Wayne's reptile room

[EasternGirl]

I think that is amazing what the forum members did for you...my faith in humanity just went up a little too. Wonderful people. Great data sheet you are writing up...that information definitely needs to be out there to help people provide the best care for these reptiles. Looking forward to seeing pics of the new little monitor when he arrives.

[chris-uk]

Two good things came from this..

My faith in humanity went up when forum members from ssnakess secretly purchased a baby Savannah monitor that ships out Monday.

All I have to do is call the vendor tomorrow (well later today, since it is 1:00am) and make my selection, everything is all paid for.

Indeed, that does help restore faith in human nature. What goes around, comes around. And you strike me as being a decent chap (of course one of my favourite old sayings is "On the internet nobody knows you're a dog", hence I used "you strike me as being" because I could meet you for real and you turn out to be a bit of a <insert descriptive here>, but I doubt that would be the case. Am I rambling? ). Anyway, nice people on ssnakess, I may have to pop over there more often.

It only makes sense that if these snakes live just fine in the jungle, then something in captive husbandry needs to change, otherwise every single specimen sold in the pet trade is doomed to live roughly a year from the time they touch down on US soil.

If an animal is taken from a jungle it should be kept in the same sort of conditions. Some will survive in conditions close to their natural environment, others are obviously more sensitive. I hope your datasheet helps to identify ways to improve captive survival rates.
Do you have uric acid test kit? Is it something you'd want to monitor in the future? Although without a bit more research I don't know whether a test kit for humans will work on reptilian blood, I would assume the chemistry is the same though.

[Stefan-A]

What goes around, comes around.

If only that were true.

[Selkielass]

So sorry to hear about Chompers passing. I enjoyed his story.
The story of his replacemnt is touching too. Thanks for the info.

[infernalis]

What goes around, comes around.

If only that were true.

Agreed with Stefan there.

you strike me as being a decent chap.

Although I have always tried, maybe tried too hard at times, not tried hard enough others.

however I have been an idiot before, and will probably be an idiot again, I have never intentionally meant anyone any harm

.. To err is human, and I can ramble too

[infernalis]

Do you have uric acid test kit? Is it something you'd want to monitor in the future? Although without a bit more research I don't know whether a test kit for humans will work on reptilian blood, I would assume the chemistry is the same though.

The chemistry is nowhere near the same, and it requires a veterinarian laboratory test.

During Chompers Illness, I became very proficient at using hypodermic needles, and what is where on his body.

So if I do my own blood draw, it's $60.00 for the lab work.

However, this is not guesswork, This is history repeating itself sadly, over and over.

I did not come to this conclusion myself, scientific data, lab work and similar experiences from other ill informed keepers is what brought me to this.

After witnessing the horrific ending with my own eyes I cannot help but feel compelled to try and get at least some of those other people who insist on keeping animals who's physiology is geared for tropical climates as common house pets.

Every day I see posts on other forums from people who are proudly showing off their "healthy, Vibrant" monitors running around free in their homes, or housing them in large aquariums with screen top covers, home made boxes with way too much ventilation, and NO digital hygrometer to keep track of humidity.

The end results are always and very consistently the same, low level long term dehydration leading to terminal gout.

And since the symptoms take years to manifest, no one wants to hear it, I know I didn't.. I was a stubborn fool who thought that people were blowing smoke up my arse, but in the end, they were right on target.

I took pictures of Chomper during his final hours of life, when compared to photographs from just a couple days earlier, the difference is astounding.

[guidofatherof5]

I am so glad you got another one on the way.
The circumstances surrounding that speaks volumes to how you have helped other.
You deserve and have earned what you've got coming

[EasternGirl]

I am now going to have the experience of administering medication through injections to a reptile. Cee Cee has a repiratory infection and I have to give her injections at home. The vet techs at the reptile vet specialist I took her to are going to show me how to do it tomorrow.

[infernalis]

So I went out back, raked up some leaves, scooped up more clay, did some wiring, gathered up some drain pipe, and have been keeping busy getting things set up for Tuesday when Littlefoot moves in.

I installed a 4 foot UVB light, the frame is from an aquarium light hood, so the humidity will not hurt it, I also used a cord from a Christmas light string with the tiny fuse in the plug so that if anything goes wrong the fuse will blow quickly...



I also installed two other lights, removing one of the basking lamps for now, since I will not need so much basking area for a while.





By keeping the GFI out of the enclosure, it will not trip unnecessarily.



While I am at it, first coat of the sealer I am using. The exposed wood (Non treated plywood) started growing mold on it, so I sanded off all the mold, and am sealing it. I will be using about 4 coats of it, I have 3 days for it to dry, and it's acrylic based, so non toxic.



Some day I would love to build another 4 foot by 8 foot enclosure, fill it with plants and let some garters loose in it..

[guidofatherof5]

Looking good Wayne.