Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, Wondering if I should be worried about this: for the first time ever (I've had the Sav for 3 years now), my Monitor is showing no interest in food. This has been going on for about 3 days and is freaking me out. Does this happen with varanids from time to time?

Conditions have not really changed other than a coldish front that arrived yesterday afternoon.

Just wondering if I should take him to a vet if this continues.

thanks,

Phiff

I would not think thats normal at this time of year, in most parts of the country its warming up and that effects the cage temps and they normally feed more.

But, there is more. If healthy, you could have a female and she could be cycling. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm to the vet you go in most cases. If your only interested in a pet, then have her fixed. As most females die of reproductive complications.

If you can show a piture that would help.

I should mention he(she) had an infection last year and that is what the white blotches are from. Now I am thinking that s/he does look kind of bloated.

Are these photos any help?:

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Hi, I agree with what FR has said re the animal not feeding, if that`s stll the case today, I would be wanting to see a vet (better safe than sorry).
It may just be the way the photo was taken, but it looks as if there`s only a very thin layer of bark as a substrate, is that the case? (Just asking)...

I plan on taking him(her?) to the vet tomorrow.

The lizard tends to hang out on the 2nd level of his new cage. He recently knocked all of the substrate off onto the 1st level which is about 18" of dirt/sand.

Thanks for the new pic, nice enclosure!
Good luck at the vet`s, I hope it`s nothing too serious...

Sorry, I forgot to ask; how does he/she get on the basking shelf, if it`s not a silly question. I see the ramp down into the lower level, but nothing going up?
Thanks!

S/he has no problem climbing up/getting down but I am going to install more textured items to make it more naturalistic and easy to access. S/he actually uses that silly log hide box and I want to get something bigger/better than that. Any suggestions for any of this?

thanks.

Hi again, the hide log is much too small anyway, I like the way the tank`s on two levels, with the plywood floor above the trough, but personally, I wouldn`t have put that small basking shelf up there.
Perhaps you could make a "Retes stack" on the second level? (It doesn`t need to be terribly tall), at least then the monitor can have easier access to the higher (or lower) temps, and somewhere better suited size-wise to hide in.

You got experience, right? Couldn't he just build one small area of the top of cage lower and much closer to the floor? This way he wouldn't have to use a high wattage bulb to get the basking temp up or build a Rete's stack to reach the light bulb, and the hold cage is better heated since the top where the heat lamp sits on is lower than the rest of top allowing the hot air to rise; thus, heating the hold cage without using very high wattage. Do you think this would work, or do you think the old fashion Rete's stack works better? [shrug]

Hi Paradon,
the current basking shelf is quite small, and close to the heat bulb/s. By building a "Retes stack" perhaps half the size of the plywood floor, he could give the monitor more hiding places (of a more suitable size), and the monitor is still able to reach the same level the small shelf is at! The Retes stack isn`t "old fashioned", it serves the purpose very well indeed, and that should be the only consideration...

What if he made the cage bigger and the lower part of top at the back could be made to accommodate several low wattage bulbs for a bigger monitor or so the monitor can bask better having the heat evenly distributed?

Look at the first photo, the reflection on the basking shelf looks to me like a row of lights? Although I haven`t seen "phiff" mention what type they are?
Of course, with varanids, bigger is always better, in terms of enclosure size, but there`s still places to dig/climb etc in this one.

3 50w halogens mounted in ceiling. Make the cage bigger! LOL, would like to avoid that for this cage.

Just went to check on him and his face was covered in dirt so he had been digging. He seemed hungry and sure enough ate a mouse! Not sure what his deal has been the past few days. Will keep an eye on him for sure.

It looks kindda like that alligator that ate a hot dog I once saw a long time ago.

What's your monitor like on insects? i always found mine went off insects if they were cooler, but would still take mice.

One reason could be not getting easy access to that basking area ( as mention in post earlier)they build up a belly full food & wait for it to digest.

As suggested take that shelf out or move it lower, personally i'd remove it & pack that dirt up to the top of the tank & let him burrow if he/she wants a cooler more secretive basking spot.

good luck!

So you would remove the shelf and then put in a stack on the 2nd level under the lights?

I think he didn't bask and didn't digest. Makes sense.

thanks so much for the input.

I would take the top shelf out & do one of two things>

1) direct those nice bright lights on to the floor that sits on the trough & fill the trough to the board level which will allow the sav to dig under the board & still feel the benefit of the basking flood spot from underneath in security.

2) do the above & also use put a block of wood either end of the shelf you removed & sit it on top of the shelf above the substrate area, which would give your sav a choice of 3 levels.

hope this helps, but as mentioned earlier on in the post it could be other things causing the problems, just fix the easy ones 1st!

Cool ideas. The only thing is that with that shelf removed or placed that low the basking spot won't get as hot. Probably only like 115. I believe that isn't hot enough, right?

I lowered the 3rd level 2" and the basking spots still get over 120. Seems to be more inviting now that I lowered it.

I like your idea of the lights hitting the 2nd level but not sure how to do this without removing the basking area...

Thank you so much. I am pretty positive that the feeding issue was due to lack of basking. No problems since I lowered the 3rd level...