Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've only had my water for a short time but I have never actually seen him soak in the water for long periods of time, is this normal? All my temps are good and humidity is 85% when I checked this morning, he ate like a champ yesturday, but his is starting to shed right so not sure if that has anything to do with it. Thanks

Hi, is the water heated, or just "room temp", if the latter, he/she may not want to soak for a "long time". Shedding the skin is not a reason for not soaking, either!

I change the water about 3 or 4 times a day and try and make it room temp but it warms up to cage temp.

I take it this is a small water container, in which case you can`t really fit an aquarium heater. I use a plastic pond with a 250w heater, it keeps the water temp around 85f... It`s on 24/7, very economical to run, as it`s only 30w.

Yeah its a small water bowl, he/she is still pretty small, didn't think I needed a swimming pool in there yet, but what does the temp of the water bowl have to do with him soaking all the time now, today he has been out basking and on the bottom of the cage.

Are you seriously asking what temp the water is makes no difference to how long the animal soaks in it?
why would the monitor want to soak in cold water for any length of time, and lose all it`s body heat?

I would think with the humidity so high, the monitor would not need to soak at all.

Maybe throw some fish in the water bowl and see why they call those water monitors. Cheers

I know he would not want to soak in cold water that's obvious, who in there right mind would, I'm just curious as to why all the sudden he is doing it, I have had the water in the cage for long periods of time where it was warm and he has never done it before, and FR I have threw in gold fish before but he really doesn't care for them, most of them cooked in the water before he even touched them, and I fed him pinkies again yesturday and he sucked them down.

A couple of things, if goldfish "cooked" in the water, then its too hot. It would be great if you offerred some real information is you want help. Like take the temps, all of them, including the water. Then folks could actually have some idea as to what is going on.

You thoughts about goldfish, are also not very varanid. That is, people have food preferences, You know, I love mexican food, but sushi, not so much.

Varanids, eat anything that falls into their range of diet. and Salvators eat fish, frogs, shellfish, rodents, birds, snakes, eggs etc. What monitors LIKE is a full stomach. Thats what pleases them.

So if any monitor is reluctant to eat what it normally eats, then something is WRONG.

So you may think you monitor LIKES pinkies and not goldfish, when in reality, its being picky because its conditions are not right.

Normally a healthy water monitor will eat fish, rodents all I mentioned above, and your hand, your shoe, your dog, your cat, your mom. And your sisters ugly arse bf. And want more. Thats what they actually do. If they are not like that, then something is off.

The question now becomes WHAT is causing that monitor of yours to be picky. And please, do not feel like WE ARE BLAMING you. Its all of our jobs to support our varanids to a point they are as normal as possible.

When I lived up north I tried the aquarium heater trick with a water and he ended up breaking it. To this day I do not know why it did not fry the monitor in the pool but I can tell you that I got knocked on my ass when I touched that monitors head while he was in the pool. Needless to say I was very lucky all the way around.
I would suggest using some type of protection around an aquarium heater with waters. I would also suggest using some sort of conduit to protect the wires which monitors WILL inevitably get tangled in and cause problems. My second and last experience with aquarium heaters and monitors resulted in a nile I kept for many years resting on the heater in the pool and getting thermal burns. Both of these incidents happened early on in my monitor keeping days.
Your best bet would be to heat water outside the cage and circulate it into the cage with some type of pump system.
BTW they are called water monitors for a reason.

Hey this is an OT response to the above poster about why he got shocked and his monitor did not. Most likely when the monitor broke the pump he/she was fully in the water. The monitor was in electrified water but the electrified water was sitting in a (just guessing here) large plastic tub of some sort. If it is thick enough to hold large weights of water then it was thick enough to insulate from the ground and there was never a closed circuit. When you touched the monitor you were touching the ground, this closed the circuit and you got shocked. Had the monitor tried to climb out of the water it is very likely he would have closed the circuit and would have been shocked.
Rob

It was many years ago and actually the first water I had. At a point where I knew very little about what I was doing with waters or any monitors. The heater was in a plastic pool. It was a visi-therm 150 watt heater which at that time was rather expensive. I actually got the idea of using the heater from some dimwitt who supposedly worked at the national zoo and claimed they never had problems using them with reptiles.
Many years and much more experience later. With out proper safeguards that are WELL thought out monitors water and electrical equipment can be a bad and dangerous mix.

I am not sure where this is going or where it came from, but the best way to heat water is a water heater. I know that sounds a bit simple, but it is, they are by far the least expensive.

They do make small water heaters and inline pumps. And all manner of tools to do the job.

The point is, it is not only dangerous, but a bit silly to put electricity in a tank with your hands and a monitor. There is no need for that. Oh well, best wishes

Well, we know we need to heat the water, and we know that a water heater is the most efficient way to do so, but it is silly and dangerous. Would it work to have an extra heat bulb over the side where the water is, or to put a heat pad underneath the tub... or is the water heater just the best of the worst?

I think, and I could be wrong, that FR means an actual Water Heater. Like for your home, as opposed to an aquarium heater, which would be an in-tank heater.

Mike W

Oh okay then. I misunderstood. Thank you.

Actually I mean a water heater.

But there is no answer to your question. As there is really no question. You see, everyone has different requirements that guide them. Or limit them.

like, I would do that, but I have some reason not to, etc. Well we all have reasons to not do something. So what does that mean.

The point is wholelistic. that is, I am concerned with an adult water monitor, not a baby. if you the keeper do your job HALFWAY decently, a baby water monitor will be an adult very very quickly.

Also, you can heat a cup of water in many many ways. But a large body of water that is REQUIRED for an adult salvator is another story.

Also, this is what I feel is missing in this whole WATER monitor keeping. Most have no concept of what an adult is or what is required.

So, how do you heat the pool for a seven foot monitor? A pool is something it can swim in. oh I know, a swimming pool heater, which is a water heater. Cheers

Ps, sorry for being a smart aleck, but we all need to put these animals in a realistic context. If done right, they are suppose to become adults.

I am not trying to be smart or anything, but I think this is a very good question. Why are they water monitors?

I mean, what makes them water monitors?

I think once this is understood, then we will all be better keepers. Thanks

Strictly speaking, they could be called land or tree monitors, too,at least to some extent, spending time in all those places. Like many varanid species, they are "generalists", they do have some adaptations for a semi aquatic lifesyle; flattened tail, valves that close the nares when submerged (though these actually open and close every time the animal breathes in or out), not just when submerged.
They can also catch their "fish type" prey in either salt or fresh water, swim relatively long distances, and and in so doing, colonise many islands, etc, etc, because of those abilities...
Is that what you were asking Frank, or have I misunderstood? (Nothing new there, then)!!

why they are water monitors?

not easy to answer...but when compared to all other large monitors and considering habitat...I say thermoregulation.

Hi there, I keep a few aquariums in my garage and as a result, do use water heaters for those aquariums. My first thought when I read this though was already brought up, with the thermal burns. That would be my main concern. I suppose you could cover it in something to obstruct the possibility of the monitor coming in contact with it, but I was wondering if you, murriandindi, had any any issues like that as well with your water heater? I suppose it would be natural for the monitor to gravitate towards the hotter spot in the water, and obviously the closer to the heater the better. I mean, I've even burned myself, being a dumb dumb, on those heaters. They get HOT!

Hi Mason, no, I`ve never had a problem, but I do always cover the heater with a guard. These days you can actually buy them with guards already attached, very cheap; I know someone bought one just a week or so ago for £10 ($15U.S).
I made my guard out of a plastic arrow (archery) tube, just drilled some 5/8 inch holes along the length. If you want to email me, I can send you a couple of photos of it in the pool...

I may be wrong but I think the initial question at the top was why IS he soaking all the time now?
Seems most responses are coming up with getting him attracted to the water with heat and fish etc....

Hi dav46, the initial question was why is the monitor NOT soaking at all, that`s why I in particular, asked what the water temp was! (It does make a difference)...

Read his 3rd post, he mentions soaking all the time

Hi again dav46, yes, you`re quite right, it went from never soaking to always soaking within a day or so.... Confused I surely am!!!!????
Still, it helps to pass the time.....

Yeah it is confusing- im guessing he meant unusual behavior that he never soaked before but is now...left that piece out on the first post I guess. Oh well it made for some good reading.