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confused question

tbone21 Mar 16, 2008 09:02 PM

I have about a 2 foot savannah monitor. I have had him for about a year. His eating has slowed down and only eats like 3 6 inch rats a week. He use to eat like 6. He also seems to bask alot. His basking temp is 130ish goes between 128 and 132. The air temp is 80ish. Is there anything you think to worry about or is he just eating till he is full and likes to bask?
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Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 California King Snake
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard
2.1.0 Crazy Cats
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit
0.1.0 Ferret
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs
0.0.1 White Tree Frog
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt
0.0.2 Bull Frogs
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive
Lots Of Fish

Replies (4)

HappyHillbilly Mar 17, 2008 11:23 PM

Tom,
Listen to your monitor, it's tryin' to tell you a few things. In an earlier post I think someone mentioned increasing basking temp to you. Your monitor is most likely basking longer because it's not getting warm enough. For savs, at least, I think once they get aroud 18 - 24 inches long the basking temp should be increased to around 145 and adjust ever so slightly, as the monitor's actions indicate.

Don't forget to keep you cool end down, too.

One other thing: I think in the same earlier post you said something about your sav either spending a lot of time in its water bowl or always defecating in it. It's most likely tryin' to tell you that the humidity is too low.

Hang in there!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

tbone21 Mar 18, 2008 10:07 AM

Thanx I am going to increase the temps. He is getting a new cage build where it will be easier to regulate the humidity. I increased the temp a little bit to about 135 and i think I am going to increase it a little more see how it goes. Even when he was younger he always went to the bathroom in his waterbowl and i heard of other peoples monitors doing that on here so i thought it was normal and maybe just more comfortable or easier for him.
-----
Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 California King Snake
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard
2.1.0 Crazy Cats
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit
0.1.0 Ferret
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs
0.0.1 White Tree Frog
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt
0.0.2 Bull Frogs
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive
Lots Of Fish

HappyHillbilly Mar 18, 2008 10:40 AM

> > > Even when he was younger he always went to the bathroom in his waterbowl and i heard of other peoples monitors doing that on here so i thought it was normal and maybe just more comfortable or easier for him.

I think that if we'll all be honest, you'll find out that most of us have thought the same thing before. I know I questioned (in my mind) someone's statement that humidity was too low during the first few months of my keeping 'em.

Monitor keeping is a finely-tuned precision machine. One lil' thing gets out of whack and it throws everything else out of whack.

The basking temp & humidity may not be the main problem in your case, but it's a good, obvious, place to start. A brief and even slight temperature drop can send 'em into "conserve" mode, so can missing one or two timely meals.

Even after making adjustments I've seen it take a week or so for my monitors to get back on track.

One other thing: With your monitor's size now you most likley need to have at least two bulbs for a basking spot to make sure it can get it's entire body warm at the same time.

Catch ya later!
Mike
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

tbone21 Mar 18, 2008 11:21 AM

he has two bulbs on him now. Once his new cage is done he will have three so he can stretch out even more and bask.
-----
Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 California King Snake
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders
0.0.3 Painted Turtles
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard
2.1.0 Crazy Cats
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit
0.1.0 Ferret
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs
0.0.1 White Tree Frog
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt
0.0.2 Bull Frogs
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive
Lots Of Fish

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