Savannah problem??

[suz1000]

We lost our monitor for a week. It has been back for three weeks now. We have been feeding him chicken this week for 3-4 days. His two front legs seem puffy, unusually puffy. Should I be concerned and if so any recommendations as far as treatment?

[smy_749]

why are you feeding him chicken?

[suz1000]

Only this week we were in California for a week and I left him in a friends care His diet wasn't followed soil was dried out when I got home as well. He wasn't properly taken care of for that week. I'm just wondering if that one week was enough to adversely affect his health.
His normal diet is 3 mice and 150 crickets and 1 day of fish a week.

[suz1000]

We did leave detailed instructions for his care which were apparently ignored.

[smy_749]

One week is enough time to have health issues arise, yes. Not sure what the swollen arms could be though. Maybe he just got fat from all that chicken? Can you post any pictures?

[infernalis]

For a week, you just shut the lights off and go.

They endure a lot more than a week of bad conditions in the wild.

Your medical condition puzzles me, I have seen plenty of atrophy. (shrunken muscle tissue) but never swollen legs.

If your soil dried out in a week, the cage is set up all wrong as well, you should only have to lightly sprinkle your dirt maybe once or twice a month, if it dries out faster than that, the cage is either not tightly sealed, or the dirt is entirely too shallow.

[franks]

Pictures would help steer this conversation in the correct direction.

[Toothless]

Pictures would help steer this conversation in the correct direction.
Agreed. We need more information to help you :).
How big/ old is the monitor?
Now large is the enclosure?
What is the surface basking temp (measured with a temp gun)?
What is the lowest ambient temp (measured with a digital thermometer)?
How deep is the substrate and what is it?
If you could post a photo that would be excellent.

If something is off above, it can make the monitor ill. If you could give us the above information, we can let you know if something doesn't sound right and steer you in the right direction :).

[Starbuck]

Forlimb swelling could indicate gout (long term metabolic imbalance + poor husbandry), a heart issue resulting in edema (acute change in the monitors physiology), trauma, etc. As others have said, pictures of both the setup and the monitor will help us help you.

[suz1000]

One week is enough time to have health issues arise, yes. Not sure what the swollen arms could be though. Maybe he just got fat from all that chicken? Can you post any pictures?

installing update to iPhoto I'll post pics as soon as it finishes

[suz1000]

I have plenty more if you need a different angle. It does seem like the legs are getting better (back to normal) humidity is good I gave him a bath day before yesterday (1/2 hr soak) he'll get another one tomorrow. I usually give him a 1/2 hr soak 2 times a week. Please real free to speak directly about the issue I don't want to make mistake that gets my lil man sick. (He'll never stay with a friend again)

[suz1000]

26537Not sure why the pic didn't post I'll try again here

[suz1000]

This is what he normally looks like 26538

[suz1000]

26539That's kind of a bad pic but you can see how thin his front legs were there and how big they are now I think. I'll post one more just in case

[DeadlyDesires]

what kind of enclosure do you have him in? he does seem a little chubby

[MizCandice]

From the images above, both front and rear legs seem quite a bit larger then the original pictures beneath. Could just be weight gain but I agree with Starbuck that there are a number of metabolic issues that could lead to the same issue. Do you have weights from before that you can re-weigh and compare him to?

[Darkbird]

From the images it would seem he is in a glass tank. And I'm guessing screen top? A shot of the whole setup would be helpful. And if my guess is correct, I'm afraid you have a whole host of husbandry issues to deal with.

[DeadlyDesires]

From the images it would seem he is in a glass tank. And I'm guessing screen top? A shot of the whole setup would be helpful. And if my guess is correct, I'm afraid you have a whole host of husbandry issues to deal with.


thats what i was thinking as well.

[murrindindi]

Hi, the pics aren't that clear but I cannot see anything wrong with any of the legs?
If you`re going away for a week or so, you need to be absolutely sure the minimum temps will stay within the recommend range and the monitor has not eaten for a day or two prior to turning everything off.
I can tell you the animal will probably still come out even without basking temps and light.
I also cannot see anything covering the soil (leaves/bark/ similar) which means it will dry out relatively quickly, at least close to and at the surface, and it also looks quite loose, it needs to be very firmly tamped down (almost as if you`d walked on it).

[DeadlyDesires]

(almost as if you`d walked on it)[/B].

i did walk on mine lol.

[Toothless]

(almost as if you`d walked on it)[/B].

i did walk on mine lol.

Me too :). I looked quite silly stomping around in there.

[murrindindi]

i did walk on mine lol.

Me too :). I looked quite silly stomping around in there.[/QUOTE]


Hi, I`m not sure I believe you, do you have any photos of how silly you looked stomping around in there? Thanks in anticipation.....:)

[Toothless]

Me too :). I looked quite silly stomping around in there.


Hi, I`m not sure I believe you, do you have any photos of how silly you looked stomping around in there? Thanks in anticipation.....:)[/QUOTE]

I wish I did! I wasn't too smart when I added the soil after putting in all the shelves- which didn't leave much room for me in there. I had to do some crazy contortionist stuff trying to fit through those tiny doors, then hunch under the shelf and stomp on the soil :wacky:.
I had one heck of a time getting out afterwards. My 6 year old was rolling on the floor laughing at me while I struggled to get my leg out of the door.

[Darkbird]

Hi, I`m not sure I believe you, do you have any photos of how silly you looked stomping around in there? Thanks in anticipation.....:)

I wish I did! I wasn't too smart when I added the soil after putting in all the shelves- which didn't leave much room for me in there. I had to do some crazy contortionist stuff trying to fit through those tiny doors, then hunch under the shelf and stomp on the soil :wacky:.
I had one heck of a time getting out afterwards. My 6 year old was rolling on the floor laughing at me while I struggled to get my leg out of the door.[/QUOTE]

The heck with photos, I wanna see video! Lol.

[Pirarucu]

Hi, the pics aren't that clear but I cannot see anything wrong with any of the legs?
If you`re going away for a week or so, you need to be absolutely sure the minimum temps will stay within the recommend range and the monitor has not eaten for a day or two prior to turning everything off.
I can tell you the animal will probably still come out even without basking temps and light.
I also cannot see anything covering the soil (leaves/bark/ similar) which means it will dry out relatively quickly, at least close to and at the surface, and it also looks quite loose, it needs to be very firmly tamped down (almost as if you`d walked on it).I agree, the legs don't look like there's anything wrong with them. It's possible he's starting to bulk up a bit as he matures, and the difference just seems exaggerated because you were gone?

[dinosaurdammit]

I agree, the legs don't look like there's anything wrong with them. It's possible he's starting to bulk up a bit as he matures, and the difference just seems exaggerated because you were gone?


with him being on the run he probably did bulk up a little. I noticed with daily outings my argus cross bulked up within a week- their bodies are designed to adapt quickly. (within reason) His scurrying around for a week probably let him beef up. If he is in a fish tank you need to get him out of that and into a proper set up. Stat.

[suz1000]

Good news! I checked with my vet he said "Crusher is in perfect health" his weight has returned to normal his legs were larger because he is in the middle of a growth spurt. I Do have him in a glass cage temporarily but I have 3 sides wrapped in R40 duct insulation. I have the top 98% sealed and insulated to R-40. The soil looks loose because it is eco earth not soil. That will all change when he's moved into his new 4x4x8 enclosure in december. Have to gave the glass cut to finish construction. It will have an R-50 insulation value and be 100% sealed with the exception of two vents 1 at each end of the enclosure. They will open twice a day to bring in fresh air they are on a timer. I was a sheet metal journeyman. I'm pretty good at air quality and humidity lvl. I've built humidity systems for many buildings and homes. I'm very good at consistent temps and R values. I can do the math in my head most of the time. I promise that Lizard means the world to me he is well cared for. Thank you for ll you help it means a lot to have all of you here. I'll send you more pics so you can see how he's leaned out. He looks awesome :D

[DiscoPat]

Is there any room to make something slightly larger than an 8x4x4?
Maybe a 6 tall, 8 or 12 wide and 6 or 8 deep?

They will use all the space you give them.