Got 'im

Xeikeness · #1 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 04:14 AM

So, I went today and picked up that monitor. Only a 3.5 hour round trip drive. Omg. That's not including lunch, and the trip to the reptile store, which made the whole thing almost 4.5-5 hours. Eep.

Ugh, I stopped by a "mostly reptile" pet shop on the way in, just to check prices on substrate. And, I'm not going to rant about it, we all heard it before, but the place made me sick. From the pug that was blowing green mucus out of it's nose to the water dragons with their chins rubbed to the bone, and their emaciated hedgehogs, the chinchilla with the massive facial... thing... (open and pussing)... Sigh.

Anyway. I left there post haste and filed a complaint with animal control.

Yeah. I'm ONLY ever shopping at House of Reptiles from now on. Ugh.

Regardless - this thread is about my new monitor, "Cairo". The name is tentative, if it sticks it sticks, if not, I'll let y'all know. lol

So - the skinny. The place sucked. The tank he was in was cracked with improper heating. His water dish was full of sludge, and had been for so long that the sludge was CAKED to the inside sides of the dish so hard I had to sandpaper off the first layer, then boil it to loosen the rest, and scrubbed it out with a brillo pad. It's STILL stained.

He's a nasty, mean little ripper. He tried to bite my face off when I was handling him at the house.

I thought he might have had a case of mouthrot, so I moved suddenly to make him gape at me, and got a very good look at the inside of his mouth. No mouthrot, thank goodness... But his lips are tender and raw, for whatever reason.

He's not emaciated, and not fat, weight is good. I don't hear an RI. Overall, he looks pretty ok. I got him home and got him set up, fed him a thawed out rat, and he calmed down considerably after getting under his heat light.

His cage is sparse right now while he gets adjusted, and no worries, he will have a hide in about 10 minutes once I pull it out of the oven where it's been "disinfecting".... just in case.

So - here are the pictures.

Smits · #2 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 04:17 AM

I am jealous. Congrats Xeik!

razeraze · #3 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 04:21 AM

Congrats, keep a good eye on him.

Icicle · #4 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 04:26 AM

You are so Lucky.
Keep us up to date.

Xeikeness · #5 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 04:28 AM

I'll be keeping a VERY good eye on him, his enclosure, his temps/humidity....

And Raze - if you have any input or suggestions for me when it comes to him, I am listening more attentively than Horton.

This is my first monitor. I'll be getting a second in a coupe weeks, and as things warm up and he grows a little, I'll be enlarging his enclosure.

I am very attentive to constructive criticism when it comes to making the best for this little guy. He'll be a real sweety once I spend some good time with him.... The way I figure it, if I could make the incarnate of Evil turn into Mrs.Loverbugger:

Then this little guy should be a breeze, in comparison. He only tried to bite my face a few times. Lilly the ig tore me to ribbons multiple times a day. Claws, tail, teeth.... I still have scars from her.

I have high hopes for Cairo.

razeraze · #6 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 04:32 AM

My first advice is no kissing

besides salmonella and many other diseases, bites to the face are probably very pain full.

Can I see that iguana enclosure. If I can see all of it I might be able to tell you how to adjust the same style cage to a monitor.

Don't under estimate a monitor, the fun stars when they are 2+ feet and sexually mature.

Xeikeness · #7 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 04:39 AM

lol

The iguana I no longer have. I'm not a big fan of iguanas. I tamed her down entirely, and found her a home where they devoted an entire room to her, and allowed her free roam of the whole house.

She is very happy now.

I was actually thinking that for a monitor enclosure, I would make it "L" shaped. Five feet long one way, and five feet long the other, and three feet deep, with a "high" side and a "low" side.... Maybe 3'-4' tall all around... Just an idea. Gotta get all the junk cleared out of the main room first, though. >.o Think that would work? I'll have to draw my idea up so y'all can see. Hmm.

Naw, I'm not underestimating it.

I know precisely what it can do to me. I'm very aware of broken finger possibilities, being "degloved", having a nose removed, etc. I've been bitten by a couple small ones.

Just saying - you really should have met that iguana!!!! LOL

razeraze · #8 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 04:44 AM

I am currently trying to talk people out of free roam enclosures and rooms with drywall. These animals need high humidity and heat. With out having 24/7 access to it shortens their life greatly.

I thought one day I would just designate a room, then some herpetologist shot holes in the idea with an knowledge uzi (sort of speak). Now when I build a room for a reptile I know what to do. One even told me how his monitor tore through the melamine bottom of a cage. They are amazingly strong diggers and very destructive lizards.

Xeikeness · #9 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 07:22 AM

*Shameless bump*

Ophiophilia · #10 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 07:00 PM

Good luck with him!!!
Savs are soooooo cute... I'd love to have one...
But meh. I'll stick with Tegus when it comes to large lizzies

sesshomaru 15405 · #11 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 07:02 PM

wow nice moneter!

Xeikeness · #12 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 07:05 PM

Thanks. ^_^

He's a sweety... I'll be posting on YouTube later tonight or tomorrow when I'm cleaning out his lips. Y'all might get to see me lose a finger!! :O

Jem_Scout · #13 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeikeness

Thanks. ^_^

He's a sweety... I'll be posting on YouTube later tonight or tomorrow when I'm cleaning out his lips. Y'all might get to see me lose a finger!! :O

You're such a goof! I'll be waiting to see the video ....keep your fingers though!

nicolenadia · #14 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 08:21 PM

Xeik- Your sav is great looking! His enclosure looks great!!! I'm very happy he has the proper housing now and I know you will take great care of him. The IG is beautiful too, though I read she was rehomed.

Xeikeness · #15 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 08:25 PM

Yeah, the ig was rehomed awhile ago. I do miss them... namely Lilliput. She was awesome.

razeraze · #16 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 11:22 PM

Is this a temporary cage? what are the surface temperatures? Be sure it has a bin to soak in also, savs do not soak much but it helps in defecation and hydration. It also makes a good place to dump eggs, or leave seminal plugs.

The mouth does not look bad at all, I would not even treat it.

Xeikeness · #17 (**permalink**) 03-25-2008, 01:13 AM

Yep, it's a temporary cage. In a few weeks I'm going to rip one end of it off, and make it "V" shaped to fit in a corner, with three sliding glass door openings. One in the crotch, one on the left, and one on the right.

Surface temps on the cool side are 85, on the hot side on the rock are 106, and off the rock are 102. Outside of the direct perimeter of the rock are about 95-90.

I'm just keeping his mouth clean. No sense in letting it get infected should he touch his own poop with it, or something. You never know. Plus, it gives us some good "bonding time". He hates it, but it gives me the opportunity to teach him that thrashing and scratching and biting do absolutely nothing, and being completely still gets him put back in his space fast.

He's doing better every day.

razeraze · #18 (**permalink**) 03-26-2008, 04:50 PM

Just be sure it keeps food down, if it stops eating or starts vomiting do not handle it. Also you will need deep substrate (in case of laying 12-36 inches) and a hotter basking spot. The surface basking spot should be 120-140F

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