Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The Sav that laid the eggs last weekend is not eating MICE... However, she is eating insects. This concerns me because she has never thought twice about eating anything. The first day after the eggs she was too lethargic to chase the crickets, but I noticed she was hungry because if one would get close to her she would attempt to eat it but generally miss and not chase. So I had to 'stun' the crickets by throwing them at my wall of death then set them in front of her to easily eat. She ate probably 30-40 crickets this way and I also dowsed them in calcium powder before setting them in front of her. The days since then we have done the same thing between crickets and super worms and she has eaten quite a lot, but it takes a lot of little insects to fill a lizard that big. Last night she went poo and I noticed there were easily seen super worm heads and cricket legs amongst the poo- this is abnormal... Anyone know why she would not be digesting properly? Also, will she ever go back to mice? I even cut one open so she would smell it strongly and she still turned her head at it. Despite all the insects she has eaten over the past few days she still looks thin.
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1.1 Savannah Monitors (Annah & Terrance)
1.1 Nile Monitor (Lyle)
1.0 Timor Monitor (Timmmmaaayy)
1.0 Blood Python (Kevin)
1.0 Ball Python (Martin)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Bella)
2.0 Bearded Dragons (Peter & Jack)
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake (Hector)
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boas (Wayne & Maude)
1.0 Dwarf Gecko (Little Girl)
1.0 Curly Hair Tarantula (Pube)
1.0 OBT Usumbara Orange Baboon Tarantula (Sin)
1.0 Emperor Scorpion (Ashoka)
2.0 D. auratus (Poison Dart Frogs)

Will she take chicks, or quail maybe?

If not, can you feed roaches instead of crickets? more meat.

I'd make sure the larger one isn't bullying her at all, while she's already stressed. Good luck and congrats on getting your Timor, finally!

I don't really know of anywhere that sells chicks or quail regularly, I have never really messed with anything besides mice, super worms roaches and cricks. Oddly enough, today I offered her my pair of sand boa's food they did not eat last night (stinky thawed out fuzzies that sat around) and she ate them right up, but still no regular mice. But at least that's a start, she is looking better.

The bigger one still picks on her. I had her in a separate enclosure for 2 days but I felt like she was being more stressed out by the change of environment than by the usual bully of the cage, and she is starting to get a lot of her strength back, she should be as good as new by Mon I am hoping.

Thanks-
Dan

Oh P.S. I checked the eggs today, some of them are getting moldy and stinky... Is that a surefire sign they are no good and I should pitch them?
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1.1 Savannah Monitors (Annah & Terrance)
1.1 Nile Monitor (Lyle)
1.0 Timor Monitor (Timmmmaaayy)
1.0 Blood Python (Kevin)
1.0 Ball Python (Martin)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Bella)
2.0 Bearded Dragons (Peter & Jack)
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake (Hector)
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boas (Wayne & Maude)
1.0 Dwarf Gecko (Little Girl)
1.0 Curly Hair Tarantula (Pube)
1.0 OBT Usumbara Orange Baboon Tarantula (Sin)
1.0 Emperor Scorpion (Ashoka)
2.0 D. auratus (Poison Dart Frogs)

From what Ive read moldy and stinky means infertile, toss them.

My female Sav ocassionally turns her nose up to mice, this is new too, but happening more often. However, she still eats the crickets so Id keep giving her insects and fuzies if she likes those. (Mine wont eat roaches, but if she will, have at it.) Make sure she is misted regularly and drinking plenty of water.

I always see insect parts when she doesnt eat them with mice, I wouldnt worry about that. Ive learned with mine though, even if she refuses a normal mouse she'll usually still take a rat pup of equal size or even slightly bigger(especially if I hand it to her)

ANytime you see something off, always double check temps too and be sure basking spot is still 120 to 130
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1.1.0 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
0.1.0 Mountain Horned dragon
2.1.0 Ball pythons
cats, dog, ferrets, rabbit, rats.

A couple things, First, when a monitor lays eggs on the ground, THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING. What that means is, they will give their lifes to reproduce properly.

Nesting is as important to varanids as it is to birds, without proper nests, they will die.

Your monitor told you what you offered for nesting was wrong. How did she tell you that, she did by laying eggs on the ground. Simple enough.

Now shes telling you there is something else wrong. Normally when a female lays eggs properly(without problems) They bury the eggs, then go on a feeding streak that is unbelievable. They feed like a horse. If they get all the food they want, they normally produce more eggs, and this can go on for many clutches. THis is the monitor telling you, things are going good.

If the female is lethargic and slow, that is her telling you she was really stressed. And in many cases it mostly due to dehydration.

If the female is only consuming small food items, its now telling you there is still something in her or something in her is injuried or wrong, as in, she is not right. She knows large food items will not pass through her, so she will only consume small items. ITs not the kind of item, its the size. Those dang monitors are pretty smart.

When a female has a poor nesting event, its very common to hold a few spoiled eggs in them. If healthy, they normally pass them. But if not, a vet can remove them. Or she will eventually die. Normally this will complicate the next reproductive event, until she perishes.

What was told to you, you know, try this food item or that food item is poor advice, it could work if your female is not in real bad shape or you just get lucky. But the truth is, if she was healthy, she would eat your house, muchless a mouse. So offering other things is only a bandaid cure and not fixing anything of real value. As a keeper your job is to fix this problem, to prevent it from happening again.

To fix whats wrong, you need to change the conditions that caused her to fail in the first place. Monitors are VERY STRONG, fix it and she will respond and do so quickly. Wait to long and you can say goodbye to your female.

THe reality is, most here, if not nearly all, do not try to fix(change their husbandry) and lose their animals. All you have to do is read these type posts.

I do wish you luck and I hope your female recovers quickly. But you have to listen to what SHE is saying.

I understand, you do not understand what she is saying. But instead of asking, How to questions, ask what is she telling me type questions. The reason is, everything they do is TELLING YOU SOMETHING, all you have to do is listen and figure what the heck they are trying to tell you. I know that sounds hard, but after a while, that becomes the most fun part of keeping monitors. They are always telling us something and we are always trying to figure out what the heck they are saying, and monitors are NOT boring. hahahahahahahahahaha good luck