Rehabbing a juvenile savannah :(

xSerpentGoddess · 04-03-14, 10:04 PM

This savannah came in yesterday surrendered. She has apparently barely eaten in 3 months. She's is extremely calcium deficient and dehydrated. Her "ankles" in front are so week that she walks she ends up walking on the tops of her feet. It breaks my heart. She was dropped "a short distance" and her tail is a little kinked, possibly broken near the base. She also has a slight respiratory from being kept too dry. The WORST part is she came from someone who has been working with animals for years. This person is known to neglect things so its really no surprise.

For all of her issues, she is pretty alert. She's really interested in people and tilts her head listening to me talk. Before her soak I didn't even know if she was going to make it. She barely wanted to move or open her eyes. She came home to be nursed back to health I have her on baytril and Calcium bicarbonate. I did also get her to eat a bit.

At first she was only coming home to get healthy. In the matter of 12 hours my fiancé and I reasoned with ourselves that by the time she's healthy we wont want her to go anywhere. Its not set in stone but knowing us.. We lost our male in august and he was honestly part of the family. We had no intention on another but I suppose we'll see

**Tsubaki** · 04-04-14, 03:58 AM

poor little thing, breaks my heart

Hope she gets well soon!

kwhitlock · 04-04-14, 05:58 AM

Eh

I hate seeing reptiles neglected..especially little savs for some reason..seems more people are unaware of the neglect they are doing with out the knowledge to do anything about correcting it..

I hope your little sav pulls through!

sharthun · 04-04-14, 07:51 AM

Good job and good luck with the little guy!

thinkbig317 · 04-04-14, 08:01 AM

Awww, makes me so sad!! Glad she is in good hands now though!

Pirarucu · 04-04-14, 08:03 AM

Poor girl. What are you keeping her in?

Also, this belongs in the Varanid subforum.

xSerpentGoddess · 04-04-14, 09:09 AM

Thanks, I love her already.. ATM I have her in a 50 gallon with a mercury vapor. It was the only thing I had to put her on UV. I have the basking spot and water situated closer so she doesnt have to go far to get to it. She is more active this morning than she has been at all. I think she'll be ok.

Is there a way to move the thread? Or maybe a mod can?

Pirarucu · 04-04-14, 09:19 AM

We'll have to wait for a mod to do it.

What about substrate? Does she have a nice deep layer of dirt to burrow in yet?

xSerpentGoddess · 04-04-14, 11:39 PM

Yup. Coconut. Though she hasn't yet. I don't know how well she could dig at the moment anyways.

I gave her a low basking spot for now and a higher one for when she starts to get better. And she dragged herself to the top of the cork to bask higher. She probably climbed 18 inches (not at all vertical but a bit of an incline). I was shocked. She's still dragging herself but there's a lot more power and energy to her movement. She is a determined little thing.

Pirarucu · 04-05-14, 01:57 PM

Just coconut or is it mixed with some sand? Coco fiber on its own won't usually hold much of a burrow.

They all are. What basking temperatures does she have?

xSerpentGoddess · 04-07-14, 07:29 PM

high 90's up to may be 105. The cool side is in the 80's. I haven't used sand before. I'm not apposed to trying it. I usually use a coconut/Cyprus mix. I am out of everything but coconut atm.

I watered down repashy meat pie and fed her a small amount through a syringe. She seamed to like it. She is getting strong pretty quickly.

Pirarucu · 04-07-14, 09:30 PM

Are those air temperatures or surface temperatures? Those are good for ambient temps, but the surface temperature on the basking area needs to be much higher than that.
I would forgo the cyprus, it won't help the substrate hold a burrow. You need some sand mixed in or she won't be able to dig, which will be crucial to keeping her well hydrated.

What else are you offering her? Is she eating on her own?

Tonka14 · 04-08-14, 05:48 PM

The substrate really should be a sand and soil mix so she can dig easily in it. The cool side will be ok with 80-90 degree temps but your basking area on the surface area should be like 110 or in that range. Go with some worms and crickets and roaches also for food, they are probably the best for them.

murrindindi · 04-09-14, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonka14

The substrate really should be a sand and soil mix so she can dig easily in it. The cool side will be ok with 80-90 degree temps but your basking area on the surface area should be like 110 or in that range. Go with some worms and crickets and roaches also for food, they are probably the best for them.

Hi, the coolest ambient (air) temp needs to be around 24c (75f), the SURFACE temp at the basking site between approx. 50 to 60c (120 to 140f). Whole prey items only, including vertebrates which can also include rodents such as fuzzy mice and larger (f/t or f/k).

Akuma223 · 04-09-14, 07:01 PM

Wheres infernalis gone of too? I feel like I haven't seen him here in a while.