another sav question

[Jeff_Favelle]

I totally agree with V.hb about the eye-thing. A monitor's eyes looks like a bird's eyes man! No kidding. They are alert and WIDE. Just like this photo:

Good call V.hb!

[reptiguy123]

You seem to like showing off your pictures; you have a very good reason to at that!!!

[Bartman]

His eyes were closed there because it was right when he shut them...ill get a pic right before the one i posted..i thoguht the eyes slightly closed made the picture look better...im gonna wait on the dirt until the summer...i dont want to disturb him because he ate a lot more tonight..things are starting to look better already as you said v.hb. Again, for the 1000 times , thanks for all your help guys..ill keep you all posted on how he is in the next couple days

[Bartman]

the basking temp went up to 138..is that to hot??

[Jeff_Favelle]

The monitor will tell you if its too hot. If it doesn't bask or if it only basks for 30 seconds and then leaves, or if you only notice it basking at the bottom of the rack (AKA Retes Stack), then "maybe" its too hot.

But 138F is not too hot. Basking temps, within a certain range, are nothing to worry about. But if the monitor has no place of refuge (ie if your basking temps are climbing higher, what's the AMBIENT doing????), then it could easily be fatal.

[Bartman]

ok thank you..it was at a steady 138 but i think i know how to lower it a little because i did notice him basking for a very short period of time..i think im going to remove that rock where the light is shining...im hoping that the wood will not get as hot as the slate. Thanks

[Bartman]

and is 90 ok for ambient on the warm side?

[V.hb]

Originally posted by Bartman
and is 90 ok for ambient on the warm side?

Doesnt matter how hot the warm side is as long as he can escape it, and go somewhere around 80 degrees, or even a bit lower.. Like Jeff said he'l tell you if its too hot, if you see him in the cool end 24/7 chances are its too hot for him. Monitors bask alot. My blackthroats constantly bask, forage their enclosure go back to bask etc.. You'll see.. you're learning fast, don't worry!

[Bartman]

yea he is on the warm side and cool side back and forth..id say hes even more on the warm side. Im switching bulbs anyway causs this one is 100 watt..i think im better off with a 75..im gonna go exchange it tomorrow

[Bartman]

i just noticed he is in shed. Is there anything i should do to help him out? Maybe spray the tank or something. With the water fall i have in there im pretty sure its humid enough but i dun really know...i dont have a humidity checker, im gonna have to get one.
What should the humidity be at?

[Jeff_Favelle]

No, monitors don't shed like snakes do. They shed in pieces. This is also another plus for having dirt in there. They can dig themselves a nice 12-20 inch humid burrow and then come back up all refreshed. On an inch of cypress mulch, that option is....well.....not an option.

Don't worry about humidity. As long as its in a cage WITHOUT a screen top, the humidity is most likely fine.

[reptiguy123]

yup yup yup. Screens are a no-no. They can dehydrate your lizard's cage quickly, as well as take a chunk out of the heat. Dirt, soil, whatever, get more of it. Like Jeff said, those guys need to burrow!
Keep it up, man!

[Bartman]

ok some updates
He is beginning to look very good and he lost all the wrinkled skin that he had before (you said that showed he is either emaciated or dehydrated or sommin) and i added a basking platform kinda thing so he can "sprawl out"

[Bartman]

I also took out the water fall because the crix were hiding under and behind the tub and the sav seemed like he couldnt find them. Im gonna mist the tank instead until he gets to a good size i will put it back...right now i wanna work on seeing him eat.

[Bartman]

Here is a closer shot of him...does he look better after about 3 days of change