Savannah monitor rescue

[Eavlynn]

Hello everyone. I've been in the process of getting a hatchling monitor released into my care for a few days now. This morning I got the green light. This little darling was in the worst set up you could imagine: a 12 by 12 inch exoterra on repticarpet kept at 80F with no humidity. It's dehydrated and emaciated due to refusing food. I brought the little thing home and set up a 20 gallon as a temporary home until I know whether or not it will pull through. Ecoearth and sand as substrate, 60 to 80% humidity, basking spot of 115F and rising as the ceramic material absorbs the heat, and a low wattage bulb on the cool side to keep it from getting too cool.

While the enclosure warmed up I took my newlyrics acquired monitor out for some sun to keep warm. You can see just how skinny it is.


I then gave it a nice warm bath for some forced hydration which seemed to perk it up a bit.


I tried offering some small dubia and a chopped up pinky (that was unpleasant) to no avail. The pinky did illicit a good bit of tongue flicking though, which gives me hope.

It's now resting beneath it's basking platform. I'll let it nap a bit before trying to offer food again. If it doesn't want to eat tomorrow I'll try syringe feeding some warm reptiboost to get some nutrients in the little thing.


This is my first monitor rescue. If anyone here has more experience with this species and sees a flaw(s) in my husbandry, please tell me! Any advice or suggestions will be taken seriously and greatly appreciated. I hope to see this sweet baby recover, thrive, and live a long and happy life.

Thanks for reading

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[wolfy-hound]

I will say that it's quite possible it will die from organ damage, even if it does rally for a while. this won't be your fault, and I hope you're just prepare for it.

I'm not saying don't try, of course not, but just know it could happen.

Otherwise, don't overwhelm it with too much food right away, keep the basking spots high and don't handle it more than absolutely needed so it has the least stress possible. Maybe also cover the 3 sides so it's got less stimulation.

[Eavlynn]

I'll go ahead and black out the sides. I know the odds on this little sweetie are about 50/50. I'm hoping that the low temps haven't lead to any renal damage or failure. It took a few crickets intermittently at the location it was at previously. Last night I was able to give it a little bit of reptiboost. I can't say that I'm prepared for it to die, I would be pretty crushed, but I do know that it's a possibility. I'll be giving it another warm soak tonight with Pedialite in the water. If this baby is going to recover and get strong enough to eat on its own, it'll need to be hydrated.

Reptiboost last night


Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[jclaiborne]

Good luck, I'd say temporarily that enclosure is ok, however once you determine if it is going to pull through, I would get it in the correct enclosure with a nice deep substrate so that it can burrow and regulate himself. I would also like to mirror what wolfy said, try to avoid handling. Make sure humidity stays way up there and the hot spot doesn't drop, I wouldn't continue soaking over and over, he will get more hydration from the moisture in the air and drinking vs soaking.

[Eavlynn]

This enclosure is definitely temporary. Ive also blacked out 3 of the 4 sides to help limit stress and make him (defaulting to male pronouns until proven otherwise) feel more secure. So far, I handle him once a day to give him reptiboost mixed with Pedialite. The warm soaks have had Pedialite in them as well, but if soaks won't help him hydrate, I can stop administering them.

At night, the lights are turned off and the tank is switched to a CHE for heating. I want to keep it warm so he doesn't catch a chill from cool substrate. He began thermoregulating today, which is great.

I intend to build a 4x2x2 enclosure if he pulls through. Once he outgrows that, my juvenile beardie will move in, and the monitor will get an 8x4x5. I've already drafted plans for the adult enclosure. I hope I get the opportunity to see him in it.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[jclaiborne]

My personal advice having gone down the route, of building a 4x2x2 etc. If he pulls through go straight for the full size adult enclosure. They will outgrow that 4x2x2 soooo dang fast, and it really doesn't allow for a deep enough substrate. I had my tegu in a small glass quarantine tank, then moved her to the 4x2x2 and she really didn't do too well health wise, It was darn near impossible to regulate the extreme temps, so I had to rush through the build of the bigger cage.

I have never heard too much actual evidence towards soaking boosting hydration in lizards, that being said I have used soaking as a method of getting them to go to the bathroom if they haven't gone in a while.

Here is some reading that I found pretty helpful, I have found the care to my tegu to be almost identical to a Sav, with the difference being the diet. There are a couple large lizard owners on here lurking, feel free to ask any questions that you may have, we may be able to point you in the right direction.

(Based on Iguanas but still some good info) http://www.anapsid.org/fluids.html http://www.anapsid.org/kidney.html

http://www.savannahmonitor.co/
http://www.savannahmonitor.net/housing/
http://www.savannahmonitor.net/gout/

[Eavlynn]

It's funny that you sent the anapsid links, I've been pouring over them the last couple days. They are immensely helpful.

If the little monitor starts to show improvement in feeding and weight gain, I'll get to work on the adult enclosure.

I know that in the case of bearded dragons, soaking helps with hydration, since they absorb water through their vent. I don't know if it's universal amongst lizard species. I'll have to do some more research on that. I don't want to stress this baby out with soaks if it isn't going to benefit him. He seems to be making some improvement, though it's far too early to tell if he's going to pull through.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[WintersSerpentine]

Rooting for you and your little rescue. I do not know much about monitors, but just seeing the difference in the first and second picture is astonishing!

[Fraido]

Good luck with your little rescue!

Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk

[Eavlynn]

Rooting for you and your little rescue. I do not know much about monitors, but just seeing the difference in the first and second picture is astonishing!

Believe it or not, the only difference between the first and second photo was a soak in warm water. Both photos were taken within an hour of each other.

Good luck with your little rescue!

Sent from my LG-H812 using Tapatalk

Thanks Fraido! This little baby is gonna need all the luck he can get. He's moving in the right direction though

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk