sav mon stopped eating?

Question

for some reason my savannah monitor stopped eating. He is a foot long so he isn't to old, i know his last feeding which was a week and a half ago was quite big.. He had a medium sized mouse, 2 nightcrawlers and i think some ground chicken (maybe the day before). Its not like him to stop eating he used to love eating. I've tried eveything roaches, crickets, pinkies, mice. He just wont have a go at it. I'm worried cause he is losing a bit of weight, he is still quite active but i want him to start eating... I moved him out ofthe room i kept him in but still it shouldn't be any different... Can i try appetite stimulatators.... help i ordered 50 hoppers just for him and have no idea what to do with them if he continues with his hunger strike. He is drinking well, and walking around alot. What did i do wrong... he is in a 45 gallon tub with repti-bark substrate, a large water bowl, hide, a food dish, heater (150w). Please help.

Answer 1

Make sure the tub stays clean. He should have uv lamps as well in order for his body to manufacture critical vitamins. Observe his eyes and nose for discharge, and maybe bring a fecal sample to your veterinarian to test for parasites.

Answer 2

Are you sure he didnt regurgitate the large meal? A couple of times I have given my savannah too large of a rodent and he regurgitated it within a day or so. He then did not eat for up to two weeks, as it upset his system.
Also, has he pooped it out yet? if not, maybe give him a good soaking in 85 degree water. Followed by alittle exercise. My sav has a water tub large enough to soak in, and thats almost the only place he goes.
If not, it still may be that he got overstuffed and needs to work out that large meal. As the others said, make sure he's good and warm, but with a place to cool down too- and give it a few more days. I keep mine pretty warm, large undertank heater with a heat lamp(powersun uv 100w ?) above in the daytime- probably mid 90's to low 100's daytime airtemp plus the heat pad is always hot. My reptile room ambient temp peaks at 85 daytime, down to 70-72 night. If he still wont eat, you may need to consider a vet visit. You are right- it is not normal for a sav to not want to eat. Keep trying a variety of foods as you have. Another possibility is a hardboiled egg- peel off the shell and break it up.
Make sure he doesnt have mites also. Sometimes they are hard to see, but they will make a reptile uncomfortable enough to lose appetite. Check around the eyes and mouth really well.
I dont know that you did anything wrong, but I would give frequent small meals rather than large meals. Hoppers should be ok for his size.
Hope he's o.k.

Answer 3

Whats his basking spot temp? SAvannah monitors like HOT temps of 120 degrees, not the 85-90 most other herps like. I'd make sure your basking temp is high enough.

Secondly, make sure you have a UVB light and regularly dust his food with calcium. These guys can become calcium deficient.

I would try playing around with different food and try offering him a live mouse (just SUPERVISE the feeding) and if he still refuses to eat, have him checked out by a vet.

Answer 4

What are your temps? A temp of around 85F-90F is necessary. Check your temps with a digital probe thermometer (often sold in garden shops as indoor/outdoor thermometers). Use both an UTH and a basking bulb. Too cool and he won't digest well.
Is he getting ready to shed? Many won't eat much during this time.

http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Lizard,%20Monitors%20Savannah.htm

http://www.anapsid.org/savannah.html

Answer 5

"his last feeding which was a week and a half ago"

yours has been starving!
watch the vids listed as source.
these savs ate that amount almost daily.