I'm posting this for a friend of mine, who just lost their young savanna monitor. I know its hard to find a cause of death on the internet, and that it would be better to take the body in and have it autopsied. However, we thought that maybe someone would have an idea of what happened.


For some background information - She only had him for about four weeks. He was still relatively young (hatchling). The temperature and humidity in his tank were appropriately regulated, along with basking temperature. She has thermostats for all heat sources, and thermometers to keep an eye on the heat. Ambient temperature was around 90 degrees, basking was around 110, and humidity was 55-60. She fed him hornworms, dubias, and she also gave him a very small pinky mouse - everything but the mouse was dusted in calcium w/d3. He was a very good eater. As for handling - she handled him for 5-10 minutes every two days.


The monitor appeared healthy the last few days (he passed last night), eating with excitement and no problems. He explored his tank regularly and used his hides for regulating his temperatures. However, he didn't eat Thursday but was still active and alert - nothing out of the ordinary except being "less bitey" when handling. She said he was active the entire past week, and has seeemed fine since she bought him. The friend and I had been video calling - she went to show me him and noticed he was sleeping under a hide. About an hour later, however, he was found in a corner on his belly just laying there.


After his death, while she was looking over his body she noticed he had one sunken eye, his belly was incredibly soft and even slightly "moldable." My friend said she could only feel his spine in the abdominal region, and the bones in his legs and such. She also saw a large black spot on his belly.


My friend decided to do some slight research before bed, and found that most savanna monitors are not captive bred - and most have parasites. Could it have been parasites? If so, should she be worried about any of her other pets (crested geckos, snakes, various bugs, etc.)? I had brought up that he may have been exploring, tried jumping out or up for some reason and landed wrong? Possibly puncturing something inside? Although we both realize (like I said), that its hard to determine the cause of death online - she wants some closure.


I have attached a link to some photos of his setup, and him both before and after his passing. https://imgur.com/a/i1VodID