When can I stop giving Pedialyte to my recovering savannah monitor?

He is likely suffering some degree of nutritional deficiency. He should be examined by an experienced herp veterinarian. Blood work may diagnose calcium deficiency. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Calcium injections, deworming and subcutaneous fluids may all be indicated. He should be eating a varied diet including kingworms, crickets and larger prey such as pinky or fuzzy mice. Adequate heat is necessary for proper digestion. Keep daytime temperature between 85 F and 95 F. Nighttime temps can be set about 10 degrees lower. A UVB light source should also be provided to maximize calcium metabolism and utilization. . You can follow the link for more information regarding care of monitors: http://www.anapsid.org/savannah.html

Check the temperature in the enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. Gently massage his abdomen, front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation in case he is constipated. See your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet if your monitor does not begin eating or remains lethargic. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth.

This is probably due to improper UV lamp and possibly not enough Calcium in the diet causing MBD. you need to get a new UVB bulb and you need to change it every 6 months, you also need to sprinkle calcium powder on his food every day.

Pedialyte is a balanced electrolyte replacement solution that has sodium, potassium & chloride, & sometimes high amounts of glucose (sugar). It is used primarily in humans, but can be utilized in other species, especially dogs & cats. Since there is no balanced electrolyte solutions for reptiles, if you decide to use some for your reptile, then make sure it is unflavored. It is generally not used for soaking, but as an oral drench in dehydrated animals. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The tank may be too cold. If so, Rita will stay on the mat. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Maintain a basking spot temperature in the 90s F. This will produce a gradient of the mid 70s to 80s in the rest of the cage. You can soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will warm her up and treat or prevent mild dehydration. Feed appropriately sized prey. Crickets or dubia roaches are recommended over mealworms for juvenile geckos. They should be no bigger than the space between her eyes. Gut load them for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value.

When soaking a bearded dragon to increase hydration, I recommend having a Tupperware container that is only used for Phantom (reptiles have the potential to shed Salmonella when they don't feel well, and we don't want to cross contaminate anything in your home). You also want to get a thermometer (a human one will work) to measure the temperature of the water. Ideally it will be 90F for soaking. It can be chin deep, as long as Phantom can hold his head up. if you are doing this for maintenance (i.e. he is not sick), you can soak twice weekly for 15-20 minutes. If you are doing this because Phantom is sick or dehydrated, then I would recommend soaking him twice daily for 15-20 minutes. I personally don't utilize Pedialyte for soaking bearded dragons, as it can get quite sticky and sometimes they don't like the taste of it. Often they will drink while in their baths, and after that will urinate and defecate. I hope that helps to answer your question, and good luck!

It does appear to be of the takydromus species. These grass lizards are common and fairly easy to keep. Being adept climbers, more vertical space should be offered in an enclosure. Branches and vines can be placed for climbing. Bring reptiles, they need an external heat source and UVB lighting. Daytime temps can range from 24 C to 30 C (75-85 F). Provide a basking spot of around 35 C to 38 C (95-100 F) using a heat lamp. Aim for 70-80% humidity. Provide a shallow bowl for water. Mist the cage daily. Feed appropriately sized prey, no bigger than the space between the eyes, that have been gutload for 24 hours prior to offering. This will maximize nutritional value. Crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches, waxworms or wingless fruit flies can all be offered. Dust prey with a calcium supplement and a multivitamin supplement several times weekly. Ideally, the wound should be addressed by a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles. You can clean it with dilute Betadine or chlorhexidine solution daily and monitor for redness, bleeding, lethargy or decreased appetite.