Hello, Need a little help here please!



I received a "Black Rough Neck monitor" as a gift over the weekend. (Long story for another time how I wound up with a live gift) He (??~No clue of it's sex~ just guessing) So~ He is about a 14 to 18" (counting all that tail) so I believe him to be just past hatchling size but still pretty young (???).



I've got him in a small quarantine tub right now (How long should I keep him quarantined? I do not own any lizards but do keep a lot of snakes)~ the little info I have found suggests that I have been over heating him since receiving him late Saturday night ~he is in a smallish tub about 2 feet long and I used a ceramic heat emitter~ he is pressed against the cool side not looking happy (What does a "Happy" lizard look like?) I plan to change that now to an incandescent bulb to cut down the amount of ambient heat put off the bulb. I'm finding it difficult to actually create a gradient for such a long animal in such a small quarantine tub. He is on aspen shaving substrate now~ but I suspect (??) he will be better off with Mulch from the garden center (Increase his humidity?) when moved to his permanent home (4 foot long X 2 Foot tall tank).



I'd planned to feed him pinkie mice~ but now think I need to get him some crickets to start with? I am planning to offer his first meal today (after he cools a bit).



How's that sound for a start for my new rough necked friend? Any suggestions on some great resources I should read? Any good books or web sites?



Thanks so much! I imagine y'all will be seeing a lot of me here until I figure out the best care for this little guy. I'll post some pics of my new friend later! (I can't get over how darned cute he is!)
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Cheryl Marchek

AKA JM

Check out my website at:

The Red Dragons Den

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