IotaPhi936
Member
I have a two year old male panther (captive bred, had him since he was baby) that is, according to a $200 veterinary test - in perfect health. The only problem noted was dehydration. This guy will not drink to save his life (literally).
HOW I KNOW HE'S DEHYDRATED-->Dorsal line is visible sometimes, eyes sunken, wrinkly skin, sometimes closed, orange urates, and the vet said so.
WHAT I HAVE DONE TO KEEP HIM HYDRATED:
(1) Increasing waterings --> I have experimented with days where he got over an hour of watering, to no avail. He typically just freezes up and sits motionless.
(2) Syringe (forced)--> When he is looking really bad, I'll agitate him so he opens his mouth and then squirt in a little syringe full of water. He always perks up after this, but I shouldn't have to do this to keep him alive.
(3) "Making Rain"--> He hates getting sprayed, so I've tried adjusting the nozzles so that it sprays the top of the cage and leaves, making more droplets for him to see.
(4) Showers---> Like the increased waterings, sometimes I'll get a drinking response where he opens his mouth and licks his lips and swallows repeatedly. But this doesn't seem to be a great solution, especially longterm.
(5) Fogger--> I have a humidifier that I keep on throughout the day that puts a light fog throughout the cage. In the early morning hours this comes on as well and creates a dew.
HUSBANDRY
(1) Mistking: I have the double nozzle sprayer. It goes off for about a minute each hour of the night to keep things humid. Then he gets a 5 minute shower before the light comes on at 8:45am. He then gets a 20 minute shower at 1:45pm, and a 10 minute shower at 6:45pm. Lights are off at 8:15pm.
(2) Dripper: I have tried drippers and he doesn't seem to pay any attention to them, but I still provide one that slowly drips onto a large leaf.
(3) Live Plants: Almost the whole cage is live plants, and it's bio-active.
(4) Humidity: Usually between 60-70%, but never lower than 40% or higher than 90%. To stimulate drinking, I have bumped things up to a steady 80% humidity with no improvement.
(5) Feeders: Mostly Dubia Roaches and Superworms, but also supplement with crickets, hornworms, phoenix worms, silkworms, and occasionally waxworms.
(6) Supplements: Regular dusting of non-D3 Calcium. About one meal a week I dust with multivitamin and a hint of Vitamin A (retinol).
(7) Enclosure: 48 inch by 24 by 24 DragonLedge, Bio-Active with lots of ivy and an umbrella tree.
(8) Lighting/Temperature: 75 watt and an Arcadia UVB (changed every 6 months). There's also a plant growing light as well. Basking spot is in the low 90s, ambient temperature at the top is in the 80s, then it gradients down to room temperature at the bottom.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS??? HOW DO YOU STIMULATE DRINKING???
HOW I KNOW HE'S DEHYDRATED-->Dorsal line is visible sometimes, eyes sunken, wrinkly skin, sometimes closed, orange urates, and the vet said so.
WHAT I HAVE DONE TO KEEP HIM HYDRATED:
(1) Increasing waterings --> I have experimented with days where he got over an hour of watering, to no avail. He typically just freezes up and sits motionless.
(2) Syringe (forced)--> When he is looking really bad, I'll agitate him so he opens his mouth and then squirt in a little syringe full of water. He always perks up after this, but I shouldn't have to do this to keep him alive.
(3) "Making Rain"--> He hates getting sprayed, so I've tried adjusting the nozzles so that it sprays the top of the cage and leaves, making more droplets for him to see.
(4) Showers---> Like the increased waterings, sometimes I'll get a drinking response where he opens his mouth and licks his lips and swallows repeatedly. But this doesn't seem to be a great solution, especially longterm.
(5) Fogger--> I have a humidifier that I keep on throughout the day that puts a light fog throughout the cage. In the early morning hours this comes on as well and creates a dew.
HUSBANDRY
(1) Mistking: I have the double nozzle sprayer. It goes off for about a minute each hour of the night to keep things humid. Then he gets a 5 minute shower before the light comes on at 8:45am. He then gets a 20 minute shower at 1:45pm, and a 10 minute shower at 6:45pm. Lights are off at 8:15pm.
(2) Dripper: I have tried drippers and he doesn't seem to pay any attention to them, but I still provide one that slowly drips onto a large leaf.
(3) Live Plants: Almost the whole cage is live plants, and it's bio-active.
(4) Humidity: Usually between 60-70%, but never lower than 40% or higher than 90%. To stimulate drinking, I have bumped things up to a steady 80% humidity with no improvement.
(5) Feeders: Mostly Dubia Roaches and Superworms, but also supplement with crickets, hornworms, phoenix worms, silkworms, and occasionally waxworms.
(6) Supplements: Regular dusting of non-D3 Calcium. About one meal a week I dust with multivitamin and a hint of Vitamin A (retinol).
(7) Enclosure: 48 inch by 24 by 24 DragonLedge, Bio-Active with lots of ivy and an umbrella tree.
(8) Lighting/Temperature: 75 watt and an Arcadia UVB (changed every 6 months). There's also a plant growing light as well. Basking spot is in the low 90s, ambient temperature at the top is in the 80s, then it gradients down to room temperature at the bottom.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS??? HOW DO YOU STIMULATE DRINKING???
