Monitor lizard sickness

Question
QUESTION: Hi! This Nile Monitor in Korea suffers from occasional problems. Recently it seems to be recovering from some kind of tongue infection. A few months ago it refused to eat and had to be force-fed. We sure would appreciate a little expert advice.
Thanks!

ANSWER: Hello Clifford,

What is your tank setup like?
Could you run over your husbandry with me?  
What type & brand of UVB light are you using, a flourescent tube or a compact/coil light?  How old is the UVB light?
What type of basking light do you use, is it a bright white light or a colored light?
What are the temperatures in the tank?  What type of thermometer are you using, a stick on type, a digital probe or a temp gun?
How old is your Nile monitor?  
Do you use calcium supplementation?  
What type of foods are you feeding him?  
Has the tongue infection cleared up, & was he medicated for that ailment?
How often does he go to the bathroom?  
We can pinpoint more problems with these answers so I can make sure that his setup is optimal for him & that we are not dealing with metabolic bone issues.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He has a very large glass tank with wood chips and some driftwood and artificial vines. He has the special incandescent bulbs for lizards (this is my student Min Chul in Korea, he gets the best stuff he can find) The basking is bright white I think full spectrum. I don't think he monitors temperature except by personal sense, it was usually quite warm and stuffy in the bedroom. The lizard is almost 3 years old. Min Chul used to coat all the food in calcium powder for lizards but I don't know if he still does. I think it generally poops every day. Which was strange when he hadn't eaten in 2 weeks.

This past year or so it has subsisted on a diet of raw pork (so common in Korea and cheap)

Answer
Hello Clifford,

Well, if he does not have a UVB light then it is quite possible that he has metabolic bone disease.  So I do need to know exactly what type & brand he is using.  
Also, it is absolutely essential that the temperatures are properly monitored because just feeling the temperature with our hands really is not a close gauge to how hot it actually is for the reptile.  
The recommended basking temperatures are 110-120 or so with a cooler end or area of around 80-85 for proper thermoregulation.  These guys need a good hot basking temperature as well as good UVB emissions also.  The humidity needs to be around 50-60% also.
Even being 3 years of age, he still does need calcium a few times per week.  The pork should probably be cooked up to avoid getting any worms or parasites from the raw meat.  They can have turkey & boiled eggs, too as well as crickets, worms, etc.  
So, he needs to get a digital probe or a temp gun to properly measure the temperatures.  Also, if he is getting too hot, that will affect him, also especially if there is not enough ventilation in the room.  

Tracie