Reptile & Amphibian Forums

since few people seem to care about my baby ackie slowly perishing as listed in my previous thread, I will post a new one to drum up some more caring from you people. I have checked and double checked my husbandry and I am completely lost as to what Im doing wrong. I have the little guy on a top-soil/sand mix that holds burrows well, though he has not burrowed at all. He has been lethargic as stated in the previous thread, and does not eat. Today I added a 5.0 UV bulb insted of the 2.0 I had in there. His humidity is steady at 50 percent and his cool side is low 80's with a high at the basking spot of 120. He can choose from a number of different hiding spots in a range of temps. But he is still lethargic, usually hanging out by the hot lights. Today since I changed the bulb, he became a bit more active, and looked like he might chase down some crix I added, but after what looked like him giving great thought into the matter, he decided to close his eyes insted. He is a bit more active since I changed the substrate/light but I dont know what else to do. He's not eaten in 3-4 days and Im starting to get worried about the little guy. he's no hunger striking ball python and he needs to eat soon. Any help or input would be appreciated. even if you just want to call me a dumbass, that' cool. Im just trying to save this beautiul creatures life that I may have endangered.
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1.1 Ball Pythons (Morty & Boomba)
1.1 Beardies (Jenkins Frizzle & Lucy Frizzle)
1.0 Sinaloan Milk Snake (Dig-Dug)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Roylee)
0.0.1 Yellow Ackie (Koochooloo)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Gilberta)
1.0 Betta Fish (Sushi)

how do you take your temps? analog temp dials can be very inaccurate. if the animal is hanging out at the hottest spot a lot, then it isn't hot enough. i would rather see 130 than 120. but it has to actually be 130, not actually 105 that shows as 120 on a crappy dial or color thermometer.

what are you offering for food?

a picture of your setup could help.

the problem is that there could be a million reasons why you are having trouble. you have provided some detail, but it isn't enough, not specific enough, to have folks guessing at the problem, that is why you are getting no response.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Its your responsibility to save it. And your not going to do that here. If you think you have medical problems(why it needs saving) THEN TAKE IT TO A VET AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. I say hope, because not all vets at very good with reptiles.

There is NO magic potion or no particular piece of advice, any one here can instill in your brain, that will save your monitor. You have read the basics, you say you have given them to your ackie. The rest is up to you.

We may be able to recomend husbandry that will prevent an ackie from becoming sick, but we cannot cure a sick one, WE ARE NOT VETS and VETS do not administer medical advice without seeing the animal in question. At least not very well.

TAKE IT TO A VET, best advice you can get. And while its there, take pics of your setup and post it. Maybe you missed something. Cheers

FR. woa there, take an easy! I usally don't post because I'm more of an observer, but these forums are intended for the overal basis of reptile knoledge and experiance. Theres nothing wrong with a person panicing because of a sick animal. You also don't know where they got their information from, so in a sence you can't blame him or her for wrong husbandry techniques. I'm a big believer for doing a lot of research before purchasing an animal, but I don't like seeing people wow out on inocent people that at least have the heart to panic about their animals health. These forums are intended for sharing advice and helping others along in THEIR KNOLEDGE IN reptiles. It seemed to me like you wrote alot about taking it a vet and accusing of poor husbandry, but never actually gave some advice in husbandry. Why post if what your posting is not adding to the community of knoledge?

I understand where your comming from, and just realized who you were. I did not mean to offend you in anyway, Frank! Honestly, I sort of went on a ranter, my apologies! You contribute plenty to the reptile community!

Well, the animal is sick, so the chances of it being a problem of poor husbandry are pretty good.

The owner of the animal posted a few temperatures about his setup, but not enough for anyone to properly evaluate it. Pictures seem to help a great deal, but there are none of those either. There has been so much discussion on husbandry here, surely he could find details about it in an archive search.

Frank did offer advice...take it to a vet. Seems simple enough.

There is no advice for a sick monitor but to take it to a vet. Period. And I did not accuse him of anything. Thats why you can go back to observing, your not doing a good job.

You folks need to understand that TALK will not help the monitor, it only helps you.

A vet needs the monitor in hand to actually tell whats wrong with it. We do not have the monitor and we surely cannot go by what the owner is saying. Therefore, TAKE IT TO A VET. Thats if its really sick and the owner really wants help FOR THE MONITOR. Cheers

When you realized who FR is?
I saw nothing wrong with what FR posted, in fact years ago I saw that 99% of new keepers who are asking for medical help or advice need a slap in the face to wake them up and smell the coffee.
Why, bad husbandry got them in the position they are panicking for.
The vet in the only one who can fix a medical problem, once its fixed the person can ask for proper husbandry advice to prevent the problem or worse. Of course proper husbandry would have prevented this, if they did their research.

Guys, I'm by no means trying to make enemies with any of you. I misinturpreted what FR said, I apologize! It was late for me and I was tired. I assumed that FR was just someone giving someone eles a hard time, which I see alot of in beginer reptile enthusiasts. Fr was oviously not giving him a hard time, I re-read his post today. My first mistake was that I only read his first few sentances, then I jumped to conclusions. Again I apologize to FR. I had a late night the night before and I was over tired and for some reason, that post got my goat lol. Don't worry FR, I'll go back to observing

No problem, I fully understand. I know I have done the same thing. Cheers

Just putting two and two together, you mentioned ground turkey, dirt, and having to soak to get it to poop. You might be nursing an impaction... Listen to Frank Retes- GET IT TO THE VET

The monitor was origionally taken to my vet and given a clean bill of health after a fecal exam and physical tests. I have owned and raised many animals, reptiles from such a small state. This ackie is my first attempt at a monitor. I did alot of research but after he slowed down the other day I was at a complete loss. I was sure it had to be my husbandry becuase I know that that is the problem 99% of the time. Ive double checked his temps with a digital thermometer, which I got from you guys at @proexotics. I may be able to get pics to you tommorw but I have to work all day and I will be taking him to the vet/emergency vet at some point.
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1.1 Ball Pythons (Morty & Boomba)
1.1 Beardies (Jenkins Frizzle & Lucy Frizzle)
1.0 Sinaloan Milk Snake (Dig-Dug)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Roylee)
0.0.1 Yellow Ackie (Koochooloo)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Gilberta)
1.0 Betta Fish (Sushi)

is he drinking? If not maybe a warm soaking would hydrate him? I have done this in the past with imports but ususally tropical animals like tree monitors. I have soaked my ackies before. Warm water about 4 inches deep. SOme people do not believe in it but you seem to be out of ideas. Vet is my choice like Frank said but a soaking on a SUNDAY may help