Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Rob_McGrory · I've settled in... Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 37

Hi everyone

Got a new baby (7 months old) Salvator Monitor yesterday.

he's friendly enough, sniffs you when you go over, doesn't try to take your fingers off and will sit in your hand for a few seconds before running off.

Seems to like hiding in his tank and hasn't been too active yet. Put some medium black crickets in and a pinkie mouse but haven't seen him eat yet.
He might have taken some crickets when I've been out but I've taken out the pinkie now.

Any advice for the first few weeks in feeding, handling, set up etc greatly appreciated

Rob
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1.1.0 Bearded Dragons - Girr and Lenore
0.1.0 Royal Python - Wednesday
0.0.1 Salvator Monitor - Banski
0.0.2 African Pygmy Dormice

ilovemonitor-lizards · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:56 am Post subject:

are you shure he is 7month old ?? he doesnt look like that! good luck with him. regards martin
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keeping: Varanus:
acanthurus
gilleni
tristis orientalis
tristis orientalis red head
panoptes panoptes
caudolineatus
varius
salvator cumingi
Brachylophus fasciatus
Petrosaurus repens

Rob_McGrory · I've settled in... Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 37

We were told he was about 7months old when we got him from Cold Blooded in Essex.

What age do you think he or she is?
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1.1.0 Bearded Dragons - Girr and Lenore
0.1.0 Royal Python - Wednesday
0.0.1 Salvator Monitor - Banski
0.0.2 African Pygmy Dormice

lol93 · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:37 am Post subject:

He's lovely-looks very like our baby! www.cybersalvator.com is an excellent website for info on salvators and other monitors. Wink

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Rob_McGrory · I've settled in... Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 37

Thanks for the link, I'm reading through most of the posts now.

He looks a bit more settled, coming out now and again when I'm in the room.

I still have not seen him eat yet, there are still some crickets in his tank and he doesn't seem interested in pinkies at the moment.

Any advice or should I just let him settle and leave him to eat when hes hungry.
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1.1.0 Bearded Dragons - Girr and Lenore
0.1.0 Royal Python - Wednesday
0.0.1 Salvator Monitor - Banski
0.0.2 African Pygmy Dormice

lol93 · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:08 pm Post subject:

They tend to be very shy about eating in front of you-I've only ever seen mine eat about three times since I've had him! We have been very 'hands off' about handling up until now, but gradually we are starting to handle him gently for a few minutes a day.

I would let him settle in for now, and as long as you give him something to eat every day I wouldn't worry about catching him at it!
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Rick_Albig · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:27 pm Post subject:

Its pretty much impossible to tell the age as he will be wild caught. If they have had him in captivity for 7 months then he has been severely underfed.

The best bit of advice is to keep him hot and feed him allot! Feed him as much as he will eat everyday. This will usually involve you leaving several pinkies in his enclosure and leaving the room. Locust are also a good food item as they will not stress him out like crickets can sometimes do.

Make sure he has plenty of hides all over the place and a good temp gradient (80-100ish) and a basking spot with a surface temp around 130.

Humidity is also often overlooked with young indo monitors. A large bowl / container large enough for him to swim in is a must and try and keep the humidity up in the high 70% region. Leaf litter is also a great substrate to use (it holds humidity, provides plenty of hiding places and is free!)

Hope this helps

Rick

Rob_McGrory · I've settled in... Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 37

hes been in the shop for about a month they said, and said he should be about 7 months now, but I guess they wont know for sure.

I'm going to pick some locusts and try him on them, if he doesn't like them there are a few other hungry guys that will round here so they wont go to waste.

How does everyone regulate their night temps round here ?

thank you everyone for your advice,
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1.1.0 Bearded Dragons - Girr and Lenore
0.1.0 Royal Python - Wednesday
0.0.1 Salvator Monitor - Banski
0.0.2 African Pygmy Dormice

lol93 · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject:

We have a reptile radiator in the viv, and a radiator permanently on in our reptile room. Temps in there are usually in the 80's.
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Rob_McGrory · I've settled in... Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 37

I have left him alone and kept him warm and the humidity up. Just want to make sure hes eating ok.

Hes been quite quiet but hes just come out for a wonder and is watching me from his tank. I'l try him on locusts tonight and see what he thinks of them.
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1.1.0 Bearded Dragons - Girr and Lenore
0.1.0 Royal Python - Wednesday
0.0.1 Salvator Monitor - Banski
0.0.2 African Pygmy Dormice