Kink

[murrindindi]

Hi again, you say you can apply a little pressure to the tail and it doesn`t bother the monitor, have you tried actually straightening the kink, if yes, does it move back in line easily? If it does, I think I would try putting a splint on it, you only need two pieces of very thin wood or semi flexible plastic on each side, kept in place with some masking tape (not too adhesive, but enough to hold it in place). My concern would be if the monitor causes more damage just by moving around the enclosure and the blood supply is interupted, it`s quite a significant portion to lose for a semi arborial species like this (you`ll never stop him trying to climb, even if you don`t put branches in there)!
I doubt very much the "break" was caused by him resting on the tail (tripoding), more likey either trapped it somewhere or possibly a tail whip?
If you`re willing to try a splint, do it before he`s warmed up, it might be a little easier.
I would not expect him to break another part simply because there was a splint in place, if the blood supply is getting through, the tail end should still be flexible.

[smy_749]

See I knew a splint was a good idea :-P Thanks murr they were ganging up on me baha

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by smy_749

See I knew a splint was a good idea :-P Thanks murr they were ganging up on me baha

I think it will work, or at least it`s worth a try, and I`m not saying that just because they were ganging up on me now and again, and again. I must also say it`s a great relief to find they gang up on other people, too (I thank "them" for that most sincerely)....

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

I think it will work, or at least it`s worth a try, and I`m not saying that just because they were ganging up on me now and again, and again. I must also say it`s a great relief to find they gang up on other people, too (I thank "them" for that most sincerely)....

Pffft! It's not a party til I show up!

[Pirarucu]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Hi again, you say you can apply a little pressure to the tail and it doesn`t bother the monitor, have you tried actually straightening the kink, if yes, does it move back in line easily? If it does, I think I would try putting a splint on it, you only need two pieces of very thin wood or semi flexible plastic on each side, kept in place with some masking tape (not too adhesive, but enough to hold it in place). My concern would be if the monitor causes more damage just by moving around the enclosure and the blood supply is interupted, it`s quite a significant portion to lose for a semi arborial species like this (you`ll never stop him trying to climb, even if you don`t put branches in there)!
I doubt very much the "break" was caused by him resting on the tail (tripoding), more likey either trapped it somewhere or possibly a tail whip?
If you`re willing to try a splint, do it before he`s warmed up, it might be a little easier.
I would not expect him to break another part simply because there was a splint in place, if the blood supply is getting through, the tail end should still be flexible.

I was wondering the same in regard to the possibility of a tail whip being the cause, it does seem unlikely that it would be from standing on it..
My concern with the splint is that if the monitor stood on its tail the splint could create a pressure point at the end, acting like a lever and possibly breaking the tail. If it were constructed properly this could be avoided.. Just don't use a solid splint. Use a material that will only restrict the tail to its normal range of motion, and will straighten back when it isn't being bent. Perhaps some sort of rubber?

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

I was wondering the same in regard to the possibility of a tail whip being the cause, it does seem unlikely that it would be from standing on it..
My concern with the splint is that if the monitor stood on its tail the splint could create a pressure point at the end, acting like a lever and possibly breaking the tail. If it were constructed properly this could be avoided.. Just don't use a solid splint. Use a material that will only restrict the tail to its normal range of motion, and will straighten back when it isn't being bent. Perhaps some sort of rubber?

I doubt if the monitor was tripoding there would be sufficient weight/pressure on the tail end to cause further damage, simply because the appendage is so flexible. Maybe a piece of semi rigid plastic will work better than wood, it will still allow some movement "fore and aft" but hopefully keep it straight at the break (as would a narrow strip of thickish rubber on each side), taped as I suggested, rather than glued. I think the sooner it`s tried the better. I don`t believe the monitor will try to remove it, though it is possible. One of my previous V. salvator`s broke a claw, and to try and stop the bleeding I put a tiny piece of band-aid on it (just the sticky part), the monitor immediately looked down and pulled it off, I was quite surprised to say the least, because it was so small, I think it shows just how "aware" they are of everything!

[War Machine]

I will try to straighten it out. And He is not much of a whipper, I really NEVER bug him, so I don't give him the opportunity too. There have been times where he has supported his weight on his tail, not a tri pod, more like two front feet on a wall, and rear legs free of weight.