Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My mangrove stopped eating about a week and a half ago. He otherwise appears to be doing well i.e. running, climbing, swimming digging like normal. He has lost a lot of weight and no matter what I offer he wont eat.
he has been to the vet and cleared for any obstructions and dehydration. There are no parasites. They didnt have his light when I went to the store about 3 weeks ago. I had to swtch temporarily to a white light as opposed to his normal red bulb. And his substrate was different for about a week. I have changed everything back exactly the way it was. The heat had been for as long as Ive had him on the lower side of the spectrum about 90 on the warm side. since he has been sick Ive added another basking light to jump that temp up a little to about 95.
The vet had no solution other than force feeding and wait. So Ive been feeding him through a tube for 3 days now and still no improvement. Its like hes lost the will to live? Ive offered live food canned food, fish, eggs, mice, live mice, pinkies, crickets. He will bite the mice if prodded long enough but he only spits them out.
What the hell. do they normally start eating on there own again. I mean feeding him through a tube is not the most relaxing task for either of us. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhh FU&*@*&$&*@*&

Dont get mad but it is likely its because of bad husbandry. It can also be stress why hes not eating since you changed his cage around. But because you keep messing with him and force feeding him he is getting even more stressed out. The more stress the more likely he is going to DIE. Best thing to do is leave him alone. Depending what size it is (i'm guessing small) throw in some small mice or crickets and leave. Dont whatch or handle him anymore. He will not start to eat if he is stressed out.

Also turn the basking spot temp up to around 120-130. ok?

I hope he eats. Best of luck

I know someone here has dealt with this before. do I force him to eat or let him be to calm down. The feeding takes 5 minutes and at least he is getting something. If I do nothing it cuts the amount of time he has to get better down to a fraction.

I dont disagree that it may be stress or that it might be a husbandry issue. His setup has been the same for almost a year now. Seems like something would have come up by now. it probably wouldnt hurt to have him in a larger enclosure but Ive already purchased everything but the lighting and furnishings. His $400 visit to the vet put production on hold til next week.

You tell me. No offense to the only person that has bothered to post but I kinda want several different opinions to go on.

suggestions please.....

No problem if you want more opinions. You can also search the forums and there are TONS of posts just like this one. You would be smart to look into those posts because you will get the information quicker. Most have had the exact same question and its nothing new.

Also look up the care of your monitor in the forum. A 95 degree basking temp is not hot enough. You need alot hotter spot. Again around 120-130. My young storrs monitors use a 130 and my adult storrs use 140. Your monitor will like it alot more. If you dont believe me try it out for yourself.

But how large is your monitor? If you have had it for a year it should be fully grown or atleast half way. Read more about the care of your monitor from people who are successful instead of caresheets on the internet. Your monitors life depends on it.

good luck and i hope your monitor will do fine.

hes about 2.5 feet long.

I feel your frustration. I do recommend 4 things.

1.start feeding him nutri-cal. you should be able find it at a pet store or farm supply house. Use about 3cc's every other day. That should lower both of your stress.

2.Leave him alone. Only bother his surroundings to feed and change water. And block all visual to the outside world.

3. Get a second opinion. My earlier years cost me several animals by not doing this because some vet just aren't educated about reptile deseases, but they mean well.

4.Keeping the temp up is good but an under tank heater for the night in his hide box would be best. I personally use a people heating pad w/o auto shutoff. Standards are higher and well...mine have lasted over 5 years and still going. Spend the money on a good one it's worth it.

Best of luck.

They are thick, unbendable, stronger, and the most accurate heatpads you can get, they last forever, and are designed for such a big heavy destructive animal as a pig to use them, so they cannot be damaged by a monitor. I have one for a transport container, they are exactly the same temp everywhere.
I dont use any heat pads in cages at all. I use low watt floodbulbs in efficient cages, I never see a reason to add anything like that. I have used them before to supplement heat but never in a hide area, after all they sleep there. When I used them it was before I much improved my cage designs.

A picture tells a thousand words.
All high temp basking spots, all healthy, all eat like no tomorrow.


A blackthroat and flavi-argus, both 4ft long, even with the BTs shortened tail from before capture, both were much smaller when I got them.
Basking temps.



Almost 6.5ft of albigularis cross, female at that.

Red ackies.

A few I hatched here at home.
[img]http://shenderson1.photosite.com/~photos/tn/3474_1024.ts1129564533000.jpg[i/img]
My how they grow in no time at all.


Seems like you have some serious husbandry problems that need resolved, my albigularis cross became eggbound through my own fault, her vet bill wasnt that much to get xrays, blood tests, and surgery to remove 44 eggs (over 5lbs worth), she ate on her own the next day, and every day after that for a while.
Maybe you should post pics of the cage you use, describe it in close detail, and ask how it should be set up, you would be amazed how much better your monitor will do afterwards.

The hatching.

He's eating agian. He ate last night and sometime today. Only a couple of fuzzies but he ate.

Thats good news. Lets hope he keeps on eating and he becomes a big healthy monitor. Good luck!

cheers,
Sean