View Full Version : Olive (Savannah Monitor) only poops in the bath
Hail3gh
03-07-12, 06:45 PM
This seems kind of strange to me, but I guess as long as it works right... Olive only poops when I put him in the bath I have a large hot tub bath that four people can sit in comfortable. Since I bought him I have been letting him swim in it. I dont do this because I have to, I do it because he has always enjoyed it, he swims for about half an hour with a place where he can rest when he wants to. He usually does not want to. Anyways long story not so short. Since day 1 of doing this he has used the bath as his toilet or his water container. Well he has stopped using his water container and now waits until I put him in the bath. He gets all excited when I bring him into the bathroom and as soon as I put him in the bath he goes. So usuallly I only fill it a little bit so as not to have to drain it and refill, all I have to do is drain what I put in. Then he spends about half hour swimming, and is more than happy to get out when his time is up. P.S I will post some more pics in the next couple of days I think in the last month he has just about doubled in length. Its crazy everyday when I look at him I can actually see how much he has grown
Kayla90
03-07-12, 07:14 PM
Yea my Sav likes to go to the bathroom in water as well :P
infernalis
03-07-12, 07:19 PM
Normal behaviour.. Chomper always pooped in our tub as well.
Watch the very last thing that happens just as he exits the creek here..
YoddbTDcTjE
That's pretty cool Wayne :-)
RIP Chomp.
Hail3gh
03-07-12, 07:52 PM
Umm why cant I see the video. You guys dont like me I see lol just kidding just can figure out why People are posting cool video but there is no sign of a video for me
crocdoc
03-07-12, 08:22 PM
Your browser may not have the right flash plug-in installed. Either that or you're reading this from an ipad (or some other apple portable device) which has non-standard browsing software. I tried showing a friend some of my youtube videos on his ipad and couldn't watch any of them.
infernalis
03-07-12, 08:26 PM
it's just a video of a Savannah monitor defecating in a stream. It was to illustrate that your animal is behaving normally.
Hail3gh
03-07-12, 08:42 PM
I watched the video from the link you sent me in the message thats pretty cool... I know that it is normal for them to go in the water, just my thing is his water bowel is bigger than him but he will not go to the bathroom in that.... I guess he is smarter than that dont get your drinking water dirty lol.
infernalis
03-07-12, 09:16 PM
Makes cleanup easy too, just rinse it down the drain.
Freebody
03-07-12, 10:14 PM
this is why i keep 2 water containers in my savs cage, 1 he drinks from the other he uses as a toilet, it was his idea, i originally had 2 water spots in each side of the cage, but i noticed only one was ever used as a toilet and i only ever see him drink from the other, now they sit side by side. i cant wait to see some pics.
Bradyloach
03-07-12, 11:02 PM
My sav dug a burrow under her log, and she poops down there, never anywere else
The question i always think of on this issue,does the monitor need a basin to defecate in or is it just a preference or both.Does having a large basin mask a potential problem in husbandry.Would the animal be best in a spot(substrate) of security that also aides in preventing dehydration,something a basin does not adress fully.
When i setup my raise up cage for my baby Bluetails i used smaller containers for drinking.Since i noticed the animals were defecating daily and had no problems shedding,it gave me the option to add larger basins,as i knew my conditions were good.
infernalis
03-08-12, 09:26 AM
The question i always think of on this issue,does the monitor need a basin to defecate in or is it just a preference or both.Does having a large basin mask a potential problem in husbandry.Would the animal be best in a spot(substrate) of security that also aides in preventing dehydration,something a basin does not adress fully.
When i setup my raise up cage for my baby Bluetails i used smaller containers for drinking.Since i noticed the animals were defecating daily and had no problems shedding,it gave me the option to add larger basins,as i knew my conditions were good.
From my own personal observations it's a preference or choice whatever you wish to call it.
when we let him outside, he would usually go in the creek, but the lawn suited him just fine too.
BarelyBreathing
03-08-12, 01:12 PM
Yeah, I agree. It's pretty normal.
Hail3gh
03-08-12, 08:20 PM
Freebody that is a good idea In the morning I will put another container in there and see if he will go in that one...
It probably is pretty normal,but what kind of survival rate are we getting with pretty normal.When everyone gets focused or distracted by one aspect of husbandry,like diet-do we ignore signs of dehydration that our monitors are showing us.What would a monitor show you if it was dehydrated?To me it's a lot of things you guys say are 'pretty normal'-now relate this to the wild studies of Savannah monitors,the part that translates to husbandry-Sav's have adapted to a harsh environment-they will survive for periods of time dehydrated.But they will also die in the wild from dehydration if conditions there persist.
infernalis
03-09-12, 08:27 AM
It probably is pretty normal,but what kind of survival rate are we getting with pretty normal.When everyone gets focused or distracted by one aspect of husbandry,like diet-do we ignore signs of dehydration that our monitors are showing us.What would a monitor show you if it was dehydrated?To me it's a lot of things you guys say are 'pretty normal'-now relate this to the wild studies of Savannah monitors,the part that translates to husbandry-Sav's have adapted to a harsh environment-they will survive for periods of time dehydrated.But they will also die in the wild from dehydration if conditions there persist.
How are you getting this from toilet habits? I am just curious.
Just as an observation, but it seems like going in the water basin would prevent picking up any particles of dirt or debris on their genitals. Also, since they have the choice to go either there or anywhere else in their habitat, and they continually chose the water basin, it seems like the animal is showing us that this is the best situation. Just going on your logic there.
infernalis
03-09-12, 12:59 PM
Just as an observation, but it seems like going in the water basin would prevent picking up any particles of dirt or debris on their genitals. Also, since they have the choice to go either there or anywhere else in their habitat, and they continually chose the water basin, it seems like the animal is showing us that this is the best situation. Just going on your logic there.
Exactly.. Thank you.
sandy dirt will stick to the evert and water will not.
BarelyBreathing
03-09-12, 01:33 PM
How are you getting this from toilet habits? I am just curious.
Just playing the devil's advocate here. It's been shown before, especially in reptiles such as iguanids and agamids, that dehydration does in fact play a roll in how the animals go to the bathroom. When an animal is that dehydrated, they will need the extra "help" that the water and swimming give it.
I still stand by my initial opinion, though, that this is completely normal.
crocdoc
03-09-12, 06:29 PM
It's been shown before, especially in reptiles such as iguanids and agamids, that dehydration does in fact play a roll in how the animals go to the bathroom. When an animal is that dehydrated, they will need the extra "help" that the water and swimming give it.
I was going to comment, but didn't want to be the baddy raining on the parade (again). Lol. Defecating in the water container can often be a sign of dry conditions for monitors, too. On the other hand, they're creatures of habit and will usually keep doing things the same way, so it's not definitive proof of dehydration.
infernalis
03-09-12, 06:59 PM
I was going to comment, but didn't want to be the baddy raining on the parade (again).
all things considered, There is no room for sugar coating until we all get things figured out.
Freebody
03-09-12, 07:03 PM
but if the monitor was dehydrated you would see him soaking in his water bowl as well as deficating in it, it would try to hydrate itself if their is water in the cage by sitting in his water bowl, if the humidity levels were too dry, it would be harmfull and have lasting effects, so just not worrying about humidity in the cage and tossing a huge water container in and thinking this is going to fly, is Wrong! but anyways, my sav will not step foot in him container he poops in, he will walk around that one and only climbs in for buisiness, but the other he treats like any other sot in his cage, if its in the way of his travel, he climbs in walks through and out the other side with out hesitation. I could see the water helping pass a compacted poop, that makes sence, my bredle python gets constipated alot, but if i dont have to resort to the warm short baths every day to help get it to pass, i notice almost all her poops seem to be in the water, i wonder if this rings true for snakes as well as the other 2 lizards just mentioned, or if its just coincidental.
KORBIN5895
03-09-12, 07:07 PM
You hit it head on Wayne. BUT we should also show respect and be civil.
infernalis
03-09-12, 07:19 PM
You hit it head on Wayne. BUT we should also show respect and be civil.
Well that's a given, but withholding opinion for the sake of being nice is counterproductive.
KORBIN5895
03-09-12, 07:28 PM
Yeah well I had nothing actually relevant to say.
:-p
Hail3gh
03-09-12, 07:39 PM
Well it seems like I have started another post where some will automatically claim without knowing, that Olive is in poor conditions. His house is actually more humid than it needs to be because right now he is going through a full out shed Pealing nicely... Olive never climbs in his water container so therefore he is not looking to hydrate his self. He has a cold air humidifier permanently attached to the cage with the hose being the only thing inside. that i run during the day and sometimes over night depending on how much of a shed he is in... The only way Olvie would be more hydrated is if I hooked up an I.V to him... I have read a lot about monitor lizards pooping in their water bowel. I just find it funny that mine decided that this is nasty, and You know what in my opinion that just shows that they are a lot smarter than given credit for. I have an English bulldog that never barks as well, does that mean she is dehydrated also to horse to bark.
That would actually be quite fascinating as an indicator if it held true for monitors. BB and Crocdoc, have you found that your monitors generally do not go in their water basins?
Nobody was commenting on your care-just discussing why they do what they do.I started the current line of questioning because i think there are many reasons they would defecate in their water containers-not just to read the morning paper,silly as that might sound.
Hail3gh
03-09-12, 08:30 PM
I can not see any creature being better treated than the ones owned by the people on this forum. I understand that this is something that we are getting better at every day, but the matter of hydration can not be the cause.. The food we feed the lizard maybe. Constipation like somebody else mentioned possibly but there is no way that any Lizard in the wild could be better hydrated than one who lives with a humidifier.. Personally I think that the reason he does this is because when he is in his home he is lazy does not move much and when I open up his door he walks out does his normal routine then he walks back in and chills... When I put him in the water he is active and I think he gets his motor running....
infernalis
03-09-12, 08:34 PM
Not just to read the morning paper,silly as that might sound.
http://www.chompersite.com/laugh.gif
BarelyBreathing
03-09-12, 08:48 PM
*Most* of my monitors go to the bathroom in their water bowls. The ones that don't are the timors and at least one of the similis. That's why I say it's completely normal.
crocdoc
03-10-12, 07:32 AM
Well it seems like I have started another post where some will automatically claim without knowing, that Olive is in poor conditions.
...and that's why I wasn't going to comment. I didn't say anything about your monitor being in poor conditions - I said that defecating can sometimes be an indicator of dehydration, but as monitors are also creatures of habit it could simply be something they started doing and have continued to do. As Moe said, we were just having a discussion on whether or not it can sometimes mean more, but I promise I will never go near one of your threads again, regardless.
BB and Crocdoc, have you found that your monitors generally do not go in their water basins?
Occasionally at best. I've got four enclosures, one large one, one medium and two small ones. One of the small ones is the driest of my enclosures (the only store bought one), as it has air leaks around the light fittings on the top and loses humidity easily. Whenever I house young monitors in there they defecate in the water bowl. Different monitors, same habit.
My adults will defecate in their water container every now and then, but it's uncommon.
However, although dehydrated (or even slightly dry) monitors will defecate in their water containers, defecating in water containers is not a definite sign of dehydration. As I said, they are creatures of habit and once they start defecating in a chosen spot, they'll often keep doing it. Because I let my monitors out for a wander every day, many people have asked me where they defecate. My female always defecates in the enclosure and anywhere else is a rare exception. If I open the enclosure to let her out before she's defecated, she'll often give me a strange look and just sit there. I'll close the sliding door and watch her and, invariably, a few minutes later she'll go to defecate on the substrate and then immediately go to the door to be let out. The male got into the bad habit of defecating outside the enclosure for a while, when I was working full time and didn't have time in the morning to wait for him to defecate before letting him out. In essence, he got trained to defecate outside the enclosure and would hold it in until he was let out. Lately I've been retraining him, by only letting him out after he's defecated, so now he's much like the female and goes to the door to be let out the instant he's defecated. That indicates how much of it is dictated by habit and it sounds like Hail3gh's monitor has developed the bath defecation as part of its routine.
Excellent thanks to you both. I only have the one and it has almost always gone in the water basin. However I also know that the guy I rescued it from kept it in a small aquarium with sand so it seems like that is where he picked up the habit. My humidity levels are very high in my enclosure so I have a hard time thinking it is due to dehydration. Always good to question stuff like that though. Haleigh I don't think anyone was calling you out, but rather just stating possibilities in general. It's always good to keep in mind that we might be wrong, it allows us to keep on getting better at this. I hope to never stop learning about these complex and fascinating animals
My understanding is that dehydration is increased by air movement,and the rate would increase as the humidity lowers.So just raising cage humidity does not prevent dehydration.
infernalis
03-10-12, 11:50 AM
My understanding is that dehydration is increased by air movement,and the rate would increase as the humidity lowers.So just raising cage humidity does not prevent dehydration.
You are right to a degree, it's going to be a combination of tight fitting burrows, decent cage humidity, clean drinking water and a proper diet.
Again, this is only an opinion, one formed from common sense and data provided.
Hmmm I think Ive heard someone else say that somewhere before. ;)
It also shows a generalization that looks past a few things, as Wayne mentioned. No one is saying that just increasing cage humidity would stop dehydration in and of itself Moe. And where did air movement come into play?
Hail3gh
03-10-12, 06:25 PM
...and that's why I wasn't going to comment. I didn't say anything about your monitor being in poor conditions - I said that defecating can sometimes be an indicator of dehydration, but as monitors are also creatures of habit it could simply be something they started doing and have continued to do. As Moe said, we were just having a discussion on whether or not it can sometimes mean more, but I promise I will never go near one of your threads again, regardless.
We can be adults or have a peeing contest. If You feel that my comment was geared towards You, then more power to you don't comment on anymore of mine, I myself am not going to stop making posts because my intention of coming on this site was never to make friends.. I have been lucky enough to make a few and am thankful for that, but my intention was to see the way other people house their lizards. I have made every move to better the situation for Olive which really was to bring the light closer increase the humidity and change the diet. This was a lot of changes but not a big deal... The last thing needed is to make the cage deeper which I can not do until spring which is not far away. So again I say if you have decided to no longer go near any of my threads this is something you have decided and have called yourself guilty of saying I made that comment about you not I.
BarelyBreathing
03-10-12, 06:43 PM
How's that diet thing coming? (speaking of...) What are you feeding now?
Hail3gh
03-10-12, 09:15 PM
Well mostly big macs and fries... Oh you meant the lizard crickets and meal worms mostly
Hail3gh
03-29-12, 08:15 PM
So I have a new update about the pooping situation... This post was made with the wrong info... Olive does not only poop in the bath I have recently found out that he does have a very good plan... He makes the same routine everyday he walks around the living room and then goes into my sons bedroom and poops behind his t.v I found a nice pile behind the t.v. Not quite sure why it does not smell because i Know when he lets one go it stinks...
BarelyBreathing
03-29-12, 08:25 PM
Hahahaha, that's awesome!
Hail3gh
03-30-12, 05:49 AM
Hahahaha, that's awesome!
I'll let my Son Know cause he thought it was nasty lol
BarelyBreathing
03-30-12, 11:22 AM
That's seriously funny. Hey, at least he didn't step in it.
millertime89
03-30-12, 06:12 PM
well at least its all in one spot! Try putting a plastic tray where he does that to try and "potty train" him.
I was going to say you could put down those pee pads they make for dogs, but then I realized your son would probably not be too happy with the idea of encouraging that behaviour! ;)
Hail3gh
04-01-12, 06:14 AM
Or my Son would start goin on it lol
infernalis
04-01-12, 08:51 AM
Or my Son would start goin on it lol
http://www.varanus.us/smile/rotflmao.gifhttp://www.varanus.us/smile/rotflmao.gif
Hahahaha! Im guessing he is a teenager then?! Ya, they arent the cleanest pets at that age are they? No wonder he didnt smell it before!
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.