Craigslist monitor rescue

[Azjeepguy]

Hey guys im new to the forums any ways i was on craigslist and i found a Asian water monitor for 25 dollars and reason was cheep was cosmetic reasons so i went 20 drive to get him and wen i got im i notice alot of things wrong :unibrow: first hes missing 5 toes on his left hind foot 1 end of a toe on his right and little nicks in the scales and a abscess or possible scale rot on his front left leg and he has what looks like a scratch or cataract on his right eye and hes got to be under 9 months old hes like 16 inches so i felt sorry for him so i purchased him i brought him home and soaked him and notices alot of shed coming loose and i found that exposed toe bones we showing after the dirt cleared off at that point i think the monitor lost his toes to bad sheds and they fell off ad i cleared the muscle tissue up and my aunt whos a herp vet looked and said that the previous owner must of kept the monitor is some time of fertilizer like bedding and the nicks were from chicken wire she gave me neosporien and clean it real good and i kept him in new paper bedding till it healed now im getting him to eat cuz i no hes in pain but was i stupid to rescue him?

[jossh27]

I don't think you're stupid.... You seem to have the resources to get it back to health. I think that if you are fully committed in helping this animal then you did the right thing

[sirtalis]

Just remember that these guys get 6 or more feet in length, they will require a cage at least 12 feet long, the bare minimum, high humidity, a basking spot of 130 f or more, I think you should find murrindini, he owns a 7.5 ft water monitor, he's on this forum, but idk if he's active or not, if you have the resources to care for this guy, then do it. I'll also say that any care sheets you've read are probably full of crap, most are outdated. The only reliable care sheet that I've seen is the one written by vital exotics, one of the only actual breeders of these guys, check out varanustalk.com, it's really the only forum other than this one with accurate info lol

[sirtalis]

Here's a few links to help...
Monitor Lizard Forums (http://varanustalk.com/)
Water Monitors (http://www.varanustalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?10-Water-Monitors)
Monitor Lizard Forums - Taming Monitors (http://www.varanustalk.com/forum/index.php?pageid=taming)

[Azjeepguy]

hows he look

[Azjeepguy]

i have has a black throat monitor before so i understand how big they get i got a 14'x9' enclosure for him from my black throat

[sirtalis]

Sounds good, get him in that cage as soon as you can, it actually reduces stress to be in a massive cage.

[sirtalis]

After I looked at the pictures, I think he looks very good, can you post a picture of the enclosure he's in, and the cage he will be moving into, I'm likely getting a monitor in the next few months lol

[sirtalis]

Also, can you provide the basking temp, hot end ambient, cool end ambient, and the humidity?

[Albert Clark]

I think you were very smart in purchasing him! You have given him a new lease on life and it looks like he hit the jackpot with you! A aunt who is a herp vet! That water monitor is so lucky to have you as his keeper. Make sure to do your research and enjoy him.

[sirtalis]

@albertclark, but wait... now the previous owner has space for another reptile... jkjk. I haven't said this but I think you made a smart choice in the purchase, you seen to have the resources to take care of him :)

[AlexCrazy]

I don't think you're stupid.... You seem to have the resources to get it back to health. I think that if you are fully committed in helping this animal then you did the right thing
i think its good to give some animals a second chance.. you must just be committed to it and i think it will be all right.. that little guy is soo lucky he found you! :D

[Azjeepguy]

update: so i named the monitor Stubbs for obvious reasons but any ways its been 3 day and stubbs has shown much progress hes gained weight and every thing has healed for the most part im happy that i could make him have a better life if you look hes nice and plump now instead of being dehydrated and inproper nutrients

[sirtalis]

He looks much better :) can you show a picture of his future cage, the 14 ft cage, also what is his basking temp?

[Azjeepguy]

the shed isnt completed yet but when it is ill post for sure im prepping it atm the hot side im running 110 to 118 degrees with about 65% humidity with the help of a misting system

[sirtalis]

The basking temp needs to be at least 130, the air temp and basking temp are very different, what are you using to check your temps? Also, many experienced keepers use 150+ f

[Albert Clark]

I wonder if down the road you might be interested in breeding him? Think about it. That would be amazing on top of amazing. Congrats on all your hard work.