Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, how are ya man?

I was wondering about when Sobek was egg bound or no longer able to reabsorb her eggs. What were the obvious syptoms that made you assume something was wrong there?

My long term captive sav Adisa recently went off food for the first time since ive had her and began swelling in lower abdominal region. All ive noticed in her day to day activities for the last week is digging(imcomplete burrows in different spots) and a lot of sleeping.

She ususally has a very strong feeding response and has gone 3 days without touching the chicks i have offered. Although she did eat a small portion of turkey that i offered this evening but leaving the rest.

All could be caused from cycling but i just want to play it safe.

Thanks in advance

Cheers
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James Grigsby
Newark,Delaware

Animals Kept include:
0.0.1 Varanus Salvator (Gator)
0.1.3 Varanus Exanthematicus (Adisa "long term captive" other 3 "yet to be named hatchlings"
2.0 Ferrets (Chaos & Kasha)
1.0 Cat (George)

Hi monitorman,

Good grief Charlie Brown! Your female is digging test holes, getting ready to drop a batch is what I would say it is... they routinely, annually go off feed this time of year, and do their mating duties, and digging test holes, and keep busy doing this well in january - february, and sometimes clutches in March, with most hatchling coming out in may-june.

Good Luck! Give her plenty of substrate, and offer her food, especially after she drops her eggs...
good luck,
mbayless

Sobeks initial problem was the dirt I chose was the complete wrong stuff therefore she wouldnt even dig in it. I noticed her swelling and sleeping around the basking spot alot, basking more frequently, and her appetite dropped big time (they still eat but only small meals and less often because eggs are taking up so much space around their organs). At that time Sobek was only eating one adult mouse every week and a half. I made adjustments to the cage, and changed the dirt as fast as I could, she started to dig and dig constantly, problem being at that point was it was too late to change the dirt (the cycle was started she needed it beforehand, stress from changes I guess). I spoke with a vet to get an xray at the 3 week mark of the incident (they swell and cycle for a 4 day period, then swell larger if they do not absorb), the point at which they should lay them ideally is around 2 weeks from the cycle. At 4 weeks she was still basking alot and not laying but still digging but less frequently, I gave the go ahead for the eggs to be removed. It shouldnt go beyond 5 weeks, Ive heard of too many female monitors that at 6 weeks died from the eggs rotting in them. Id verify the eggs by sonogram or xray to be sure if the situation goes too long. Good luck I hope she lays for you, keep us posted.

n/p

Amazing how many predict things after the fact...But your too perfect to admit to your mistakes arent you...Monitors are a constant learning experience, thats a great reason to enjoy them more than other reptiles.

Haha after the fact???? Look back to the posts and you will see my name telling you he is a she. I believe my name is actually above Franks post telling you the samething.

I dont have the time to search back, but I know for a fact FR was the first one, then a few bandwagon jumpers occured, most jumpers showed up after she swelled with eggs and I knew for sure..

I am not the one questioning it. I do not jump on bandwagons thats no fun. it's funner to be the one cracking the whip making your own path if you ask me.

I have no need to look back as I know I said it many times to you that sobek was a she not a he. Your the one that said you had seen him evert but needed to take pictures.Oh incase you have never caught on i used to post with a different name back then.

None of that matters as everyone messes up now and again. I was just busting your balls is all. No need to flip out over it.