Hi guys, im new here, but I just got my first Nile Monitor

[Best-In-BC]

Hi, my name is Kyler, im 20 years old and this is not my first reptile o even my first nile monitor. Ive had a total of 15+ snakes and about 5 diffrent kinds of lizards including one successfuk breading pair of beared dragons.

But anyhow the reason im posting is due to I jsut bought my first nile monitor36 hours ago and so far he hasn't touched his muelworms and Im getting worried. Tomorow Im gonna go pick up a small pinkie and a few crickets to see if he'll eat somthing. He apears to be in great shape but im getting worried.

Also it concerns me that the pet guys I purchased it from did no warn me of what I was getting myself into. Luckly I new egzactly what Im getting into but it just bugs me how they didn't even say anything!

I accually went there to get anouther savana monitor but they sold it and I sat there for about a hour thinking if I should get the nile. Since its been a dream of mine since I was a kid to own one I purchased it.

Anyhow if you can please give me some tips on getting him to eat!

[MAG_Pythons]

first of all, WELCOME!! glad to have ya on the site, you'll find tons of awesome, friendly pp here

2nd i have no expirences with monitors, so i won't be able to help you out, i would think that maybe he needs alittle time to settle in or maybe he's stressed out?? idk i'm shure some1 on here will give you better info than me

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[Best-In-BC]

He's extreamly active and ive been reading on halding amount and it seems im picking him up about 4-5 times so far and I guess I shoudl stop that but he doesn't hiss at me or anything or try biting or nothing, just trys his hardest to get away for just sits in my hand a relaxs for a totale of 5 seconds, lol, but yea, I dont think hes sick, he never stops moving, lol

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[Slithers]

Originally Posted by Best-In-BC

im 20 years old and this is not my first reptile o even my first nile monitor.
the reason im posting is due to I jsut bought my first nile monitor

its not your first nile monitor but it you just bought your first nile monitor??? LOL

do you mean its not your first monitor (in general)...sounds like you might already have a Sav..

anyways, if you need help you should provide a little background information on the animal, its enclosure, and environment (temps/humidity) etc.

Good Luck

Welcome to RTB by the way.

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[Slithers]

http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/t20...stionaire.html
If you need help with one of your reptiles, please fill this out and post it. Staff will find this info useful and you will get much faster answers.
Thank you.
**************************************************
Species:
How long have you had this animal?
Ambient Temps:
Basking temps:
Size:
Diet within the past year for snakes--the past 6 months for lizards:
Last time this animal ate:
Frozen thawed/ live/ stunned/ freshly kiled?
Bulbs if any utilized (be as specific as possible--look on bulb to get make and wattage):
Heat sources (makes and wattage):
How are you measuring temps?
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Substrate:
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Comments:

[Best-In-BC]

I dont beleave he is sick, to active

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[Best-In-BC]

Originally Posted by Slithers

its not your first nile monitor but it you just bought your first nile monitor??? LOL
do you mean its not your first monitor (in general)...sounds like you might already have a Sav..
anyways, if you need help you should provide a little background information on the animal, its enclosure, and environment (temps/humidity) etc.
Good Luck
Welcome to RTB by the way.

lol, I took car of a baby savana for a year and loved every minute of it, lol, me and my typo's its my first nile yes.

THe enclouse is 2 1/2 feet by 1 feet, I got a hot corner with a 500 wat light with a encloser witha heat pad underneath and on the othere side a cool zone where the food is.

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[Best-In-BC]

Well its anouther day and still nothing, guy is extremly active but wont look at food, I bought him a pinky doesn't even smell it, it looked like he ran away from it. but anyway yea, any times on how to get somthing down my niles throat will help

[VenomMike]

I'm having a little trouble with reading your posts but here goes.

1. Buy a thermometer. Don't guess your temperatures.
2. Don't handle if for the first month that you have it. Handling stresses monitors out especially young WC monitors. Get him set up and eating then worry about the hands on time.
3. Correct your set up. A 50 watt or a 500 watt bulb is either too hot or too cold, know your temperatures, too cold or too hot will affect his temperment and eating ability.
4. Buy a pair of long tweezers and a bag of frozen pinkies.
5. Don't worry about him not eating right now.

EDIT: I forgot to add. I am always suspicious when I hear of a hatchling nile not willing to fight to the death to get away from you. I would re-check your setup somthing is up with him. Also most monitors won't eat mealies....rodents rodents rodents

[Best-In-BC]

Well mike just after I made my last post he ate the pinkie
about the tempiture, I should buy some thermometer, i got one but its in the cool down section of the tank where he spends most of his time running around.

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[VenomMike]

I thought he would eventually For hatchling niles I usually left the pinkie in with them over night, it would usually be gone in the morning.

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[Best-In-BC]

well the last monitor I got from a pet store was having problems eating, although when I brought him home he had a few good days of eating he evencholly stoped and parrished

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[Dachande]

not just themometers. temp guns are very helpful with monitors. thermometers just give an air reading. you can get the surface temps with the gun.
most reptiles at shows appear tolerant of handling due to low temps. up the heat or elevate the basking spot to desired temps. so it's easy to handle them. get them home under the right temp and the devil comes out!
forget about another monitor for a while. you have an animal with the potential to exceed 6ft. which means you will need an enclosure at least 6ft wide and 12ft long. and those are minimum measurement requirements. a sav will have you end up with something 4ft wide and 8ft long. hard to fit those 2 cages in with all the others you may have. so wait a bit before deciding if another mid-large monitor is something to take on.
and good luck. niles can have a bad reputation for temper, but patience is a key to getting them tolerant of handling.

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[John_White]

I believe that Nile monitors also require UVB.

	Ultra Violet Radiation B Ultra Violet Radiation B

[YeaItsSlo]

500 wat bulb? please get a thermometer! i only use a 60 watt bulb and i get a 110F basking area..

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[VenomMike]

Originally Posted by John_White

I believe that Nile monitors also require UVB.

Most monitor breeders think no but if you have $20 for a bulb no harm in using one.

	Ultra Violet Radiation B Ultra Violet Radiation B

[Dachande]

according to the guy that runs the tree monitor website, halogens produce UVA/UVB rays. this was in the recent reptiles magazine. i have used them and believe the use of whole vertebrate prey helps more. as long as whole foods are offered UV is not necessary. it's all preference. snakes eat whole animals and do not require UV bulbs or supplements. whole mice and chicks are the best way to go for diet after insects are over with.
i use the GE 50 watt outdoor halogen floods and homememade retes stacks. the elevated basking spot allows for good basking temps without high wattage and burning out humidity. the stacks are great as they allow thermoregulation and hides for security. each slot drops in temp as it gets to the bottom allowing the monitor to hide at it's desired temperature. consider them while the nile is small. and fairly simple to construct as well.

[amercnwmn]

Dachande..I have like a billion questions for you about my savvie..LOL
I have a small stack of retes and I dont use UV but I feed whole prey
I read that about the halogen lights in reptiles, and was waiting for someone to confirm the info

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[VenomMike]

Originally Posted by Dachande

according to the guy that runs the tree monitor website, halogens produce UVA/UVB rays.

Please provide a link. This is simply not true. Halogens generate a minimal amout of UVA/UVB, there are however halogen bulbs designed to generate UV radiation but these are brand name bulbs.

[Slithers]

that is what UV meters are for!

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