New monitor (salvator)

Kimmie · 04-16-14, 01:55 PM

Hiya guys I got a salvator from Houten.

I saw this little guy in a box with a little bedding sleeping and looking skinny and dried up, and got very sad by the display he only costed 170€ so I bought him right away.

I know he gets really big that is why I got a empty room for him when it comes to that, atm he sit in my big cage (gonna post pictures).

Now I would like to know he eats jumpers no problem, I now dusted them in hope of him to get better faster, now I was thinking, I put calcium water in his water but can I put vitamins in his water too? even if it gets a little white. Gonna show a picture, not the best since he was pooping on me while taking it

I always wanted a salvator, and when I saw him being all alone like that I got sad, i'm not jumping into this with no idea, I have owned a lot of tegus and iguanas and other lizards and know how much time, food and space they need. Good I have a "rich" boyfriend

I know some people will say it is stupid to buy a unhealthy looking animal, but I like to help those animals who seem to be left behind like my burms, I feel better than leaving him there to probably die from the bad owners.

Pirarucu · 04-16-14, 02:02 PM

Sorry to be a letdown, but that cage will probably kill him just as surely as he would have died otherwise if it isn't modified soon. First off, bark is not a suitable substrate. He needs soil that he can dig burrows in, and he needs a lot of it. You need to give him a deep layer of loamy soil, as thick as possible.
I don't see a basking area, what heating do you have in his cage?
Don't bother putting calcium and vitamins in his water, the supplements on his food are plenty, and you shouldn't need them at all, really.

Kimmie · 04-16-14, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

Sorry to be a letdown, but that cage will probably kill him just as surely as he would have died otherwise if it isn't modified soon. First off, bark is not a suitable substrate. He needs soil that he can dig burrows in, and he needs a lot of it. You need to give him a deep layer of loamy soil, as thick as possible.
I don't see a basking area, what heating do you have in his cage?
Don't bother putting calcium and vitamins in his water, the supplements on his food are plenty, and you shouldn't need them at all, really.

Thanks I will get soil as soon as I go to the shop, tho I had no problem with my tegu on bark, he is digged now and my tegu did the same, I will get soil tho, his temp is 28, atm which said on Water Monitor & Black Dragon Care Sheet should be 70-80. I live in belgium so my temp is different. I will just dust or leave them undusted if he don't like them then.

Kimmie · 04-16-14, 02:20 PM

now I layed all the moss I had in there on top of the soil as a good humid to I get the soil and hide, he got two hides already so he got extras. Sprayed it all down

Pirarucu · 04-16-14, 02:20 PM

I am assuming that is the air temperature, that is fine. But he also needs a basking area with heat bulbs, and it needs to be much hotter. The air temperature there needs to be 32-37C and the surface temperature needs to be at least 54C. Vital Exotics uses temperatures as high as 65C.

Kimmie · 04-16-14, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

I am assuming that is the air temperature, that is fine. But he also needs a basking area with heat bulbs, and it needs to be much hotter. The air temperature there needs to be 32-37C and the surface temperature needs to be at least 54C. Vital Exotics uses temperatures as high as 65C.

okay thanks I will up it

)

Kimmie · 04-16-14, 02:33 PM

and Pirarucu it is not a let down I like you tell what is wrong I will get the soil as soon as I can I now laid lots of moss on top to make him more likely to hide under that a sprayed it good to keep it very humid

murrindindi · 04-16-14, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

Sorry to be a letdown, but that cage will probably kill him just as surely as he would have died otherwise if it isn't modified soon. First off, bark is not a suitable substrate. He needs soil that he can dig burrows in, and he needs a lot of it. You need to give him a deep layer of loamy soil, as thick as possible.
I don't see a basking area, what heating do you have in his cage?
Don't bother putting calcium and vitamins in his water, the supplements on his food are plenty, and you shouldn't need them at all, really.

Hi, it`s perfectly acceptable to use bark on top of a soil/playsand mix, it holds humidity quite well itself, it will also stop the soil drying out too quickly.

Kimmie · 04-16-14, 03:28 PM

oki should I get both eco earth and coconut? or is one better then the other?

murrindindi · 04-16-14, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimmie

Thanks I will get soil as soon as I go to the shop, tho I had no problem with my tegu on bark, he is digged now and my tegu did the same, I will get soil tho, his temp is 28, atm which said on Water Monitor & Black Dragon Care Sheet should be 70-80. I live in belgium so my temp is different. I will just dust or leave them undusted if he don't like them then.

Hi, you basically need to know two temperatures; the lowest ambient (air) in the coolest parts @ approx. 24c, then the SURFACE temp at the basking site @ between approx. 50 to 60c.
The humidity should range between approx. 50 to 80%+ (the lower figure will be around the basking area).
Any water that the monitor can soak in MUST be heated to between approx. 28 to 32c, the reason being they may spend extended periods in there and you don`t want the monitor`s core body temp to drop too low.
There is no need to dust vertebrate prey, but inverts can be, and it`s important to gut load them before offering as food.
A rodent and fish based diet is appropriate, though obviously you should also offer invertebrate prey such as insects, crustaceans, etc.

jpsteele80 · 04-16-14, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimmie

oki should I get both eco earth and coconut? or is one better then the other?

Neither one of those really hold a burrow, you need a sandy soil that when damp and you stick your finger in it, it will hold that form, also if that is the only light in that tank your going to need to ditch it fast, no way your going to get 120° to 130°F basking spot with that

murrindindi · 04-16-14, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimmie

oki should I get both eco earth and coconut? or is one better then the other?

Garden soil is good providing no chemicals have been used, you can mix it with some playsand/builders sand at a ratio of around 70% soil to 30% sand, it needs to be slightly moist and very well packed down.
I would suggest a layer around 20cm+ for the time being (plus a layer of bark on the top).
Can you tell us how big the present enclosure is and what type of basking and other heat/light bulbs you are using?
EDIT: It is most important you do NOT force handle the monitor, you must allow the animal to fully acclimate to the enclosure, which I can tell you may take quite a long time (many, many months).

jpsteele80 · 04-16-14, 03:37 PM

Having had water monitors before, cricket's and roaches aren't going to last long at all, mine was off them in about a month, eating hopper mice the next month and then like a month and a half later already up to rat pups, they grow like weeds

Kimmie · 04-16-14, 03:39 PM

okay thanks will do

murrindindi · 04-16-14, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpsteele80

Having had water monitors before, cricket's and roaches aren't going to last long at all, mine was off them in about a month, eating hopper mice the next month and then like a month and a half later already up to rat pups, they grow like weeds

Hi, mine has never eaten an insect of any description (not for the want of trying), from day one he would only take rodents and fish (plus crustaceans).