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my rough neck has been laying in her water dish and going under watert when i go near the tank how long can they stap under????

I wouldn't worry about how long your monitor can stay under water but would focus more on WHY it is choosing to stay in the water. It's stressed out for any number of reasons and feels more comfortable/secure in the water right now than out. What temps (basking and ambient range), humidity level, and hiding opportunities are you providing? Also, if you are handling your new animal, you need to stop as this will only compound the problem. Have you taken a fecal sample to the vet yet for a fecal exam? I know you've had it for less than a week, but has it eaten anything yet? If so, what? If not, what have you offered? Let us know your exact (not guesses - if you don't have proper temp and humidity measuring tools, get them) conditions and then we may be able to give you some constructive criticism. Billy

>>my rough neck has been laying in her water dish and going under watert when i go near the tank how long can they stap under????

he is 18inches long in a 55 gallon tank with 84 around the care and a 90 basking he ate ove 30 crickets in 3 days he is moving fine he is rally active he love walking around out side his tank like on the floor
hope this helps.

if it is hiding in the water dish when you are near, it sounds as though it may not have a good choice of hiding spots and therefore feels it is safest in water. It needs a few hiding spots to choose from and, more importantly, it needs to know that once it is in a hiding spot it will never be removed from that hiding spot by you. Otherwise the hide spot will no longer feel safe. Try flat bits of wood on the substrate, hollow branches and that sort of thing for hide spots.

If it continues to hide in the water dish, the cage may not be humid enough. Does it have a screen top?

If the surface of its basking spot is only 90, it may need a hotter basking spot, as well, but this is a different issue from the hide spot.

you don't have a Savannah, but you also apparently don't know how to set up a monitor.

the Savannah monitor book has the most up to date monitor husbandry available in book form. it is available on the kingsnake classifieds, it is very affordable, pick up a copy.

in the meantime, your have obvious temp and hide spot problems, among other problems, you can use our Water monitor caresheet to mimic 99% of your Rudi's setup needs, including temps (most notably basking temps).

be sure to check out all the info in our caresheet and FAQ sections, best of luck!
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles