Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

My new Blackthroat (first monitor by the way) has developed some little sores on either side of his mouth. They are very small but the redness draws attention to them. What do you think they are?

He is eating (very) well but doesn't seem to spend much time out of his hide. I can encourage him to come out with food but he'll only bask for a short while before disappearing again.

He's 22inches from snout to tip of his tail. Kept in a temporary enclosure of 4'2'2'. Temps are 140 basking - 78 cool end. I am using bark chippings 8" deep for substrate. I feed him black crickets, locusts and the occasional rat-pup. He loves them all.

Also, what do people here think about handling. I've had him 8 days now and have avoided it. I have been placing my glove in the viv and he is curious and tastes it before backing off slowly. I also feed him from forceps which he has no problems with. In fact, if he sees me reach for the forceps he's off the branch and cruising the glass in a second (intelligent boy).

I am a little concerned with these little red areas on each side of his mouth though. They are not bleeding or pussy at all but I don't like it.

P.S. Jed did you get my message?

Where exactly are the sores located?The corners of the mouth?

Hi BRG,

No they're not in the corners of his mouth. They're about midway between the corner and tip of his mouth.

Any ideas?

I can't be sure without seeing them but my Blackthroat got small sores(almost bloody,but not)on it's mouth from biting into the skulls of the mice when she was younger and her bones weren't developed fully.I put a tiny bit of Neosporin cream on it for a couple days and it cleared up fine.As for the taming,I would give it another week to adjust and gradually start interacting with it more and more.My girl was a real tail whipper and hisser when younger,now she's great.I worked with her from the day I got her at about 3-4 weeks oldShe's almost 16 month's old now.

It sounds like porphyrin staining, which is a reddish fluid that leaks out their gums midway on the jawline in times of stress. My big male used to do it all the time, but now hardly ever does, as he is now used to me. But as soon as he sees a stranger, bam! 'bleeding' gums. Its almost instant. I now take it as a mood indicator. It's real common to varanids, from the posts I read about different species on here.

Of course, I haven't seen your monitor, only you have. If its only on one side of the mouth, it may have an injury. I'd be skeptical though, I saw one of my monitors being bitten by a mouse it grabbed down low on the body. The mouse was unable to cause any damage or bleeding before it was eaten. I think their gums are tough. Your call.
D.