Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my baby monitor hasn't eaten in two days is their any tricks to get your monitor to eat what should i do?????????

Give us all the info you can about him.

What are you feeding (trying)?

What kind of monitor?

How long have you had it?

All about the set up?

Thanks

np

it is a hatchling savannah monitor i've had it for two days it was eating in the pet store. i am trying to feed in large crickets. it is in a 50 gallon tank with a temp on one side of about 105 and on the other side it's about 80. it has three hiding places and a water that i change every day. it looks health clear eyes, nice fat tail and a very cute atitude! so whats up with the little guy is it stress or am i doing somthing wrong?
from Alex

Hi Alex;

Based on what you are telling me you are doing pretty well.

I would try to raise that hot spot to about 130 at least. Be sure he has secure, tight fitting hiding spots. He will probably burrow if given the right substrate too. (dirt)

Being that he is so new and you have only had him 2 days I would continue offering him food. Crickets, pinkies, mealworms, etc. Don't be over bearing in your presence. Try to observe him from a far for a few weeks. Do the necessary cage care but then get out. If he is on the floor try to at least get him up around chest level. Think how big and scary you must seem when you look in there or start cleaning his tank.

Give him awhile to settle in. Be patient and his appitite should pick right up. One of the most valuable lessons in monitor keeping is patients.

Best of luck, keep us posted.

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Gene

thanks man i have him on my dresser so he is about chest hight. my hides are cork bark and broken flower pots.i will keep feeding him and i will give him space.

p.s. should i put more crickets in the cage if i see that he hasn't eaten the crickets from yestarday?

No.

If there are crix in there don't add more.

As cookey as it may sound bugs can stress them too. Feed him just enough and wait.

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Gene

one more ?

could i try pinkies at this point?
if so how often and how many should i feed him?

Try adding a chunk of rodent block in one corner, so the crickets eat it, and not the sleeping lizard's toes.
Starving crickets are voracious.
D.

i didn't have any mice so i just through in some letus.
any other opinions would really help!

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Gene

could i try feeding my savannah sandwich meet like turkey or roast beef?

In all honesty you can try all kinds of stuff but I don't advise it.

He is stressed and it really takes days or maybe a week or so before he will eat. Also, don't expect him to do it in front of you either. Not at first anyway.

Get a couple of pinky mice and leave them on a small plate or plastic lid over night and see what happens. In any case don't drive yourself nuts worrying about him. Give him the time & space he needs.

Give me a shout if you need anything else.
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Gene

Though I have never kept a Savanna, I've experienced similar problems whenever I get a new monitor shipped in. The stress of being moved usually just throws them off feed for a couple of days. In my limited experience, throwing more crickets in is probably the worst thing you could do: your monitor will be more stressed, and you won't know if he's eaten a couple unless you keep an accurrate count and remove uneaten ones at the end of the day.
My advice is to remove ALL the crickets in his tank now, and if you can, put his tank somewhere where he won't be disturbed by people moving around (motion will also increase his stress level). As posted above, increase his basking temp to ~130 if you can. And, maybe the most difficult thing of all: leave him completely alone for 24 to 48 hours. In the wild, they can go for long periods of time without eating, a day or two won't hurt. As long as he has water to drink, he'll be fine (dehydration takes effect MUCH more quickly than starvation). After this time, throw in a cricket or two, he should gobble them down immediately. Throw in a few more, just be sure not to overfeed him.
Just my 2 cents; following this regimen has worked in the past for me.

L

np