Reptile & Amphibian Forums

IS THIS NORMAL? THE REST OF HIM IS NORMAL BROWNISH COLORATION WITH SPOTS. HE EATS LIKE CRAZY, MOSTLY ON 2-3 DOZEN LARGE CRICKETS 3-4 DAYS A WEEK AND ONE OR TWO SMALL MICE ONE DAY AND A SMALL CAN OF EITHER DOG FOOD OR CANNED (PRE-COOKED) POULTY EITHER CHICKEN OR TURKEY. HE SEEMS TO DEFICATE ABOUT EVERY DAY OR TWO, VERY ALERT, MOVES AROUND 40 GALLON BREADER TANK (HE IS ABOUT 10" AND VERY ROBUST BODY. SEEMS VERY NORMAL AND HEALTHY, JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GREENISH COLORED FEET AND LEGS.

without knowing more about your setup, such as using green calci sand perhaps, it is hard to say what the problem would be.

but "green feet" are not normal, and the responsible choice would be to visit a vet.

best of luck.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Robyn, my first monitor was a sav. It had and has green pigment on its legs. I do not know what it is, i assume its quite normal. My sav is very healthy and active. I too have not seen this in another case and this is the only other I have heard about. Interesting though isn't it? I would take him to a vet to see if they knew anything, but everybody around here that does vet work was taught for three weeks by a colubrid breeder, hahaha. anyhow, i don't think it is necessarily problematic. who knows?

andrew
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Varanus Creations

i have seen that "greenish" tint, but without more info, i wouldn't tell a neophyte anything except for "see a pro" : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

n/p
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Varanus Creations

Hello and thanx for the reply Robyn and Andrew.
sorry for not enough details..I was pooped. Well here goes.
My Savannah monitor (Edwin) is approx. 10 months old, about
10 - 12 inches pretty darn robust (not fat) has very nice strong looking tail and legs is very alert eats 2-3 dozen 1 inch long crickets 4 days a week, 1 normal size mouse once week, and the other two days eats a small can of either white pre-cooked chicken or turkey (occasionally a dash of dog food as a "treat"
all meals are sprayed with "Fluker's" vitamin and electrolyte supplement. He is very alert especially when he knows food is being offered (especially mice) As far as substrate, all I ever use is Calci-sand
I switch colors between green and purple and sometimes a mix of the two. Edwin likes to rest on a log at the warm end of his 40 gallon breeder tank (approx 85-95 F.) for long periods of the day and he enjoy to soak among other things in his water tub. I try to give 10-12 hr. photoperiods. The only thing that I don't have as a set up for him is UV daytime light (I hear so many conflicting opinions as to whether carniviorous lizards really nead it as vegitarians do) , I just leave the light on in my entire "reptile room" as I have a 6' burm, 3' ball, and 5' albino corn. At night I provide a ceramic heat bulb and always leave it and his heat mat on. I really can't think of any other details of significants. Sorry for the long details hope it helps. Of course a trip to the vet may be in order..

The dye in calci-sand has been known to 'rub off' onto whatever animal is kept on it...I would ditch it (not because the dye is harmful, I don't think it is, but calci-sand is not that great of a substrate)

Also, you may wanna give the monitor a hot spot of around 130...
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-audri
Webpage/Pics

sounds alright. i think people overfeed savs a lot to tell you the truth, they do not need as much food as lets say an argus, you are feeding on the verge of not enough and just right, so be careful.

also, for the sake of capitalism you can do what you want regarding calcisand, but you don't need the crap. you can go out and buy a shovel for the same price as one bag and have a never ending supply of something better. cheers, andrew
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Varanus Creations

I have two Savs now that have green on their legs and feet. The big Q in all this would be is it the monitors skin pigment or the sand? I'm willing to bet it's the sand. The calci-sand should not be used with Savannahs IMHO. It does dye their skin and can cause problems with over dryness and cracking even with a large water bowl and humidifier provided. Go figure! If you feel this is a skin problem like infection or something definitly take it to the vet, but if it's just that the skin has been dyed by the sand, remove it.
Again this is all in my opinion.
Thanks and have a good one, Christine :>~