Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am having trouble with a recently imported black roughneck. I have offered insects (crix, mealworms, waxworms, silkworms)as well as pre-killed rodents, and he has been forcefed twice. He appears to be in good health and parasite free in that he is fairly active, but he is losing weight. Tempature and humidity are good. Are there any procedures or foods I could give him to spark his apetite?

Any help at all would be great!

Thanks,
Pat C

try putting a few large live pinky mice in there, (not fuzzys)that might work, and don't bother him and see what happens or you could try caned monitor food i don't really use it but it could work! good luck
tjsreptiles

It is not the food either. If you have force fed it then it may be stressed out. Just because he is active doesn't mean he is parasite free so unless he has been vet checked I wouldn't say he is in the clear. If he is losing weight then he can't be in good health. Is it food weight loss or water weight loss?

First thing is to see a vet, so they can actually see the animal in hand. You wouldn't call the Dr. and tell him you have a cough but everything else is fine and expect him to fix you over the phone would you?

Next thing post more information temperatures (basking, ambients), humidity, size of cage, cage furnishings, etc.. If you can post a picture of the setup.

Thanks for the reply. Right now he is in a 30 breeder with mulch bedding and a cork bark hiding spot. Other than a waterbowl and feeding bowl there is nothing else in the tank. Once he is better he has a much bigger (6'Hx2Dx3.5W) enclosure waiting for him and two ladies. The force feeding was done by at my reptile facility. He was fed a rat pup injected with a dewormer (don't remember what kind, if that is important let me know) both times force feeding took place. Right now his basking is at about 100, bringing it up or down would not be a problem, and ambient is at a steady 85. Humidity is close to ninety. I have also been soaking him every other day for almost a week.
Hope this givesd you a better idea. Let me know what your thoughts are.

I am not sure how big the monitor is but I will guess it is small being in that cage. If you have a screen top cover it. Also make sure he has plenty of options to hide. I'd offer more then just one area. I would also use leaf litter over mulch. Being an import it is not going to be fond of the tiny cage and someone looking at it.

I would not have force fed it. They do not like being forced into things. Restraining and forcing food down will only stress it.

Up the basking surface temperatures to 130-150. Put the ambients from 75(cool end) - 90(warm end). Humidity 70-80 /-.

Unless it is really dehydrated I would not soak it. Soaking it can cause more un-needed stress. It should drink from the bowl of water offered or submerge in it on its own. If the humidity is as high as you said it too will help it regain water loss.

If it looks real bad then I suggest seeing a vet. Otherwise try these changes then leave it alone. Let it settle in and acclimate to its new surroundings.

Here is an example of how I setup my raise up cages (a vision in this case).

I have a quiet, dark room I could put it's cage in where it will not be bothered. Would that improve it's situation at all?

yeah along with the other changes that will probably help.