Respiratory Infection

[Jeff_Favelle]

Vets don't keep monitors (maybe some do) and are most certainly not up to speed on the latest monitor husbandry.

[V.hb]

varanids need to thermoregulate regardless of their health situation!!! not allowing them to do so will cause a world of other problems! they need to regulate their body temperature, you can do this easily by offering a gradient.. hot bask, with a hot end, and a cool end (80 degrees or so) you'll end up killing your monitor, theres no healthy gradient in your setup.

[beanersmysav]

Well i've moved the lights to the furthest most edge of the tank i had it more center over the basking log but this has dropped the temp in the low end to 83 is that cool enough and it was decently warm today anyways? i dont see any other way I could keep the high end as high as it should be without upping the low end. I've arranged it for the time being so that he can still bask however not as good looking but he doesnt care im sure as long as he can still bask. But the only other alternative is to lower his basking temps back down to the 120 range if I want the cool end any cooler. i should also invest in a new termometor this one seems to be slightly high anyways but ive made this changes so let me know if you think I should drop the basking temps a bit or possibly removing part of the top for more upper ventalation with allow more heat to escape on the cool side. also speaking of not "snubbing" you must forgive me for taking the vets advice, i mean honestly if you cant trust the vet for proper advice who can you trust? before i had a proper gradient in my oppinion just the vet told me to up it so id do like most normal people would do and listen to him. also if everyones so dead set on "bring you reptile to the vet for proper treatment" if you cant listen to them for proper instructions how can u trust them for proper care and treatment

[treevaranus]

what wattage bulb/s are you using? You can achieve the same temperature basking site, by using a weaker wattage, simply by raising up the basking platform closer to the light. By having a weaker basking light, chances are the ambients will be a bit cooler, providing a cooler "cool" end temp. Personally, i would shoot for a low end of 75F, as monitors will burrow down to where temps are cool, and in the 70's.... Reptiles need temps to 'relax' too... So, if possible, i'd recommend the lower wattage thing. With all of my odatria, I use either a 50 or 60 watt halogen bulb to heat the enclosure and basking site. Best of luck to you, I hope he makes a full recovery!! Cheers, have a great day...

bob

[beanersmysav]

i was using a 100 and a 150 but the 150 is very week as it is old and was only offering about 100 degree basking spot by itself and the 100 watt was only giving off the same at the very top so i put the two together to reach 130 basking spot but both bulbs are old and have been used for quite awhile, i will be getting paid tomorrow so Im going to get a new hood for my leos so while im there i will pick up all new bulbs for all of my reptiles, the only ones i change frequently are uvb bulbs as the heat bulbs tend to last a bit longer, thanks for all the info ill try the lower watt bulbs brand new and see how it works

[beanersmysav]

also i want to add he's got multiple spots to bask I've got one log he climbs on that is no further than 6 inches from the lights which is the one thats 130 the lower log is 120 and the ground is slight lower at about 112 now so he's got his choices of where he wants to be and also i was forgetting to mention i wasnt measuring the very far said as to where his water area is i guess i should have added that he has a LARGE swimming are which is much cooler than the rest of the tank i was only talking as far as dirt goes, ill have to get some pictures up so people will better understand my set up when i ask questions