Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 2 cents, It really bothers me when people have a problem and going to a qualified vet is always the last resort. It happens to every kind of animal and every species. I am not trying to hurt anyones feeling but if it's not an easy fix like adjusting the lighting and heat, changing the substrate, ect. ect. and your animal is sick and losing wieght and body functions, take it to a vet.
I have been told, "I can't take it to a vet, his office is too far away"
I am really being nice, My wife won't let me type what I want to say.
You are the only one these animals can depend on, it's your job to keep them healthy and thriving.

Rantingly
Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

you should find out whether theres a qualified reptile vet in your area before ever getting a reptile. If there is not or its too far away for you to get to in case of emergencies:DON"T GET A REPTILE!!! Because theres always a chance that something will go wrong.

Also you should know what your animals eat and how much. What temps they should be kept at, how big/small of an enclosure is needed(and have it set up before bring the animal home), what substrate, how big they get, etc, etc, etc.
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James Grigsby - " When you try of all your forces to make your own way, you will help some of others and will be helped by others. As long as you do not make your own way, you cannot help anybody, and nobody can help you. " (Shunryu Suzuki)

Almost all of the pets I've had, I bought first, then researched after.

And, I think I am not alone in my approach. Of course, it would be the SMART thing to do...read tons, get all supplies in advance, yada yada yada...but I think the reality is that most pet owners fall into my category. Something looks cool/cuddly whatever...we buy it, take it home, and wheeeee!

While your rant sounds good and all, I'd rather rant about continuing education. I think people should not STOP researching their animal. I'm talking about people who had their monitor X amount of years...those are the ones who should continue to search for information.
My rant is about people who get an animal, set it up, then think they know all there is to it.

Hey, I just got a scheltopusik last week. And no, I have very little clue what it prefers for shelter, food or how to sex it.

But I WILL learn, and keep learning in the years to come.
D.

This is ususally the case with most people, they tend to be impulse buyers with living things which doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing(if they are as interested and passionate about their animals as you seem to be)but sadly this isn't always case and the animals are the ones that suffer when the thrill is gone. I use to be these individuals that im speaking to and killed more than a few monitors in the process, which is why i said what i did. Ex. I was in a petshop about 7 years ago (I was 19 at the time)and saw this incredible looking specimen, the petshop owners said it was a savannah monitors and it was the most incredible thing i had ever seen and i had to have one! I didnt care to ask about temps,housing,substrate, etc. all i knew is i had to own this animal. The question i did ask thank god is what to feed. So here i am leaving the petshop with this gorgeous animal that i plan to learn everything about not knowing that a month later i will have no interest in lazy animal thats always hiding that i cant pick up, play and pet. Well i did build a large screen enclosure with a hide a heat lamp(figuring since they're cold blooded they'll need heat)and a small dish for drinking(not large enough for this 10 month old monitor to climb in and soak. Well to make a long story short , this monitor stopped eating after being in my care for 3 months and died a few months after.

So Drag, im not better than they are or smarter for that matter but i learned to do things differently and wish i had someone like me to give me advice back then. So im just trying to help people keep there animals alive by letting them know that planning ahead after plenty of research is a step in the right direction and like you stated its a life time of research and not just the initial first steps.
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James Grigsby - " When you try of all your forces to make your own way, you will help some of others and will be helped by others. As long as you do not make your own way, you cannot help anybody, and nobody can help you. " (Shunryu Suzuki)

If you scroll about half way down this page theres a post by an individual who acquired an adult salvator who asked "What do you feed a large asian water monitor?"

Do you think he/she knows everything else pertaining to this species except what to feed it?

This is the type of that can be prevented if one were to take my advice. Atleast learn the basics, then take it from there was my point.

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James Grigsby - " When you try of all your forces to make your own way, you will help some of others and will be helped by others. As long as you do not make your own way, you cannot help anybody, and nobody can help you. " (Shunryu Suzuki)

Hi Monitorman, Dragoon,

Like both of you, I did the same thing 23 years ago with my first monitors...and those years later and lots of varanids in between, I am still learning about. It is an endless source of fascination for me*, and all the others who post here. Like you monitorman, I too think it is best to research BEFORE you get the beasty, but as you say, it does not always come out that way...but if the message is said by enough people enough times, maybe it will sink in deeper?

This week I recieved two reports from W.W.II that V.s. marmoratus inhabited the Caroline Islands in the Pacific! Brought there by the Japanese armed forces perhaps for rat control? And another bibliographic treatise, 1,200 sources on dragon-lore/varanus done by (late) Dr. Walter auffenberg. Its amazing what is out-there....and if one digs even a "shallow hole", so much information is at hand...and readily available to anyone who has the desire to find it to keeper/researcher alike. But then again, one has to be able to read (and write) doesn't one!

cheers,
markb

"Qualified" vet is tricky. I had one recommended by my herp shop who ended up overdosing two of my lizards for parasite treatment. My mistake in accepting what I was sure was an excessive dosage. Live and learn...