Hi, I posted a few weeks ago to introduce myself and someone linked me to an info page which I have read and re-read about 5 times.
18 month old panther that I was roped into (didn't take much persuasion though) rehoming.
Louis seems to be doing alot better. I purchased a much larger reptibreeze for him as I was advised that the one he came in was too small. He's now in a 24 x 24 x 48". He has a live plant (umbrella plant) and lots of other plastic foliage until the plant grows. He has a reptirain spayer and also an Exo terra water fall which he seems to like drinking from. And of course a UV bulb and a heat lamp.
He is eating with gusto, mainly crikets (sometimes 15 a day), some superworms (2 or 3 a day), 1 or 2 silk worms and 1 or 2 horn worms per week. He has no interest in butter worms. As his aim is off with his tongue I am currently hand feeding him everything and I feed him until he no longer wants anything else. Hand feeding is also helping him get used to me. I can pick him up now with out him trying to take my finger off.
I have learned that his bad aim is probably a vitamin deficency so he's having extra vitamins and minerals twice a week. Crickets are always gut loaded and dusted with calcium plus every time.
He is alot more active now, has MUCH better balance and his grip is alot stronger.
I am still concerned that he might be somewhat dehydrated though and also that he's too thin. Although I do think he's more hydrated and fatter than when he arrived. His eyes are not sunk into his head but his casque is definately not raised. It's not sunk, it's just flat. His urate and stool look normal now. His urate was a little orange when he first arrived.
Is there anything else I can do for him? Anything more I can give him to fatten him up or will it just take time?
I don't think he was eating properly in his old home. He struggles to catch crickets and I think the person was just leaving them in his (small) habitat and they were dying before he managed to eat them. Found alot in the bottom of the habitat.
18 month old panther that I was roped into (didn't take much persuasion though) rehoming.
Louis seems to be doing alot better. I purchased a much larger reptibreeze for him as I was advised that the one he came in was too small. He's now in a 24 x 24 x 48". He has a live plant (umbrella plant) and lots of other plastic foliage until the plant grows. He has a reptirain spayer and also an Exo terra water fall which he seems to like drinking from. And of course a UV bulb and a heat lamp.
He is eating with gusto, mainly crikets (sometimes 15 a day), some superworms (2 or 3 a day), 1 or 2 silk worms and 1 or 2 horn worms per week. He has no interest in butter worms. As his aim is off with his tongue I am currently hand feeding him everything and I feed him until he no longer wants anything else. Hand feeding is also helping him get used to me. I can pick him up now with out him trying to take my finger off.
I have learned that his bad aim is probably a vitamin deficency so he's having extra vitamins and minerals twice a week. Crickets are always gut loaded and dusted with calcium plus every time.
He is alot more active now, has MUCH better balance and his grip is alot stronger.
I am still concerned that he might be somewhat dehydrated though and also that he's too thin. Although I do think he's more hydrated and fatter than when he arrived. His eyes are not sunk into his head but his casque is definately not raised. It's not sunk, it's just flat. His urate and stool look normal now. His urate was a little orange when he first arrived.
Is there anything else I can do for him? Anything more I can give him to fatten him up or will it just take time?
I don't think he was eating properly in his old home. He struggles to catch crickets and I think the person was just leaving them in his (small) habitat and they were dying before he managed to eat them. Found alot in the bottom of the habitat.