Hi. I just took in a Ctenosaura Similis that was not given any UVB before but is still apparently in decent health. He is a youngster about 11 inches snout to tail length.

This is the first day he's here. The temperatures recommended in care sheets are usually a temp gradient from 80 to 90/95F with a basking spot of about 100. Somehow, the cage I prepared ended up with about 89 cool end and 100 hot, and 110 at the basking spot. So while the lizard was in there, I was scrambling around the house trying to find a way to affix the light higher. It took longer than I thought. When I finally found a rack, I go back and I see that the fella is not only resting at the 110 F place, but TRYING TO GET HIGHER TOWARDS THE BULB. It seems that he wants the higher temps. I am suspecting that a lot of care sheets out there (very few) may just be saying do it like a green iguana, but that actually perhaps the ctenosaurs like slightly higher temps?

He hasn't eaten anything yet, I don't think. I put some greens in there as well as a few mealworms and crickets. I haven't put fruit yet I will try in a bit. I hope he eats, I mean, it was eating before, but he was fed a carnivorous diet of crickets alone. Perhaps he's just getting used to the new home?

Also, he has one missing claw on her hind right leg. I put some anti-bacterial ointment on the toe just in case but there seems no bleeding or open wound and I suspect that it was from a long time ago. The toe is a little darker than the other areas but doesn't look sunken and nectrotic. Should be ok right? Maybe I should just leave that alone since it is an old injury (or seems to be).

Or maybe I should just leave him alone altogether for awhile to let him settle down.

Oh yeah and I already know they bite and are nasty and etc. etc. I really don't mind. I get bitten all the time by my snakes even people bite me sometimes so I am just really looking for care information.

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1.0.0 Green Iguana - Tyler
0.0.1 Sulcata Tortoise - Mantow
0.0.1 Ball Python - Se se
0.1.0 Leucistic Texas Ratsnake - un-named (Suggestions welcome)
1.0.0 Blizzard Cornsnake het Anery A - Xiao Xiao
1.1.0 Normal Corn snake het Anery A het Amel 66% poss. het stripe - un-named
1.0.0 Red Chain Snake - un-named
0.0.1 Twin spotted rat snake - un-named
1.0.0 Grey Chinchilla - Gee Gee

Hello,

He may not have been going after the heat. he may have been trying to get closer for more UV exposure.

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Ok thanks. I just want to get him to start eating first. Are there any foods that they like, even if its not that good for them? Just to get them to open their mouths?

I was told he was eating crickets only before, and I believe that he was eating as he's not really skinny or anything. A friend of mine has one, and he said that they are so nervous it took him almost close to a MONTH before his started eating, but once he started he ate well. He said his started eating when fed strawberries.

I am surprised by such a drastic change in temperament from extraction from enclosure to handling. When I open the cage and put my hand inside, he scrambles, bumps the glass, dashes into his hide (LIGHTNING FAST!). But once I get a hold of him, he's probably the tamest thing I own. Tamer than my green ig, my tegu, any of my snakes (except maybe my ball).

I don't know if he's too scared to move on my hand, or that he feels safe because he can cling to a warm thing and fit snugly between my fingers. I do know he's aware of my presence as he looks me right in the eye. He doesn't really look scared. I can put him on my chest, let go, and he doesn't run. When I pick him up from my chest, he actually CLIMBS onto my hand and sits there still! But as soon as I open the cage door, and put him back, he remains calm in my hand, then I put him down. He pauses for 2 seconds, then BANG! He's running around like crazy even though I'm standing back.

Anyway he's not eating yet and I just want to get him started on food.

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1.0.0 Green Iguana - Tyler
0.0.1 Sulcata Tortoise - Mantow
0.0.1 Ball Python - Se se
0.1.0 Leucistic Texas Ratsnake - un-named (Suggestions welcome)
1.0.0 Blizzard Cornsnake het Anery A - Xiao Xiao
1.1.0 Normal Corn snake het Anery A het Amel 66% poss. het stripe - un-named
1.0.0 Red Chain Snake - un-named
0.0.1 Twin spotted rat snake - un-named
1.0.0 Grey Chinchilla - Gee Gee

Ok I just checked on him. I think he may have eaten! I am not sure. He's on the edge of him food dish, and there is a "hole" in the salad where his head is, plate showing!!!! However, it may just be that I had moved the salad around with my fingers before. I did try to pick the fruit out and put it on top to attract him. So I don't know... LOL!!!!

Where's Dominick when you need him? I know he has one of these I remember his posts from a while back. And Tammy may also be able to help me out here.

They say they are "more terrestrial than arboreal". So is it good that the cage is big floorwise, but "kinda high" but not too high? I would think a strictly arboreal cage is no good, where it is taller than it is wide, right?

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1.0.0 Green Iguana - Tyler
0.0.1 Sulcata Tortoise - Mantow
0.0.1 Ball Python - Se se
0.1.0 Leucistic Texas Ratsnake - un-named (Suggestions welcome)
1.0.0 Blizzard Cornsnake het Anery A - Xiao Xiao
1.1.0 Normal Corn snake het Anery A het Amel 66% poss. het stripe - un-named
1.0.0 Red Chain Snake - un-named
0.0.1 Twin spotted rat snake - un-named
1.0.0 Grey Chinchilla - Gee Gee

Hi,
I found this article which I thought to be interesting from the reptiles magazine which might help you a little. http://www.animalnetwork.com/reptile...id=3977&search

Thanks for the article. I have read it before, and it has good information. But the problem now isn't really the nutrition balance or anything. I'm still at the stage of trying to get him to eat anything at all.

I put in many different foods for him. Greens, papaya, grapes, squash, crickets and mealworms as well as some iguana rep cal pellets soaked in water. I don't think he has eaten any although I can't be sure because he may have eaten a little bit I don't know. He DID defecate this morning, twice, a tiny little bit, but perhaps that's from previous meals prior to arrival.

It's only his third day here, so I'm not entirely worried yet. And he does seem to have calmed down since. I'm surprised how much tamer he has gotten in two days. He doesn't run away when I put my hand in there anymore. When I touch him he will scramble a little bit, but then if I touch him and then leave my hand there and not move, he'll actually climb onto my hand and let me take him out. He was much more skittish yesterday.

Anyway I can get him to eat?

__________________
1.0.0 Green Iguana - Tyler
0.0.1 Sulcata Tortoise - Mantow
0.0.1 Ball Python - Se se
0.1.0 Leucistic Texas Ratsnake - un-named (Suggestions welcome)
1.0.0 Blizzard Cornsnake het Anery A - Xiao Xiao
1.1.0 Normal Corn snake het Anery A het Amel 66% poss. het stripe - un-named
1.0.0 Red Chain Snake - un-named
0.0.1 Twin spotted rat snake - un-named
1.0.0 Grey Chinchilla - Gee Gee

Are you sure he's not still stress from the move and his new enviroment? Might need time to adjust.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

I'm not sure at all. In fact its only been 3 days. But I'm just worried because the only non-feeders I ever had were snakes. I never had a lizard that didn't start munching right away once it got home.

__________________
1.0.0 Green Iguana - Tyler
0.0.1 Sulcata Tortoise - Mantow
0.0.1 Ball Python - Se se
0.1.0 Leucistic Texas Ratsnake - un-named (Suggestions welcome)
1.0.0 Blizzard Cornsnake het Anery A - Xiao Xiao
1.1.0 Normal Corn snake het Anery A het Amel 66% poss. het stripe - un-named
1.0.0 Red Chain Snake - un-named
0.0.1 Twin spotted rat snake - un-named
1.0.0 Grey Chinchilla - Gee Gee

Anthony your enthusiasm may be the source of your troubles.
I would leave the poor guy alone for a few days and let him settle in.
No handling.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I agree with Merlin, let him settle in and watch what happens! The only time I start force feeding is if they come in obviously in desperate need of food and wont eat (starved), which seems to be a lot lately I can tell you they wont starve to death in a couple of days if it was healthy to begin with, usually once they settle in and settle down and start to feel better they will start eating on their own.
Good luck! I figured it would only be a matter of time before the spiny tails started hitting the rescues as I saw Petco started selling them about a year ago, which generally means they will start needing homes around here! So frustrating and so sad I commend you for taking him in and wish you all the luck in getting him healthy!