Malnourished

Creep · 05-24-13, 10:09 PM

so i ordered that peach throat from outback reptiles, got it today...

hips are protruding and absolutely no fat reserve or muscle mass to the tail, just a fine ridge of bone.

i understand it's wild caught, but i feel it is the seller's part to ensure it's healthy. i was told it was in healthy condtion. don't think skin and bones is healthy condition.

i contacted josh at outback about it, have yet to hear from him. not gonna jump the gun and say he's not one to buy from, though i think it odd i contact him early today and hear nothing when he was all but chatty before it was delivered.

gonna work with her/him. they'd said it was eating crickets and live pinkies. offerd both, no real interest taken, but it's been a long trip, i don't really expect it, just concerned about the current condition. it's been sunning itself and took a big drink of water, though. possibly dehydrated and needed warmth, so maybe i'll have more success soon.

as i stand for the moment, i'm only about 50% satisfied. sure, it arrived alive, but that's only half of it. it should be healthy, too.

Creep · 05-24-13, 11:01 PM

Edit: haha, even looked back at the ad... it said they were fat...ssure didn't arrive that way.

franks · 05-24-13, 11:22 PM

Can you post some pics of the animal and your set-up? What are your basking temps at?

Valvaren · 05-24-13, 11:24 PM

Didn't we have something not to long about out Outback on here?

Creep · 05-25-13, 05:39 AM

E

Quote:

Originally Posted by franks

Can you post some pics of the animal and your set-up? What are your basking temps at?

don't have a camera but i put her in a smaller enclosure that was available 'cause the other was just ridiculously big for her size, it's not even 2ft long. it's 6ft long 6ft tall and 4ft wide. some sites said juvies and younger can be kept in a 29g but eck, that's so small... many many hides, lots of climbing materials, humidity at 80%, basking spot of 118, warm side ambient temp between 85-90 and cool side 77-83. small pond in the middle so it can swim, soak, etc. substrate is about 6-8in deep, it varies in spots. temps do not drop below 75 at night... uhm, can't think of anything else i should mention, fel like i'm forgetting something though.

Grendel · 05-25-13, 05:46 AM

I also have a young peachthroat. My temps are the same as yours and he is doing well. I fed him live hopper mice the first week I got him. I think you should try those rather then pinkies. You'd be suprised that he can fit these down the hatch. As long as he eats and is warm he will regain the weight.

Creep · 05-25-13, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grendel

I also have a young peachthroat. My temps are the same as yours and he is doing well. I fed him live hopper mice the first week I got him. I think you should try those rather then pinkies. You'd be suprised that he can fit these down the hatch. As long as he eats and is warm he will regain the weight.

ok, thanks. have yet to see her eat, but who knows if she ate some crickets while was away. really hoping she has.

Grendel · 05-25-13, 05:50 AM

Here is a pic of my peach throat .

Creep · 05-25-13, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grendel

Here is a pic of my peach throat .

very nice, mine's tail is a bit thinner than that. also about the same size.

jarich · 05-25-13, 08:27 AM

I thought you werent going to buy from them? What changed your mind?

By the way, bump your basking temps up, best to keep them around 135 or so. I know, I know, someone is going to say they are forest/mangrove monitors and dont need temps that high. However, they will use it and thrive, just like all monitors do.

smy_749 · 05-25-13, 08:45 AM

Better than what Jarich said, keep your basking spot at 118 like you have it, and add another seperate one at 135. Wait and see which he prefers and eliminate the other...or keep both. The more options the better he can thermoregulate and build up an appetite.

jarich · 05-25-13, 09:26 AM

Better than what I said, eh?

The reason that might not work smy is because its in a smaller enclosure. Creating two separate basking spots will likely raise all your other temps (hot and cool end ambients) by quite a bit. Its also not necessary. If you raise your basking spot to 135, youll notice that as you move towards the edge of that basking spot there will be areas of 120, then 110, then 95, etc. The animal will move to where the temp is that it wants to go.

smy_749 · 05-25-13, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarich

Better than what I said, eh?

The reason that might not work smy is because its in a smaller enclosure. Creating two separate basking spots will likely raise all your other temps (hot and cool end ambients) by quite a bit. Its also not necessary. If you raise your basking spot to 135, youll notice that as you move towards the edge of that basking spot there will be areas of 120, then 110, then 95, etc. The animal will move to where the temp is that it wants to go.

Good point. Could also consider doing a basking stack as well ...

To the OP, what temp is the water in the cage? Is it heated?

Creep · 05-25-13, 10:19 AM

no, i'd said I was gonna give it a shot when I saw the ad and after looking at reviews, said i saw only a few bad but mostly good and the bad ones were with ian, not josh.

anyways, ok, i'll bump it up. the water isn't heated but there is a lamp that's positioned over it. checked te temp, it's about 80.

jarich · 05-25-13, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creep

no, i'd said I was gonna give it a shot when I saw the ad and after looking at reviews, said i saw only a few bad but mostly good and the bad ones were with ian, not josh.

anyways, ok, i'll bump it up. the water isn't heated but there is a lamp that's positioned over it. checked te temp, it's about 80.

Ah, I see. Sorry couldnt remember exactly.

What smy said about the basking stack is good too. Gives them a place to hide and get warm, which many babies love.