Ornate monitor enclosure question - Page 2

Grendel · 11-23-12, 07:56 PM

Well then over the past month mine is not doing that great, he did not get longer, just filled out / got fatter ( was pretty skinny like a finger when I got him). I feed him F/T hopper mice and raw chicken breast, and very large crickets.

Pirarucu · 11-23-12, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grendel

Well then over the past month mine is not doing that great, he did not get longer, just filled out / got fatter ( was pretty skinny like a finger when I got him). I feed him F/T hopper mice and raw chicken breast, and very large crickets.

Scrap the chicken, it's usually best to stick to whole prey. Much more nutritionally complete. How much are you feeding him? At that size you generally give them as much as they want. Also, can you get roaches? A colony will not be missed..

Grendel · 11-24-12, 01:50 AM

He is eating a mouse every other day, sometimes daily. I offer something daily.

War Machine · 11-24-12, 08:42 AM

That tells me it's not hot enough for him. A healthy juvenile should be a bottom less pit.

Grendel · 11-24-12, 08:50 AM

I think the temps are the issue too/ I added another heat source today.

Pirarucu · 11-24-12, 11:19 AM

How hot is his basking spot? You want it at least 130-140F surface temp.

Grendel · 11-24-12, 04:17 PM

The temp was 115, I changed to a stronger bulb, and now with substrate everywhere he is digging like crazy, every thing got covered in dirt in past 24 hrs. Thanks for all the advice.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-24-12, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grendel

The temp was 115, I changed to a stronger bulb, and now with substrate everywhere he is digging like crazy, every thing got covered in dirt in past 24 hrs. Thanks for all the advice.

Is he in the larger enclosure yet? Out of curiosity.

~Maggot

Grendel · 11-24-12, 06:24 PM

Yes I moved him

War Machine · 11-25-12, 08:25 AM

Post some pictures, I love seeing custom enclosures, it gives me ideas

simpleyork · 11-25-12, 12:06 PM

Here are some pics of my ornate to help with ideas . This Ornate monitor was unfortunately kept in a glass aquarium for the first couple of months that I had him. So he grew from 11 1/2" to 16" in the first three months. I then built a large cage and with proper everything within the first month of being in that cage he put on another 3 inches, he is now passing 3 feet in length at a year old though I know if he had been properly housed the first couple months he would easily be pushing four feet by now.
day I got him

his ever growing burrow

dinosaurdammit · 11-25-12, 12:09 PM

he has a nice peach tint to him, and he seems awfully wary of you. Hope he cools down with time and patience

simpleyork · 11-25-12, 12:10 PM

simpleyork · 11-25-12, 12:12 PM

this one has never liked me, display only, my savs deal okay with handling for a little bit, but the ornate more like a love hate relationship

dinosaurdammit · 11-25-12, 12:49 PM

Monitors are so silly when they act tough- puffing up and such, although I always take them on their word. A tail whip to the face is none too pleasant. My nile used to puff up and strut everytime I would change out food or water, he would strut up and down a side and if worse came to worse and near a burrow he would launch out like an alligator.