Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am volunteering at a local pet store. They have everything and are VERY knowledgeable. A week ago or so someone dropped of a savanna monitor ourside on their day off. Fortunatly they came to check on animals and feed and found him. He is only about 12" and she is guessing a year old. He has MBD, he is very small and stubby. I don't know how she is coming up with this diagnosis but she knows more than i do.To make a long story short she has TONS of animals that need to be feed that can make her money and she just doesn't have the time to take care of an animal in need. He is in a 20L ( i know this is small but he doesn't barely move around and this is as big as we can provide right now) He is eating a few crickets but don't know exactly how much.I'm taking him home on tues. to rehabilitate him so hopefully she can sell him or find him a good home (don't have room for 4' animal). He will have a UVB lamp get all the nutrition he needs (done tons of research on feeding,etc.) and get liquid calcium drops if he doesn't start to grow. and 2 hides a big water dish all the LOVE in the world and ANYTHING else he needs. I am also going to take him to the vet and make sure he is fine except for the MBD. If anyone has any experiance with this i am open to ALL suggestions. I want to get him big and strong so he can be happy for the rest of his life. If he doesn't get bigger i will keep him and improve his living arangments (bigger cage). Thank you and i appreciate your time.
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Is the person that diagnosed the monitor a licensed vet for exotics? I'll bet not. Definitly get a second opinioin on the MBD diagnosis. A lot of really malnourished Savs look like they do but only a licensed vet should be the ones saying they do.

Get some vitamin powder and crank up the heat. Look for some care sheet on them.
UVB bulbs are not needed for a Sav. The bulbs produce no heat and don't supply any vitamins for a sav that keep the animal in good health. Just supply basking spots of 120o and cool side of 85o. READ CARE SHEETS!!!!!
Good luck.
Christine :>~

i am taking him to the vet as soon as i have a good stool sample. She is not a vet but has been working with reptiles for like 25-30 years.

So are you saying that he doesn't need a UVB lamp? Cuz she said he did and i'm NOT saying that either of you are wrong but i have never had one.

I have read hundreds of care-sheets on them and some places said bcz they are diurnal that they need one and some say that they don't. Also on the temp,everywhere i have read said 100-110o, But if he needs 120o than he will have that. Do you think that a diet(to get some weight on him and help him)
1. As many crix as he will eat
2. A pinky/fuzzy every other day
3. Feeder fish/fish
4. Other protien/animal products
5. Small quantitys of cat/dog food(prefrence?)

Do they make a savv diet? Like that i could get at the pet smart? If he doesn't have MBD than how fast do you think he will grow with calcium supplement and proper diet? And what kind of supplement? I am currantly using rep-cal for my leo's and also a Vit. D3 supplement. Should i use both or 1 or what?

THANKS for all of youre help and sorry for all of the q's

Again thanks,

Rachel
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This is my "BABY"....

It's hard(in my opinion) to get a monitor with MBD(unless on the popular dogfood diet)and that takes time.Iguana's are easy,they need UV lights.Montiors do not(I've tried it over 17 years)No difference.Pics would be good.Feed it all it will eat for a while and see what happens(a vet visit is aleways nice).

Well i actually am not taking him home until tues. For now he will be living in a 20L. I know this is small but he is a rescue and i can't afford to buy a big 100 gallon. My best friend has a 75 gallon that i think i might be able to borrow but not sure. How does this tank set-up sound.......A heat lamp with temps 110-120o, an UTH at night(do i need this?), 2 cardboard box hides(big enough for him to turn around in),a large water dish(big enough for him to soak) and lots of TLC.

If he is just malnourished and doesn't have MBD than should i do abything/give anything to him that you wouldn't give to a normal sav.?

How long do you think it will take before I will start to see some growth?

Right now he doesn't move around much, I will post pics of him and his tank as soon as he is settled in.

Any feeding tricks for a malnourished animal? Special diets? Medicine? Calcium/vitamin? I want to get him big and strong and healthy so he can go live in a huge enclouser wich i cannot provide.

Thanks, Rachel
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The main thing you should be suppling to the kid is vitamin powder. The Sticky Tongue Farms Miner-All is really good and so is the Rep-Cal Phosphorus-Free Calcium w/ VIT.D3 powder. I use both. As a matter of fact, I mix them together and sprinkle that on their bugs and mice. Try to feed everyday or every other day.
Have fun.
Christine :>~

Whole prey items only!!! Pinky mice, roaches, crix, mealworms. No canned food in any form. There is no nutrional value in canned foods. Bugs should make up the majority of the babies diet right now. Give a pinky about once a week or so. That is how I've always started my babies. At your babies size you could feed about 10 or so Crix everyday. If there are still bugs left in the cage then don't feed that day.
The UVB bulbs are mainly used as florescent color enhancer. You are never going to get a straight answer on the UVB bulb issue though. But in my ten years of having monitors I have only used them for my Niles to make their color more ponounced. They use UVB for tropical fish for the same reason also. But as far as I know they have no real purpose other than that.
The average answer on the temps is usually 120o basking, 89-90o ambient, 85o cool side. That can vary a little though. Just make sure you give plenty of water and hide spots. I'm sure you know that.

Hope this all helps. If you have any more Q lest me know.
Christine :>~

P.S. No feeder fish either. Those are extremely unhealthy for a monitor.

You have been a big help, both of you, i am setting up his cage and this is what i have. I know it is not luxury but i'm doing the best i can. A 20L w/ 2 hides 1 on each side and a big water dish. A basking spot of 110-115o(warmer bcz he doesn't move much and i don't want him to fry) a warm spot of 90o and cool of 75-80o.Sound good so far?Feed him as many crix as he wants but don't leave them in the cage. Dust them with calcium and vit.D3.Give him a few pinkies once a week. NO CANNNED FOOD! And maybe some ground turkey or chicken. NO FEEDER FISH! And lots of excercise(if he will move around)Is excersise good or bad at this stage? And lots of TLC and LOVE. Does this sound like a good plan?

Thanks for youre help,
Rachel
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This is my "BABY"....

Your Welcome I'm glad I could help. But there is one more thing. Groung Turkey and especially ground beef also have no nutrients and if you give it to you little monitor it's going to get diarreah!!!! Their tummies aren't desinged to digest such a simple food. They are designed for breaking down whole parts including bone. If you feed any kind of "human" food give the small one chicken gizzards and heart and make sure to add the vitamin powder. Those pieces have the highest vitamin and protein count of the whole animal. Beef is a overall fatty meat and you could be doing your monitor more harm than good by giving it to them.
The rest all sounds good. If you are looking for a very temporary cage that is cheap Target sells 116 quart Rubbermaid tubs w/ locking lids that work really well. They hold in heat and humidity perfectly. They sell for about $12.99. If you want more info on how to set that up send me an email and I'll give you all the info I have.
Thanks again,
Christine :>~