Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I need some advice. I have a 6 year old, 4.5' Asian water monitor who has regular lighting(100 watt), constant water pan, and is feed a variety of items(turkey necks, chicken hearts-gizards-livers, beef heart, beef liver, shrimp, whole fish, ground turkey(with supplemental calcium).

I will be changing his light to a UV heat lamp.

I have just noticed that his back feet are swollen and the base of his legs look fat. He also looks like he could be losing weight. He is fed about every, 3 days what he will eat at one sitting.

The vet has taken x-rays and his bones appear fine. The vet tried to get blood, but was unsuccessful.

Help? Should I get blood tested? What should the vet look for? Should I go ahead and treat for an internal parasite?

Thank you,

Jeff

I would be concerned about husbandry in general. Why all the organ meats? What does a 100 watt bulb do? One bulb for a giant monitor? What are your temps?

Answers to those questions will get you closer to a solution than a medical vet will. I suspect your problem has more to do with husbandry than internal medicine.
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

Hello,
Right on Robyn... This sounds like the description of a serious metabolic problem. A 4.5 foot lizard needs a row of lights to properly heat it's body. If you cannot mount a row of lights due to overheating of the cage than the caging is way too small... Best to you(and the poor watermon)- Mike S

>> A 4.5 foot lizard needs a row of lights to properly heat it's body. If you cannot mount a row of lights due to overheating of the cage than the caging is way too small... Best to you(and the poor watermon)- Mike S

I wish we could have a FAQ & Care Sheet authored & reviewed by forum members posted at the top of this forum, complete with photos of proper lighting, basking sites, appropriate cage sizes, etc.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike Heinrich,
Mike@amazontreeboa.org
www.amazontreeboa.org

>>>> A 4.5 foot lizard needs a row of lights to properly heat it's body. If you cannot mount a row of lights due to overheating of the cage than the caging is way too small... Best to you(and the poor watermon)- Mike S
>>
>>I wish we could have a FAQ & Care Sheet authored & reviewed by forum members posted at the top of this forum, complete with photos of proper lighting, basking sites, appropriate cage sizes, etc.
>>-----
>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>Mike Heinrich,
>>Mike@amazontreeboa.org
>>www.amazontreeboa.org

GO ahead mike. Make it, get it accepted by the forum and Ill make sure it gets linked at the top.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Email Cindy
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

Thanks for all the great advice. I thought I was being a bad dad. I will immediately make changes.

>>>>
>>>>I wish we could have a FAQ & Care Sheet authored & reviewed by forum members posted at the top of this forum, complete with photos of proper lighting, basking sites, appropriate cage sizes, etc.
>>>>-----
>>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>>Mike Heinrich,
>>>>Mike@amazontreeboa.org
>>>>www.amazontreeboa.org
>>
>>GO ahead mike. Make it, get it accepted by the forum and Ill make sure it gets linked at the top.
>>-----
>>Cindy Steinle
>>PHFaust
>>Email Cindy
>>Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
>> Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

I'm not sure if I have the time to take it all on (I'm in the middle of writing an Amazon Tree Boa book in addition to working 60 hours a week) but would be more than willing to help out. I was thinking more in terms of a team effort. Perhaps you could start a "sticky" thread asking forum members to post husbandry related photos and text, and then once we've compiled enough data a we can combine it, edit it, and put the finishing touches on it.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike Heinrich,
Mike@amazontreeboa.org
www.amazontreeboa.org