW fish are collected. The divers use cyanide and stun the fish to net them. They slowly die AFTER being exported.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SPJ

Sounds like how some SW fish are collected. The divers use cyanide and stun the fish to net them. They slowly die AFTER being exported.

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Exactly... I try to avoid buying saltwater fish from the Indo-Pacific area and flat out refuse to buy fish from the Philippines for this reason. They are very known for this kind of collection. Good luck finding animals that are not doomed to die sometimes even months after being shipped over.

Another reason why I only buy CB animals. I am lucky that Canadians are now successfully breeding ornatus, beccari, prasinus, salvator, etc.

Chris

I know this is an old thread,but I do work with Rudie's.I Have one that I raised up from 6 inches to 4 feet.I had a female with him,they did mate,and she did lay eggs,unfortunately the male ate them.She passed away a couple of weeks ago

http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/u...assett/068.jpg



http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/u...sett/051-1.jpg




Ill be happy to help you any way I can


Greg