FR,



The calcification of the hemipenis is not what I was referring to, but that is very interesting that this is happening with older captives and not wild caught specimens. Is this also present together with the visceral gout? Just with monitors or with other lizards also? Iguanids and other herbivores are usually more prone to this visceral gout than monitors; the reason is that it has to do primarily with kidney function: herbivores have trouble with too much protein intake resulting in renal (kidney) damage. Another cause of this is something that you appear to be onto: dehydration (is that what you were looking at?). The low humidity demanded by the need to display the animals in a fog-free setting could be contributing to the visceral gout. I assume this is the direction you are looking at. Dehydration is an across the board cause of renal damage, even in us humans. There is still the problem of CB vs. WC and why one is being afflicted and the other is not.



Please post the conclusion of this study and inform us when this paper is released and in what publication. I have never seen a reference to calcification of the hemipenis together with visceral gout. The conclusions made in this study will make interesting reading.



Cheers



Michael

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