New Baby Water Monitor

Danimal · 09-21-12, 09:25 AM

This is the new water monitor. Only Varanid I am currently keeping. Picked it up at a show a couple of weeks ago. Eating well on crickets, worms and a pinky once a week. Was a little lethargic the first week but very active now.

Tango · 09-21-12, 10:12 AM

Nice, Danimal. Congrats!

Aanayab1 · 09-21-12, 03:29 PM

It's so tiny! The pencil really is a crazy looking comparison. What do you got the little bugger housed in?

simpleyork · 09-21-12, 04:07 PM

I love the look of waters there's just something about them

Gregg M · 09-21-12, 04:12 PM

Nice salvator.
You should be feeding this species more than one mouse a week. You should do a half rodent half insect diet.

Also, how are you housing it? Not trying to sound like I am grilling you, it is just that most people buy Asian water monitors without fully understanding whats involved.

infernalis · 09-21-12, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregg M

Nice salvator.
You should be feeding this species more than one mouse a week. You should do a half rodent half insect diet.

Also, how are you housing it? Not trying to sound like I am grilling you, it is just that most people buy Asian water monitors without fully understanding whats involved.

Yes please.^^^^^

We would like to see your monitor live a long and healthy life.

Danimal · 09-21-12, 06:57 PM

Ready, set, go.... This was an impulse buy. Don't panic and extinguish your flames, I'll explain. My wife and I often hit any kind of animal show that comes to town mostly just to look. I kept a water monitor before, I know what's involved. Because of that I never really intended to keep another and really only because of the space they require.

simpleyork, I am with you, there really is something about a water monitor. I love them. I have not seen another since mine past about 15 years ago. When I saw this little guy I literally stopped in my tracks. So I say to the fella, That's a cute little baby you have there, how old? He tells me its about 7 mo old. Hmmm....Whaa. I ask him if its eating pinkys and he says ground beef and turkey. So I bought it, impulse. Right now it's in an exo terra. Soon I will move it to a 75 gal tank or, ideally, straight into one of the enclosures I am going to build, if I have one ready. Even that will not be its permanent home.

It didn't eat first couple of days. I offered Pinkies, crickets and worms. Finally started eating the crickets, then worms and a pinky last Friday and a pinky today. Thus, a pinky once a week. I skipped a day and when it didn't take it, offered one everyday there after until it took one today. I will offer another on Sunday and so on and so on.

This little one is very active and looks much, much better than when I brought it home. Still shy and in the hide when I am active but moves around when I settle down to work. Sometime in the next few weeks it will go to the vet, like all the animals in my home do, just to get a physical. . .

infernalis · 09-21-12, 07:23 PM

you don't have to worry about flames here.. we run the haters out of town quick at this forum.

Danimal · 09-21-12, 08:15 PM

Ah, good to know but the short-sighted are not the only propagators of the heat, it comes from the over zealous as well and as often. No worries, it was only a little tat for my perceived ignorance before there was proof of. You get more flies with honey and all that....I didn't take it the wrong way, I was just having a little fun.

Ivanator · 09-21-12, 08:48 PM

That definitely is a cutie! It wont stay small for long though so enjoy it while it lasts.

**millertime89** · 09-21-12, 11:25 PM

I soooo want one of these but I know right I don't have the room, congrats on the little one, hope to see more pictures as he grows.

justme · 09-26-12, 01:08 AM

Hi there. When you go to the vet, do not let them worm it since its a favourite activity of theirs and only causes harm at this size. The only thing you need to be worried about right now is respiratory infections that claim a lot of these guys.

As long as you get it to eat, don't worry about what he is eating at this point. They are not pigs (unlike niles, savannahs and some others) so depending on where in the digestion process the last meal is in they might skip a day on their own.

Danimal · 09-26-12, 07:06 AM

Hi justme, Thanks for posting. Why don't you introduce yourself.

infernalis · 09-26-12, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danimal

Hi justme, Thanks for posting. Why don't you introduce yourself.

Thanks.... good post.

justme · 09-28-12, 05:13 PM

i should but some know me anyway. just havent connected the name yet. im not much of a forum guy. ill go say hi later tonight when i have access to a real keyboard