rock monitor

Question
QUESTION: Do rock monitors hibernate?  The reason i am asking is because my friends monitor is about 6 months old and he has been eating fine.  About three days ago his belly was really full and bloated and his body was limp.  His belly felt as if there was an air lock in it.  Is the monitor maybe constipated or did he just over eat to hibernate?

ANSWER: Rock monitors (Varanus albigularis albigularis) are from South Africa and do not hibernate. The bloat could be over eating, gas, or Constipated. When I bred these guys myself I seen a lot of them over eat to the point of binding themselves up. if you can feel a SMALL lump directly in front of his vent you can gently, VERY gently push it towards his vent, this will help him pass whatever is in the way. Uruite  blocks are generally  caused by dirty water or improperly sized food. I would consider a visit to the vet as they can tell you exactly what is going on as it's hard to tell with out seeing the lizard myself.

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

QUESTION: hi matt,

just to let you know that my rock monitor had to be put down, he was suffering with 4 different parasites in his body, had a lack of calcium and he was dehydrated.  

Its really sad though because i found out that people actually smuggle them into the country and they dont look after them properly.

The exotic pet shop i bought him from seem to have new owners and they arent looking after their pets or animals very well.

Its so sad to think people could be so cruel.  

Thank you again for your advice, it was really appreciated.

Noeline

Answer
Yeah there is a lot of that ... I work in a shop and it's not always the shop either ... we're sent little guys that are "captive Bred" on the invoice and are very easily identified as a wild caught. Not all wilds are smuggled either, you have to remember where a lot of these are coming from ( 3rd world/2nd world ) and theres almost no regulations on what can be exported.


Sorry for you loss, it's always hard x-[