new monitor help?

[geckos_are_great]

ive just got my first monitor its a little storrs about 15cm long and he doe's this weird gasping thing ? i was wondering if thats normal behaviour or not? i have not seen him drink yet and he ate about 10 crickets last night any help would be great thanks

 

[kupper]

are you sure he isnt puffing out because your trying to handle him?

 

[geckos_are_great]

im not handling him yet its just when he walks around the tank and stuff he basicly gasps

 

[geckos_are_great]

bump?

 

[antmisk]

What temp is your hot spot? Should be aiming @ about 40 - 50 C.

 

[geckos_are_great]

it might be abit hotter then that but my thermometor broke about a weeke ago the lights a 120 watt flood light so its realy hot

 

[kupper]

then maybe your cooking it?

it seems you are failing to provide basic husbandry equipment yet acquiring more animals


did you do any research before purchasing the animal?

 

[Mighty_Moose]

Isn't that what Bearded Dragons also do when they are too hot ? (unless basking)

 

[Sarah]

its an absolute necessity to have a thermometer they dont cost much, what is your thermostat set on.

 

[geckos_are_great]

alrighty i just found a thermomitor and the temp on its basking spot is 57 degrese is that to high because i was thinking of lifting the light up higher

 

[geckos_are_great]

and yes kupper ive been researching on storrs monitors for quite afew months

 

[kupper]

and you didnt think to check the temps?

 

[geckos_are_great]

its not the temps because he was doing it in the car and at the pet shop >_< ill post pictures of him and his tank tomorro. all i want to know is if his gasping thing is normal?

 

[bfg23]

I am unsure if it is normal, but I used to have a ridgetailed monitor that would do the same thing. I still see the animal two years on so its not going to kill it if thats what your worrying about.

 

[Bushfire]

Too difficult too say what it is without more information. I would say it doesn't sound natural. At those temps it wont be heat stress. How long has it been acting this way?
At this stage could be RI or could be trying to act all tough in front of you so without more information we can only guess.

 

[geckos_are_great]

ok thanks for the help guys

 

[geckos_are_great]

on another note how long do they live??

 

[kupper]

buy a lizard book and do some research

 

[geckos_are_great]

i have numerious lizard books but i was wondering if i could get some first hand experience in how long they live from people who have actuuly bred them because some books say 8-12 years and others say around 20 so instead of being an tool kupper why dont you actully get some positive feedback and help. if ur not going to help piss off.

 

[kupper]

for someone who has done research you seem rather daft on the subject at hand

it seems there is a growing list of young herpers "collecting" animals without doing the associated research needed

if a Quality Lizard book like " australian lizards " states 8-12 years what makes you think that that information isn't correct?


your threads all go along the same lines maybe you should stop being a tool and put into place the proper research required not to mention correct husbandry measures instead of growing a collection and hoping that you get it right