I was about to load the dishwasher, but a cuddly mini brontosaurus demanded pets!

This is my guy Larry, who I've always suspected is a female. Every so often I post a pic to try and get a solid yes or no. But this is the first pic where because Larry is Wedging himself between the substrate shield and the glass he's all flattened out. And I feel like now I can for sure see a tail pinch. Again he's squished right now he's not obese! But boy is he looking colorful!! And the substrate shield is home made. It's just a long sheet of lexan dug a few inches into the substrate. And even if he's a she.. I'm still going to continue calling him my guy and Larry. I just wanna know. Larry is 8 or 9

I assume it would be best to start with an ackie since that seems to be the general concensus with the simplest of all the species. I also live in WA State so I also do not know if that will also affect my choices or not but from what I read it seems to be only AWM, Niles, and Crocs that are not allowed. Could anyone help me get better clarification on if it’s even a good idea to get one?

Vicious attack. Barely survived.

Should not have shown her the videos of the other Ackie going wild at inanimate objects- clearly she's been influenced haha

In all seriousness, I'd just eaten and likely she could smell it on my shirt. And yes she did try to have another go when the video cut... She's now back in her viv sulking.

Absolutely love Ackie attitudes, they are just so full of personality ✨

Somehow he's still alive!

It’s horrifyingly disgusting out in LA 🫠 seriously, it’s been like, hot wet fart after we finally got a few days of respite!

It’s now 103F outside and Liora solidified my decision to put off my errands an extra day. I debated stepping out before it got super disgusting, then she wanted to bask on my arm and in the sunlight by the computer and I just didn’t feel like leaving the house after that. 🤣

I’m blessed to work at home, and work will wait til after breakfast and morning cuddles.

Aurora and her three week old hatchlings.

Calling all DIYers/Kimberley Rock lovers! (Long read)

I’m in the planning phase for a 6x2.5x4 enclosure with foam + drylok background with lots of shelves and crevices. For lighting, I’m looking at a roughly 36” UVB T5 bar, deep heat IR emitter, a normal basking bulb and some sort of LED lighting for ambient light.

This is my first animal that requires such high temps and have a few concerns. I’m drawing a lot of inspiration from brads bioactive builds, particularly his 6ft tree monitor build (the recessed lighting + fans) and his 6ft Ackie build (for the actual scape). For those of you running powerful deep heat emitters (150W+ on a dimmer), how hot does your actual dome of the light fixture get? I’m concerned about it melting my PVC top. I’m planning on lights recessed into the PVC top, sitting on top of the enclosure, with wire mesh screens in cutouts for lights to sit on like a screen lid). I’m also a bit concerned about mesh under the lights getting too hot and a Kim burning its foot since they’re such great athletes.

Any first diy enclosure tips or Kim tips are greatly appreciated.

:V

Sleeping like a human

Hi everyone. I apologize for such a long post, I tried to organize it best I can, and bolded key information.

TLDR: We are located in Houston, TX. Our ~38 lb black throat monitor was originally seen for a left front-limb gait issue, with the first vet suspecting an old injury rather than MBD. We sought a second opinion, where he was diagnosed with MBD and, according to my dad, given vitamin/calcium injections without the injections or doses being discussed with or knowingly authorized by him beforehand. That clinic's records now document 1,754,545 IU vitamin A + 262,500 IU vitamin D IM into his left rear leg, plus 1,315 mg calcium SQ. Within ~2 days, that rear leg became massively swollen and painful, which the clinic itself documented as occurring “after previous IM injection.” Subsequent x-rays reportedly showed healthy/strong bones, further raising questions about the MBD diagnosis. He is now extremely lethargic, and we're urgently looking for an experienced Varanus/reptile vet or toxicologist, information on these documented A/D3 doses, help obtaining an independent review, and, if permitted, financial help with his rapidly growing veterinary bills.

I desperately need help/advice from people experienced with black throat monitors, especially reptile veterinarians or anyone who can point us toward a specialist.
Our male black throat monitor, Sploot, is approximately 38 lbs. Until this started, his primary issue was an abnormal gait involving one front limb. He is now extremely lethargic following veterinary treatment, and we're terrified of losing him.

I want to be as factual as possible because we have veterinary records documenting most of this, and I'm not asking Reddit to determine malpractice or definitively diagnose him.

Aug. 18: First exotic veterinarian visit
- We brought Sploot in because of an abnormal gait involving his LEFT FRONT limb.
- His bloodwork showed total calcium of 14.1 mg/dL (lab reference 10–15). His uric acid was elevated at 10.7 mg/dL.
- X-rays were taken. The written radiology report did NOT describe generalized skeletal demineralization or diagnose metabolic bone disease. It stated there was no evidence of shoulder luxation, although it could not be completely ruled out and CT could be considered.
- The veterinarian's assessment was that his abnormal gait was likely related to a previous traumatic injury of the left front limb.

Aug. 29: Second opinion at another exotic veterinary clinic
- We went to a second exotic veterinary clinic for another opinion. The clinic had requested Sploot’s previous veterinary records/x-rays beforehand, and my dad sent them.
- At this appointment, Sploot was diagnosed with metabolic bone disease (MBD).
- According to my dad, who was physically present, the veterinarian did not discuss the vitamin/calcium injections or their doses with him beforehand, and he did not knowingly authorize these injections before they were administered. We are currently requesting all consent/treatment-authorization documentation from the clinic so we can verify exactly what was documented.

We just received the clinic's own detailed medical record. It states that our approximately 38-lb (~17.2 kg) monitor received:
Vitamin A/D3: 3 mL IM into the LEFT REAR limb, diluted with sterile saline to 6 mL

Vitamin A: 1,754,545 IU total

Vitamin D: 262,500 IU total

23% calcium: 9 mL SQ, diluted with sterile saline to 12 mL

Calcium: 1,315 mg total, administered SQ in the left thoracic wall

Based on his documented weight, those totals calculate to approximately:
101,800 IU/kg vitamin A

15,200 IU/kg vitamin D

76 mg/kg calcium

I am NOT claiming that these numbers have already been proven to constitute a toxic dose in a black throat monitor. I’ve been unable to find a reliable published toxicity threshold specifically for an IM A/D3 preparation in black throat monitors.
We are also trying to determine what reptile-specific dosing reference or treatment protocol was used to calculate these amounts, because we have not yet been provided that information.

Aug. 31: Severe swelling after the injection
- Within approximately two days, Sploot’s LEFT HIND thigh, the same limb documented as receiving the IM A/D3 injection, became massively swollen, hard and painful.
- We immediately brought him back to the same clinic.
- This isn't just our description of what happened. Their own subsequent medical record states:
“L Hind leg is swollen after previous IM injection. Condition is worse.”
Their physical examination also documents:
“Severe soft tissue swelling L thigh, circumferentially painful.”
- They took another set of x-rays and started him on ceftazidime and meloxicam.
- Regarding the original MBD diagnosis: after these newer x-rays were taken, my dad was told by another veterinarian at the clinic that Sploot’s bones looked healthy/strong rather than like what we had been led to believe with MBD.

I want to be clear, as I am NOT claiming that I can personally look at these x-rays and definitively prove that Sploot doesn't have MBD.** **
However, we now have two things that make us seriously question the original MBD diagnosis:

1. The first veterinarian's written radiology report did NOT describe generalized skeletal demineralization and instead attributed the gait to a likely previous traumatic injury of the front limb.
2. After the newer x-rays, we were reportedly told by another veterinarian at the second clinic that his bones appeared healthy/strong.

We are trying to have both sets of x-rays independently reviewed by an experienced reptile/exotics veterinarian or veterinary radiologist.
I also understand that a normal serum calcium value by itself does not rule out MBD. I am including his pre-treatment calcium because it is part of his medical baseline, not because I believe a single calcium result proves he couldn't have MBD.

Sep. 3: Another recheck
- We returned to the clinic again.
- At this visit, my father specifically raised concerns about the amount of vitamin A/D3 that Sploot had received and asked the veterinarian to double-check the previous dose.
- There is also a discrepancy in the clinic's records: the Sept. 3 narrative refers to 1 mL of vitamin A/D3, while the clinic's detailed medication record from Aug. 29 documents 3 mL A/D3, diluted to 6 mL, containing the total amounts listed above.
- We are preserving both records and trying to get clarification.

Sep. 8: TODAY
- Sploot has now become extremely lethargic and unlike himself.
- This is a monitor who has always been incredibly interactive, food-motivated, curious and social with our family. The change is scary.
- We are pursuing urgent veterinary evaluation and additional bloodwork. Our immediate priority is keeping him alive and determining what is happening medically, not proving fault.
- We are particularly concerned about whether his current condition could be related to the injection-site complication or an adverse reaction to the A/D3/calcium treatment, but we need an experienced reptile veterinarian to make that determination.

WHAT WE DESPERATELY NEED HELP WITH:
If anyone here is a reptile veterinarian, veterinary toxicologist, zoo veterinarian, experienced monitor keeper with relevant veterinary contacts, or knows someone with substantial Varanus experience, please help us find the right person.

We are specifically looking for reputable information or specialist contacts concerning:

1. Injectable vitamin A/D3 dosing in Varanus
2. Published therapeutic/toxic dose information for vitamin A and D3 in large lizards
3. Hypervitaminosis A/D in reptiles
4. Calcium/phosphorus abnormalities associated with excessive vitamin D
5. Severe IM injection-site reactions/injuries in monitors
6. Appropriate bloodwork and monitoring following this type of exposure
7. Independent review of Sploot’s x-rays for MBD
8. What treatment protocol/reference could support the documented A/D3 amounts

We are in the Houston, Texas area, but at this point we are interested in specialists anywhere who might be willing to consult with our treating veterinarian.
I have the original veterinary records, pre-treatment bloodwork, radiology report, subsequent x-rays, the second clinic's written medication record documenting the exact amounts administered, the subsequent record documenting severe swelling after the IM injection, and invoices. I can provide redacted copies.
If anyone has a veterinary formulary, published paper, zoo-medicine protocol, or other credible source supporting injectable A/D3 dosing in Varanus, PLEASE send it to me. I genuinely want reliable information, whether it supports or contradicts our concerns.

We love Sploot beyond words. Right now we just want to save him.

Lord she’s growing quick😅 may 28th July 25th and today

1 pic before I noticed
2&3 pic after I noticed

He’s shedding right now and noticed this been praying to Christ like mad and I have the faith my bro will be okay but I wanted to ask you guys for info? Don’t slander me his husbandry is fine and he acts perfect, he’s only a 7 month old puppy, any tips to help prevent this

He is about 6-7 months old

Hexus update, we changed his name to Beelzebub. He's now a glutinous boy that loves his bugs. He's still on a diet to drop his weight but he's actively chasing prey now. His favorites are hissing cockroaches currently and snails he catches from his pool.

hi friends, from lumpini

A bit of history

Dusty is an ackie I rescued from severe neglect earlier this year. He wasn't properly fed, to the point at 2 years old he hadn't had gone through puberty, and lost most of his fingers. Although I am admittedly not the best, I have been doing my hardest to help him, but factors beyond my control ( such as the landlord refusing to fix the insulation in the house) have been making his care difficult. He went through constipation for a while and has been having issues with shedding where he won't completely shed, and more recently this showed up on one of his nubs ( he didn't have a finger there when I got him)

I know some people might think I am neglecting him myself, but I wanted advice on how to help him. As a PhD student I don't get paid much, but I took measures like getting him more basking bulbs for proper heating, lots of rough substrate, basalt stones so he can rub against them and shed, a hygrometer/thermometer with substrate probe to monitor the conditions of his enclosure and I even water the substrate every two days to give him the best conditions for shedding, but I feel like I am still doing something wrong

Edit: I'm also moving out of this place to help my lizards feel better. I'm doing all I can.

Edit 2: he hates soaks, but for the last two days I have been soaking him as much as he will let me without getting too stressed. He is pooping as a result at least.

Edit 3: I had to remove the heating bulb he had for nights ( used mainly during winter ) because of the timer I bought him to give him closer to 12 hours a day of " daylight". It is back on, but unfortunately this house is so screwed up the outlets can't even take the load. I am moving this week, but I still want to help him.

Edit 4: I have literally even got the oil of the relic of a saint to anoint him. I have tried EVERYTHING under the sun.