Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I just got a baby water monitor. He's quite stressed I think, the first thing he did was hide under the wood I gave him. He also has to be force-fed. Any suggestions on how to give him good care until he's more relaxed?

And what about good force-fed items?

If you stop force feeding it, it may relax enough afer a while to eat on its own. Any particular reason you're force feeding it?

The previous owner had 2 and told me to force feed this one coz it wasn't eating on its own yet.

If i shouldn't force feed it, how best to offer it food then. There are some fish in a tank and I put some mealworms on a dish. He hasn't taken any yet. Then again its his first day here, he's probably frightened. The problem is, he looks kinda thin.

Kept anything close to properly. They can go for periods of time without eating easily. You just got him, so it may not eat for a day or more normally, the former owner had to force feed it to get it to eat and you bought it, hmm (red flag to avoid)??? Chances are if 2 were kept together and one didnt eat, dominance occured, but then agin thats only one of many problems that may have been occuring.

I sure hope you didnt purchase this water. If the guy said it wasnt eating on its own yet, i would of taken that as a sign that something is wrong. They hatch eating on their own. So i dont understand what he meant by yet. Is this a wild caught baby? It may just be stressed. I'd suggest you not go near it for atleast a week besides to offer food and put a dark cloth over the tank so that it can't see you. I also would stick to crickets for now because they usually(depending on the individual obviously)prefer crickets as opposed to worms. You shouldve also requested info on the mother, was she sick? Have parisites/worms etc.? What type of set up do you have? Fish tank/custom enclosure? What are your temps? Ambient/Basking? Humidity? Night drop? If you dont already try adding some dirt(screened for for rocks and debree) as your substrate. That way it can burrow, that should cut down on some of that stress. Best of luck .

First, don't forcefeed him. Second, leave him alone. Third, offer him food.

You have had this baby for only one day. He has been carted around and his world has been shaken. Of course he is stressed. He needs time to readjust. Forcefeeding him will be traumatic and so would messing with him.

Offer him crickets and then leave him alone. If your temperatures are decent and the enclosure is adequate, in all likelihood he will start eating on his own. They can go days, even over a week, without eating and not suffer any problems.

You mentioned he is already thin. If the previous owner was forcefeeding him and harassing him, then it is all the more important that you not continue that process. Give this little guy a chance to do things on his own. Your only responsibility at the moment is to ensure he has good temperatures, good enclosure, good water, good food, and a peaceful home. Give him those and he will probably thrive.
Salvators

-----
^x^ Bloodbat ^x^

Thanks for the advice guys. I think the domineering portion caused the stress. I believe he was kept with a slightly older and bigger water monitor. That one was pretty aggresive.
My set-up is a 4x1.5x1.5 aquarium. There is soil bedding provided. I've given him a hide spot which he used alot. He also discovered his water tank and was swimming abit. He also likes hiding under the wood piece in the water tank. I've provided guppies in the water tank. I'll have to get crickets soon.

So I should just leave him alone and just provide food right?

affirmative.

As long as he is moderately healthy, then everything should fall into place as he calms down and becomes adjusted.
-----
^x^ Bloodbat ^x^

Ah, he's finally eating the mealworms by himself. Unfortunately, I don't think he's acquired a taste for guppies yet. I'm putting crickets in the cage but they're finding all sorts of places to hind where he can't get to. Any suggestions on alternative diets for a hatchling like him? He's less than 12" long. Haven't gotten around to measuring him exactly.

You do not need an alternative food item. Unless you are tossing one or two crickets in the enclosure, he will find them. Toss in a bunch. He will hunt them down, they are very good at that.
-----
^x^ Bloodbat ^x^

Ok, 2 questions then:
1. Should I leave his basking light on at night?
2. How long before I can try handling him considering I got him 2 days ago?

Oh yes, some more.
Is it natural for a monitor to sleep for a long period of time at night or will it take a nap and get up, nap and get up? I have seen mine take small naps in the water tank and get up again at around 9-10pm. I don't know what he does after that as I'm asleep.