Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My monitor is on the lazy side these past few days. He usually does this when he sheds but I'ts hard to tell. His skin is back is looking a little gray going down to the tail but I dont know. He keeps basking then goes under his hide where its nice and damp. Is this a sign of him about to start shedding?

Monitors don't act any different when they shed(with the exception of trying to remove the skin).

Don't tell me you have a Savanna right? If that is a yes then I hate to break it to you but they are lazy monitors. But it sounds to me like you monitor is doing it's normal behavior. It gets hot it heads for shade, it gets cold and heads for heat.
But your temps might be too low also. What type of monitor do you own?
Tell me more!!!!
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Christine :>~

I have a savannah but he isnt too lazy. He usually moves around so much and licks his tongue. I've had him for like 11 months now. I'm just getting anxious since I started feeding him thawed small mice (since I've been feeding crickets for the first 11 months, I was waiting for him to get about a foot long which he is now) and I am awaiting his major growth spurt. You want to know more well, like I said his about a half inch away from being a foot, hes in a 40 gallon tank (breeder), like I said I started feeding thawed small mice, I fed him crickets mainly until now, I feed snails, and meat everyonce and a while. His basking spot gets 132 degrees, his tank avg is about 92 and his cool spot (hide) is about 70-75. I just upgraded to the 40 gallon 3 days ago and I added in over a foot long rock dish for soaking. I use 2 lights w/ 100 watts but I want to try 2 60 watt spot light bulbs since they are very hot. He hasn't shed much in his 11 first 11 months b/c I think I just based his diet on crickets (not rodents at all) and I fed him about 60 a week. I would say he grew about 6-7 inches since I got him in pretty much the first year. I do hear that now when he gets into the mice the next few weeks he will shed more rapidly which I am anticipating. What do you think?

n/p

Yeah I thought that was the problem. I blame it on me listening to the dumb clerk. "Feed him about 60 a week". Well, on Sunday I started feeding him the thawed mice and on Monday I gave him 3 snails and this morning I gave him another mouse and tomorrow I will give him insects and the following day mice and so on and so forth. Do you think its about time that he will have a growth spurt after the next few weeks?

If you feed it enough,it will grow and shed continuously.No real spurts,just steady growth.This was my Sav's progress in just over a year.I feed my monitors almost all they care to eat for the first 18 months,then slow it down some(to prevent obesity).

I used to have iguanas and I would feed them lettuce, tomatoes, and fruit every day. I remember in 2 years they grew 3 feet. My monitor whould be bigger its just that I took the petstore owners advice. Im going w/ feeding every day. I'll keep his progress posted.

With good care, your albig could be 5 feet long in a year.

Yours will still grow, given the proper conditions. Or he could stay this size forever. It's all up to you. Good luck. D.

I hope he doesnt stay this size forever. Would you say I'm doing good now?

Ive got two Albigs. Both are Febuary babies. They recieve EXACTLY the same care, and now 5mo. later, one is just under 3ft and the other is barely 1 1/2ft. He just isnt the eater that the other is. Hes more skittish and shy, and very rarely even eats in front of me. While the other one will rush at the side of his cage if I walk by with something in my hands!
After your husbandry is up to specs, you should get a good idea of how your monitors personality is, and from there start to see what kind of growth/ feeding habits develope.

Rgrds,
Michelle

My monitor is like yours that is almost 3 feet, except he isnt 3 feet yet. He'll see me w/ food and he'll follow me in his tank (its funny). I am hoping to see him grow at least 2 inches after July.