Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an adult pair of Water Monitors, I got them as juvies, about a year and half old when they were bought by me. I have had little experience with raising baby waters, I was wondering if someone who has experience with baby waters, if it is normal or safe for my water monitor baby to be falling asleep in is water pool. The pool is alittle bigger than his body length, he wraps his tail inside it and puts his claws and head on the out side rim and closes his eyes. the pool is under an infared heater and the water is eighty seven degrees. is he ok? I mean my adults do this in their tubs but once again this is my first experience with a baby water. All comments are welcome.

-Thanks

-John May Water and Nile Monitor Enthusiast

This behavior in captivity is more common than not. Its usually a result of inadequate humidity. So in order to rehydrate itself it will sleep in its water dish. My babies do not do this and rarely soak unless going to the restroom(lol). So you should check your humidity percentage. I use a digitAL reader and my humidity stays between 95% and HI( when it exceeds 97% it reads HI)

So if you use a screen top i'd suggest covering it with plexi or wood or if its already covered your vents may be to large, try covering like half way. I use a dirt in half the enclosure and cypress in the other half and give it a lite spray probably once a week if that. Mine holds moisture well.
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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)

I just keep jugs of room temp water on hand for water changes. When my monitor gets too hot he runs thru the water to cool down or sits on the cool side of its enclosure.
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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)

I Don't heat the water. It is close to an infrared heater. Should I move the water to the cool side of the cage?

That would be my reccomendation. Also if you dont already, add a few hides(not habba huts, tight secure places that it can squeeze into that you cant see in or grab it out of) to that side of the enclosure. Cork bark, wood hollows or even PVC pipe works well, i even have some at the top of my enclosure that my water seems to enjoy. Its all about options, the more the merrier.
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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)

Thank you so very much once again. You have been more than helpful as of late in the raising of this baby. He ate thirty crickets in one day. Wow that is a lot for a baby isnt it? Well thanks again

John May Water and Nile Monitor Enthusiast

Also, My substrate issix inches deep and he has made many burrows form one side of the cage to the other side. He also has paths that he takes under ground from his hide spot to the water lol is that normal?

-John May Water and Nile Monitor Enthusiast

>>Also, My substrate issix inches deep and he has made many burrows form one side of the cage to the other side. He also has paths that he takes under ground from his hide spot to the water lol is that normal?
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>>-John May Water and Nile Monitor Enthusiast
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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)

Oh forgot to mention, I built the juvy cage. It's 6lx3wx3d' and has a wooden top. The humidity gauge says 82% and my lights are inside not outside. I built boxes to keep all of thelights in. so that i wouldn't have to put the lights on the top of the cage. how do you suggest i raise the humidity, i spray hourly giving it eight ounces of water all over the cage. about fourty five minutes after i spray it goes back down to 82% humidity. Right after i spray it is 91-93%. hmm

thanks

-John May Water and Nile Monitor Enthusiast

I have raised waters and still have them from under 1 year of age to my oldest being close to 10 years.

I read all of your posts. I see your using a red bulb I would say toss that thing. Those give off high amounts of heat from a great distance. This can dry out a cage and have your ambients sky high when trying to get the basking area at a good temp. .

I simply use 65watt flood bulbs, I have them placed close enough to the ground to allow for a good basking area temp. but yet it doesn't sky rocket my ambients. This also helps it to not dry out the cage. I use these same bulbs in all of my reptile cages from torts. and uro's, to my monitors.

Your water may be using the water to sleep in as he only feels safe there, or from the cage being dry. Or you may be worrying over nothing this happens too.

I have read most of your posts as well and you seem to know what you are talking about whatever the monitor is. Thanks for helping me.

-John May

The heating bulb was a bad idea lol

Water and Nile Monitor Enthusiast

If its too hot and they cannot escape the heat and conserve moisture. Dispose of the infared bulb it will make lizard jerky out of your monitor. Use adequate basking temps from 130-150 degrees (surface temps) on the warm end, allow the cool end to drop to 68f ambient temps. Your monitor needs to thermoregulate from 60-130 f. With hatchlings they dehydrate faster due to the larger surface area to skin thickness and larger area of eyes and other orfices in comparison to their body mass. Allow the water temp to cool down and your monitor will probably get in and out when it feels like doing so instead of having to submerge constantly to survive. Its an old mistake many of us have made in the past.

Thank You. Also I was wondering if YOU would answer me this question as well. You seem to be pretty learned on the situation. What is the overall ground temperature supposed to be. *substrate temp*?

Or on the surface, I use plywood basking spots with space under them, kinda like a Retes stack only my own version with legs under it like a table. The ground temps should be lower than the basking surface by alot, although usually after consistant temps 24/7 the ground temps near the surface are not too far off of the air temps above it. Id say it should range along with air temps by distance from the heat source. I dont check that much because if it works it isnt broken I guess.