Black Roughneck Issues

smy_749 · 03-09-13, 05:19 PM

I have a Black Roughneck Baby refusing to eat roaches, only eats fuzzies with a hole punctured in his head. Hes very Small still, always roaming, digging tunnels, chills in his bask spot for a few minutes (1 or 2) and roams some more. Has a warm pool of water that he bathes and uses the bathroom in.

Cool side in the Day 84, Hot side 92, basking spots 130 and 120 , he usually uses the 120. using coco fiber , very moist and damp. Moisture @ about 70 all day (basking side is less). At night temps are 80 warm spot and 73 - 75 cool side. Cage designed for minimal moisture and heat release. Hes very active, not very tame (just hisses and tries to make a run for it). I dont hold him much, and his tank gives him privacy (cant see in on any sides except front and I put a big travel luggage infront of his cage to give him added security.

So, why wont he eat other than mice. I've tried worms, fish, eggs (showed interest then left them) , roaches and mice. Could he be stressed? He did manage to jump out while I was changing his water and run under my bed, and I think I may have stressed him trying to get him out...

How long before he goes back on food if its from stress? Also I've tried hotter temps, he doesnt bask, observing his behavior I found 130 / 120 ish best to his liking. Please let me know what you guys think? ( I dont wanna use parasite treatments as he is very active and energetic, and the experts I've read posts from say they dont think a healthy monitor should ever need them and his body will fight it off, only use if its 100% necessary)

Let me know what you think, still learning and ready to make the changes needed.

Corey209 · 03-09-13, 05:48 PM

You should post a picture of the enclosure for the more experienced

smy_749 · 03-09-13, 05:49 PM

hard to take a decent pic on my primitive phone, will steal someones iphone when I get a chance and snap a few pics.

RyanReptile · 03-09-13, 05:52 PM

How long have you had him? He could just stressed out. You might also want to stop holding him all together if he is new. I am sure someone with a bit more experience will come across the thread soon this is just my thoughts.

War Machine · 03-09-13, 05:56 PM

Rudis are very flightly, so you have to tread carefully when it comes to interaction. My advice, just keep him on rats, and watch the growing happen. Though a healthy monitor should eat anything it can fit in its mouth. So my bet is a husbandry/interaction issue.

What size is the tank? Post pics!

smy_749 · 03-09-13, 06:02 PM

Will be posting in a bit, enclosure is probably the size of a 40 breeder atm. And I'm thinking husbandry interaction as well. I don't hold him, I just try to feed him on tongs, and leave it in the enclosure at the end.

Akuma223 · 03-09-13, 06:17 PM

When I first got my boy he would hardly eat anything, and I thought he wouldn't make it. That was back in October and now he is far less picky. he would gradually start to accept different food items, pinkies were the hardest to get him to eat. I had to trick him into eating them. Do you have pictures of your baby? Also does yours dig? Mine never has much of an interest in borrowing except under his water dish.
Heres mine then and now.

smy_749 · 03-09-13, 06:30 PM

Did they show, first time posting pics here, and they are really bad. I dont honestly know how old he is, he still has his yellow. . I've only had him a few weeks, my camera is really bad (no he doesnt live in the glass enclosure that hes eating in, I was just feeding him in there for a bit, now he wont eat unless he has privacy and doesnt eat roaches anyways (the fuzzies dont move, they are dead lol )

smy_749 · 03-09-13, 06:31 PM

Ill try to get a pic of his tail / hips tomorrow, they are pretty full and hes not skinny I dont think?

Corey209 · 03-09-13, 07:07 PM

Are you keeping him in an empty glass tank?

monitorlizard · 03-09-13, 07:16 PM

It appears that the OP uses a separate enclosure to feed their Varanid. Possibly because of the feeding issues.

smy_749 · 03-09-13, 07:18 PM

Yea I typed it in the same post as the pics, thats just for feeding, but he wont feed in it anymore so I stopped. I just the mice out in his enclosure and he eats when im gone.

Pirarucu · 03-09-13, 07:40 PM

Just make the other food available and eventually he will take it if his cage is set up right, which it sounds like he is.

smy_749 · 03-09-13, 07:49 PM

Should I try to make a 50 gallon rubbermaid setup temporarily with no visibility at all? to minimize stress?

War Machine · 03-09-13, 07:51 PM

Stop with the seperate feeding tank for starters. And get him sorted in a larger enclosure ASAP.