Nile Monitor Problems

SilentCartographer · #1 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 11:28 PM

hey guys, I need some help, I just recieved 2 nile monitors who are sick and vrey skinny, they wont eat, not even if I force feed them, so I stuck meal worms, crickets, gatorade, water, and some cricket dust in a blender and, using a syringe, forced them to drink it, which they have been and have improved a whole lot, but the bigger of the 2 seems weak still even though he has received more of my potion and the smaller one has more energy, do you think internal parasites are to blame?? the previous owner runs a reptile store and said he treated them before, but they were hopeless, i have brought them closer to being better, what do i do about the parasites? is there anything i can pick up at a local store for it? Im in florida and pretty much about to get hit by a massive hurricane so i dont have much time, thanks!

NicoleRussell · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2004, 12:27 AM

You can change the gatorade to pedialyte (unflavored) eliminate all the other items for now and replace with some quality dog food like sciencediet if you have any...make it into a sort of grool and feed each day. Some people have had success adding ensure vanilla to it...some animals will accept this some not.
How much depends on how large they are---any idea how old? AND, very important: nail your temps (what are they being kept in, what substrate and how are the temps throughout the cage?) Temps should be fairly high considering their condition and they should be sepearted at this time.
You could also soak them in warm very shallow water each day for a few minutes and weekly for about 1/2 hour if you can. Just be sure te water is not so high that they have to struggle to stay above water...in their weakened state it could mean death.
You can also invest in this solution that I sware by as arule for all sick lizards.....you can get it online...here's a link:
http://www.herpsupplies.com/product.cfm?id=SMD71100
It sounds like you need a vet...but it also sounds like your in a fix because of the storm so--stay safe--keep in touch with us as you see changes and try to keep handling to a minimum. Get through one week of this treatment and report back to us to see how they fair.
And of course if you have any other questions feel free to post before that time

SilentCartographer · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2004, 12:33 AM

wow thanks man, ummm i dont know exactly how old they are, they are young, i have them in a 10 gallon on newspaper, i didnt want to put them on mulch because they're so weak, so you think i should take out the gatorade? and replace it pedialyte? should i keep the crickets and meals worms in it? thanks again, and do you think i can bring these guys back to full health without a vet? thanks again, i was given these monitors because the owner who is a friend of mine, owns a reptile store, but because the neighboring businesses dont like the idea of having a reptile store next to them, they petitioned to have his business removed, so he's so busy trying to find a different plaza and what not that he just didn't have the time to save them so i took them in, wish me luck

NicoleRussell · #4 (**permalink**) 09-03-2004, 01:16 AM

HOW LONG Are they?
.i have them in a 10 gallon on newspaper, i
that cage size depends on the size of the animal. Has either of themeaten anything on their own at all?
didnt want to put them on mulch because they're so weak, so you think i should take out the gatorade?
yes
and replace it pedialyte?
yes
should i keep the crickets and meals worms in it?
no. use quulaity dog food not the cheap stuff. blendit up and try ensure for some caloric intake.
thanks again, and do you think i can bring these guys back to full health without a vet?
I think the animals should see a vet no matter what the outcome to get a fecal and some other tests done. Keep a log of what you do , how often and what the result is. Have you taken the temps in the cage? That is really the most important thing you can do right now

thanks again, i was given these monitors because the owner who is a friend of mine, owns a reptile store, but because the neighboring businesses dont like the idea of having a reptile store next to them, they petitioned to have his business removed, so he's so busy trying to find a different plaza and what not that he just didn't have the time to save them so i took them in, wish me luck[/quote]
what type of lighting do you have?

SilentCartographer · #5 (**permalink**) 09-03-2004, 04:05 AM

i have a 25 watt uv light on them now, i also have a 60 watt light at my house but i was told to keep the heat low so they dont get fried while theyre in there, should i put the 60 watt on them? theyre in a 10 gallon tank, they fit in there pretty well, seeing as the only thing they do is lay in one place most of the time, but they have been moving around a lil bit, ok ill take everything out and so it should just be a mix of dog food? like alpo maybe? and then pedialyte?? so it would be pedialyte and alpo together and add some ensure? thanks alot, is there anything else i should add to it? my main worry is that the bigger one has very little energy, it seems that he gains energy when i force feed the liquid mix, and then after a lil while he loses his energy, could that mean that there are parasites sucking his energy away? ahhh so hard to figure out, but im determined to save these guys, but i need all the help and tips i can get, thanks!!

toker · #6 (**permalink**) 09-03-2004, 02:58 PM

A picture is worth a thousand words... how about a pic of them in their setup? Also, any critter that I get, be them sick or not, go to the vet and get a checkup. It costs me a lot but I get that warm fuzzy that tells me they are ok

Good luck with them btw

SilentCartographer · #7 (**permalink**) 09-03-2004, 10:01 PM

ok can anyone else add any advice? anything i can blend together that i might find in my home, and what can i do about internal parasites, is there anything i can treat them with? the hurricane which is about to hit us is basically going to hit us within the next 24 hours, and im sure youve all seen it on t.v, so EVERY business and home here is boarded up and closed, so "HELP ME!!"

NicoleRussell · #8 (**permalink**) 09-04-2004, 03:45 AM

if I were you I would read the caresheets at Proexostics for monitors....this will give yo a great base for nile husbandry. As far as internal parasites--you need to get them tested in order to treat them. They have things like parazap but being they are so weak you need to let a doc perscribe something that will work well yet not weaken them more. They have some basic meds like panacur but dosing can be trickey.
Heat is a huge factor wit any monitor...a basking bulb on one end--I would use a 100 watt in that size tank with a slab to bask on. Test the area for temps....and don;t let the cool side slip below 80. Do you have temp gun or any type of thermometer?

SilentCartographer · #9 (**permalink**) 09-04-2004, 02:45 PM

right now i have a 65 watt uv light on them and im waiting for this storm to pass so i can go pick up the pedialyte, sciencediet, ensure and a thermometer, the thermometer i had broke and now i have to replace it so hopefully by monday or tuesday depending on when everyone re-opens their businesses, we're actually getting hit by the outer bands of this storm now but it's taking so long i doubt it'll be over by sunday, anyway, thanks again i'll read up on the caresheet, the gatorade+cricket+cricket dust mix im feeding them seems to be giving them some type of energy, but the bigger one really needs to see a vet, how much does a vet visit cost? i never had to take any animals their so i'm new to the vet visit, thanks again and does anybody have an index on Herp vet's down here in florida? thanks again

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