Savannah Monitor skin issue - Page 3

mygabriella · 04-02-13, 03:05 PM

She hasnt dug burrows. I dont know if its really a female, she looks like a female so I call her a female. Temps are 135 basking, 100 one side, and 85 cool side. humidity 50-60%. Ill try to take some pics.

mygabriella · 04-02-13, 03:25 PM

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Here are some photos of her today, I couldnt get one of her walking because she was on a dead run haha.

murrindindi · 04-02-13, 04:27 PM

Thanks for the photos, it has to be said the monitor doesn`t look in the best of condition, but that`s hardly surprising considering the previous lack of care.
At 17inches ToL it is possible the animal is already sexually mature, if so and this is a female, it`s extremely important the conditions support in every way (very nutritious diet, somewhere to deposit eggs, etc, etc).
I think the animal is a little on the heavy side just now (not very badly).
I think the temps on the cool side are too high, anything around 24 to 27c is fine (75 to 80f), both day and night. The humidity is also a touch low, I take it the 50% is around the basking area (that`s o.k), but the hides (and any burrows) should be around 70%+ , (I know you say the monitor hasn`t made any yet).
Edit: It`s so difficult judging things from a few pics, but those marks look like burns?
Second edit: You say the ambient temps on the warm side are 100f, is that directly under the basking light/s, or all around the area? The actual surface temps are fine.

DeadlyDesires · 04-02-13, 04:30 PM

i also have to agree that he/she looks a little overweight, also doesn't seem to be moving much... looks lethargic and sick to me as well from the pictures..please go to a vet.

Pirarucu · 04-02-13, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

i also have to agree that he/she looks a little overweight, also doesn't seem to be moving much... looks lethargic and sick to me as well from the pictures..please go to a vet.

The owner said it was running.. I think she looks a little chubby but it's not bad.

You might try starting a burrow for her to see if she'll take over.

DeadlyDesires · 04-02-13, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

The owner said it was running.. I think she looks a little chubby but it's not bad.

You might try starting a burrow for her to see if she'll take over.

right i understand that but when i take my sav out of the cage he doesn't ever stop moving. deff doesn't lay down like that.. the one that i had before always laid down like that and she was sick, thats why i say something..

Vegasarah · 04-02-13, 05:55 PM

Are you checking your temps with a basking gun? It could be that the surface temperature is too high and could have burned her. I agree, these pictures have better lighting and now they are starting to look more like burns to me. How long has this injury been visible?

Freebody · 04-02-13, 06:07 PM

hard to say it looks like burns, the surrounding tissue would be red like a sunburn if it was a burn imho. looks like some nasty scale rot that is yet to shed off. I used concrete cinderblocks for a hot basking spot, around 120-130 or so on top, about 100 inside the cubes.

DeadlyDesires · 04-02-13, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebody

hard to say it looks like burns, the surrounding tissue would be red like a sunburn if it was a burn imho. looks like some nasty scale rot that is yet to shed off. I used concrete cinderblocks for a hot basking spot, around 120-130 or so on top, about 100 inside the cubes.

scale rot is usually red and pussy isn't it? when my water dragon got burned it looked just like this... still looks like a burn to me.... just a really bad one. plus haven't really seen scale rot on the feet before? and it usually starts out red.. in the pic of the foot its black dosen't look infected just black. which leads me to believe burns.

Freebody · 04-02-13, 06:30 PM

ya I guess I would have to agree either way then, burn or scale rot would both be red, but scale rot would be mostly red right around the rot, where as if it was a burn that size the whole belly would be rather red like a sunburn imho, but it looks like its getting better, the skin after being damaged to this extent will never heal fully, it will have shed out over time at this point, most likely not even be able notice it after a year I bet.

Vegasarah · 04-02-13, 07:20 PM

I'm just worried that for either reason that it could happen again. Improper husbandry with the substrate being too damp and causing scale rot, or the basking temp being higher than expected and re-burning the animal. Either way, something probably needs to be corrected. But it is looking like it's healing, and the antibiotic/bacterial treatment is working.

mygabriella · 04-03-13, 05:20 AM

Its impossible to be a burn. She has a log to bask on and it is no where near too hot to burn. Its 135 degrees in her basking area and 100 degrees around her basking area. Its like 82 degrees in her cool end at the moment. And female savannahs are more docile, but she wiggles and runs when I hold her and tries to dart away.
I know shes in poor health, I just hope I can help her out. Shes acting a lot better now. Im pretty sure its scale rot. They 50-60 percent humidity is through out the tank, and her hiding spots are around 70. I dont want to make it too humid if its scale rot, im stressing out about it. But her dirt isnt wet, its just moist. she had the brown blotches when I got her about 2 months ago, but now they are peeling off.

jarich · 04-03-13, 08:00 AM

You know better what the parameters were in the old enclosure than we do, so only you can say if its a burn or not. The temps you have are not a burn risk though. I think this looks more like scale rot to me. It also isnt helped by the fact that the monitor is overweight and looks like it does not hold its stomach up off the ground like normal. This means the skin is in constant contact with the substrate. Again, this is not a reflection on you so much as how it was kept before, so please dont feel as if I am blaming or attacking you at all.

What were the conditions it was kept in before? Was it on soil or some other kind of substrate then? You will know better than us if this is true or not, but from the pictures you have sent it looks to be staying the same or getting worse. It could be that the dirt its on now is darker, but those first pictures you posted dont seem to have as much of a spread as the last ones you posted. This is something you need to watch very closely. If its not healing you may need to take more action. A visit to the vet to get some antibiotics would be a good idea either way, I think.

mygabriella · 04-03-13, 09:09 AM

Usually her belly is off the ground but she got really weak. But now shes moving around like she used to.
the previous owner kept her in a 10 gallon with a 75 watt bulb on newspaper. Not sure what they used for humidity or a water dish.

mygabriella · 04-03-13, 10:56 AM

How much do you suggest I feed her?? And how often?