not eating???

Solid Snake · 11-08-03, 06:58 PM

hey got my Ornate Nile 3 days ago and he hasn't ate for me...

i've tried crickets, mealworms, beetles, and pinkies, he doesn't seem interested, also hes really skinny, the person i bought it from said it came from PCPC.

Hes about 12" or maybe smaller... In a 40 gallon tank.

Hot side using 100w Lamp - 100F basking
Cool side using 50w lamp - 80F-ish
Humidity about 50-60% using aspen and also got got a pool big enough to swim in on the cool side.

what could be wrong?

NiagaraReptiles · 11-09-03, 07:54 AM

My guess would be stress and/or dehydration.

Give him a few places to hide in the hot and in the cool areas. Give him a better substrate that will hold humidity and allow it to dig/burrow. Pile some scrap pieces of plywood under the basking spot (this will both increase the top basking area in temp, as well as provide multiple secure hiding spots below in various temperature gradients).

On a side note, you may also want to wrap paper or something around threee sides of the aquarium for added security.

If you are using a screen lid, you may want to make a new one, or at least cover as much of it as you can with glass/plexi to help retain temps/humidity.

Best wishes,

bob_thesnowman · 11-09-03, 08:10 AM

sounds like he might be dehydrated,get a professional vet who you're pretty sure KNOWS what she's doing,and get her to inject fluids into the adomen of the monitor,this gets alot of fluids at one time,and you're much better off doing it this way rather then through a syringe,as in some specimens you can flood the lungs,'causing almost certain death,if you find the monitor not eating after you're positive it will not eat on it's own,i've heard that you can take dog food,add water,and mush it up really good suck it up through a syringe and feed them this way until they get their appetite back,i realize that you're monitor is not a dog,but dog food tends to be pretty fatty,and may put some weight back on him,but i'd wait until somebody else in this forum puts down,or gives you the heads up on my ideas,i'd hate to see something happen over bad advise on my part,as i do know a fair amount,but realize there are others(lol,MANY others) who know more then me

bob_thesnowman · 11-09-03, 08:12 AM

also i'd recomend getting a fecal done after he poops(of course for him to poop,you need to get him to eat something..)

NiagaraReptiles · 11-09-03, 09:33 AM

It's simply 'cause and effect'.

Why treat the 'effect' without looking into the 'cause'? This practice can be necessary in some cases with mammals and birds, but with reptiles it creates more problems and causes more harm than good.

Fix the 'cause' and the 'effect' will correct itself.

Monitors are masters of survival, but they do need adequate resources available to them so they can do what they know how to do.

Solid Snake · 11-10-03, 06:20 PM

hey he finaly ate! i cut the pinkie up in half and i droped it in his face and he ate it...

guess a whole pinkie is too large for him, im really glad he ate.

I dont wanna sound cheap but i have no $ for vet bills. with college and bills its somewhat tough to pay.

Steeve B · 11-10-03, 06:52 PM

This seems to be a problem with cheep imports, pepoles can aford the initial coast, but not the coast of husbandry, aim not saying this to be offensive, its just a sad fact

my advice to you is follow thw above guidence and change that water every day, and dont try to save $ by stretching feedings.
have fun with your baby
Rgds