monitor # 2, mistreated and obese

[Lycanthrope]

well, i got another savannah monitor, a young female a little shorter and alot fatter than Sal. Guy brought her in to me today and i traded a 29 gallon aquarium for her. i really feel bad, she has been kept in a puny 10 gallon aquarium all her life, she is 20" long. she has never had sufficient heat, and has never been removed from the 10 gallon in 6 months. she has also been fed a diet consisting of all boiled eggs and beef. she is very obese, like an inflated football with legs. shes going to the vet monday, and starting an excercise and feeding regimen to get her in shape. pics sometime this coming week if i can borrow our friends camera again.

 

[MrT]

Well good for you and her.
This is one, if not the greatest parts of belonging to this type of group.
All the great stories I read of animals getting a second chance or a new careing home.
I know it always makes me feel hopeful and happy to see things like this happening in our cruel and hateful world.
I truely love animals and do everything in my power to take good care of them.

I tip my hat to you, Lycanthrope.

Ernie

 

[Lycanthrope]

thanks Ernie. Bridget was a bit mad at first about another animal in the overcrowded homestead, but shes over it and actually likes her. she named her Sophie. i introduced her to Sal, who within an hour of meeting her, attemted to mount her. she didnt allow it, but he tried again and actually got her to lift. never thought it would happen just like that. guess i better get to work on a new home with ample digging space.

 

[Bry]

Kudos to you for rescuing the monitor. However, I would get her health back to 100% before I even think about breeding. She's probably already pretty stressed by now with the change of environment, and the current condition she's in. Besides that, there are already quite a lot of savannahs in rescues nationwide in need of homes.

Bry

 

[Lycanthrope]

I actually didnt mean to breed right that moment. I was introducing them, as they will eventually be cagemates. Sal just works fast i guess . That being said I dont think there was actually penetration. They are both going to the vet this week for checkups. You are definately right about there being too many homeless savs. If I were to take in every one I've seen in a situation like hers, I'd be over run by varanids.

 

[black_ops]

how do you fit a 20" lizard into a 10 gallon tank??? :?

 

[Lycanthrope]

Thats what I was wondering. The guy actually told me, "be real careful with her, she's real snappy." I told him, "well imagine living in a 2'X4' broom closet. Might cause you an attitude problem or two as well." Funny part is, when he was around she was constantly hissing, puffing up, and striking. He left, and I picked her up. She was very calm, just squirmy and antsy to get to the ground. Hasnt hissed at me or shown me any hostility since I got her home. Today I caught her basking, when I carefully approached she didn't run or anything, just lifted her head and flicked her tongue. I thought earning her trust was going to be a problem, but I think after a couple months she might just be as tame as Sal. Not only does Sal not fear me, but if he is on his runabout around the livingroom, he will walk up and climb into my lap to lay down, sometimes even venturing up onto my shoulder. I know he doesnt have any emotional attachment to me, but I've certainly gained his trust.

 

[MrT]

Originally posted by Lycanthrope
I know he doesnt have any emotional attachment to me

I wonder ? :?
Is it cause its a cold blooded animal that you think theres no attachment, or what?

Ern

 

[Lycanthrope]

I am just of the firm belief that reptiles dont get attached to people. He is certainly glad to see me when i'm toting food, but I doubt he would attempt to protect me from a potential attacker. I think the best way I have seen it expressed was on these boards somewhere, that the best you can hope is to be labelled as "too big to eat, but not a threat." Sal has taken it a step further, I am too big to eat and make a great vantage post.

 

[Gary O]

That is cool that you took her in. There are so many monitors out there that get mistreated. Niles and Savannahs being at the top.

 

[Lycanthrope]

the problem is the same as with iguanas, they are cheap as hell and always available, and so by many are viewed as disposable belongings rather than the awesome pieces of nature that they are. you dont see a whole lot of mistreated black throat monitors, because most people willing to lay down 500$ for a lizard plan on taking care of it.

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

Originally posted by Lycanthrope
the problem is the same as with iguanas, they are cheap as hell and always available, and so by many are viewed as disposable belongings rather than the awesome pieces of nature that they are. you dont see a whole lot of mistreated black throat monitors, because most people willing to lay down 500$ for a lizard plan on taking care of it.

Agreed. Very well put, and good luck with your rescue.
BTW What was the guy going to put in the 29 gallon? An iguana?
=D

 

[Lycanthrope]

LOL God no, his girlfriend wants a fish aquarium. She's actually the reason he got rid of the lizard, she's afraid the sav will hurt her toy poodle. Listening to the whole thing i've gathered that they really deserve each other. Now he can just kill hundreds of fish in his attempt to get into the fish hobby, no doubt never reading a book or properly cycling the tank. That, however, is the aquatic specialists issue .

 

[Dragoon]

Congrats
Give her a GOOD gradient, basking spot 130- 140 down to room temp on the other end, and a lot of hiding spots. Feed sparingly, but often. Dieting fat monitors leads to sudden death a lot of time. She must lose the weight gradually.

Mounting is sign of agression much of the time with strange monitors. I highly doubt they were trying to mate. The new one just got its spirit thoroughly thumped by the established one. Please give the new one its own space until it is healthier. It has enough to deal with right now.
And yeah, monitors are smart. The new one knows you are different from the former tormentor, and is giving you the benefit of the doubt for now. They are basically really nice animals, if you give them the chance.
Good luck
D.

 

[Lycanthrope]

funny thing, after a few days with a decent basking spot, alot of what i thought to be obesity was eliminated in stool. i also took them both to the vet. they had to get wormed, and im treating her for giardia. im also treating sal, just because ive let them hang out together for short periods of time. i know it was a bonehead move introducing them before taking her in to the vet. sometimes i do stupid things, but at least now i know they are both healthy and parasite free.