Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So my black throat (about 9 months old, little less than 2 feet long) has slowly over time become weaker and slower. He hasnt been able to even lift himself up and walk for over a month and doesnt move much during the day. He is very friendly so i can get him out of the tank, which is a 40 gal at the moment... i had him in a larger but he just got so lazy that it seemed pointless, anyhow he will slither around the floor and its the only time i can actually get him to do anything. right now i have him just on normal aspen wood chips, his tank is 130 at one end about 90 at the other, large water dish, and i feed him dusted crickets everyday (he is too weak to chase so i have been feeding with tongs). he doesnt go to the bathroom much but i soak him in warm water every other day and he usually goes then. also he hasnt shed in like 2 months. i'm not too sure what the issue could be, it seems like his muscle is just degenerating or he has just decided he doesnt need to do anything anymore but if anyone has any ideas i would love to see him active again... i own a large number of reptiles and have become very attached to him.

I am no expert but first thing is if he is 2 feet a 40gallon is extremely to small for him. Also if he is only going to the bathroom when you soak him good chance he is dehydrated and I also see this being a good chance since you are keeping him on aspen shavings. In my opinion no offence that is a horrible substrate just use dirt it will keep humidity which the aspen does not which could explain the no shedding to. And i am assuming that it is a 40 gallon tank with screen top which I have learned from experience lets out way to much humidity.
-----
Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.3 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anole
0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
Lots Of Fish

It is my understanding that 130 for ambient, even on one side is too high. 130 is great for basking spot though.
Does he have a hide or something to get cool in? (cool as in 80s)
Definately get him off the Aspen, doubt that would feel good if ingested. Switch to backyard dirt. How many crickets does he eat when tong fed? Will he eat mice?
-----
1.0.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
1.0.0 Fire belly toad
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Blackthroat monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rabbit, rats, mice and hamsters

Poor guy- the tank is too small and too hot and he's not getting enough of the right food, ie rodents to support his skeletal growth. Your temps should range from 90s hot end to 75ish cool end and a (basking spot only) of 130, not the whole hot end.
If you really want to save him, I would suggest you provide him with a larger enclosure, so he has room to grow once you set his temps up correctly and feed him properly.

i call this a hoax post...

well, that's always the first thought, but what does it hurt to tell how it should be, for any newbs lurking?

true.

I agree thats the first thought but what if it is some beginner then I would feel like dirt...
-----
Tom
1.2.0 Leopard Gecko (dot, spot, leo)
0.0.1 California King Snake (booboo)
0.1.0 Sulcata Tortoise (tank)
0.0.2 Russian Tortoise (tito and lulu)
0.0.2 Red Ear Sliders (bernie and ernie)
0.0.3 Painted Turtles (larry, curly and moe)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (marshmellow)
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor (beef)
1.0.0 Peachfront Conure (kermit)
0.1.0 Australian Shepheard (layla)
2.1.0 Crazy Cats (babe, sabastian, tinkerbell)
0.1.0 Lion Head Rabbit (daisy)
0.1.0 Ferret (jordan)
0.2.0 Guinea Pigs (lilly and petunia)
0.0.1 White Tree Frog (dumpy jr.)
0.0.2 Fire Belly Newts (spork and blaze)
0.0.1 Fire Belly Toad (ferdinan)
0.0.1 Red Spotted Newt ( red)
0.0.2 Bull Frogs (goliath and tubby)
0.0.1 Rainbow Ameive (jack)
0.0.1 Spectacled caiman (wilbert)
0.0.3 Green Anoles
1.0.0 Bahama Anole
0.0.1 Long Tail Grass Lizard
Lots Of Fish

If the monitor is going to be alive afterwards or for long you need to completely redesign, and rethink its husbandry (yesterday).
Monitors ofen show symptoms long after it is too late for them (survival instinct). Everything you describe sounds like dehydration, impaction, being far too cool, or too hot,and about 50 other common husbandry problems that are preventable with correct husbandry.

i feel for the lil fella. he should be eating mice and chicks in addition to crickets. he's way too hot, and very small in my opinion to be 9 months. i have a 9 month old BTM myself that's a little over 40 inches. do what you can to get him out of that 40 gal. breeder and it to a cage he can grow into. if you change things right away you probably can save him, other wise you may loose him. good luck with him/her.

i got him into a bigger tank last night, and went and got sand and mixed it with dirt, filled the new tank to about a foot deep. he ate 2 hoppers last night and some crickets, and going to give him more tomorrow. im sorry if my post offended anyone i just wanted advice, i want everything to work out and to have a healthy happy pet. thanks to those with positive feedback.

congrats, he'll probably be just fine with a little time. dont worry about offending anyone, the most important part of the whole post is you asked for help. take care of your little friend, he should be gaing weight and growing in no time.

Also, a 'tank' will not suffice for him for long, now that he should be growing properly. Start drawing out your plans for building a custom enclosure to house a 5 foot lizard within the next year.

I agree, you need to lower those temps. I rescued a pair of argus monitors that had been kept at those and higher, they both had heat stroke. One eventually stopped eating and could not control his movements. I had to put him down. Lower those temps.