If you own one can u tell me about yours. i have one and i love it and its tame just like to know if they stay tame as they get big.thanks as im a wee bit worred.
2007-01-17 05:38:05 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
You win some, you lose some. I've had some that with regular handling stay calm and sweet, then the Niles come along. Just couldn't resist.... pretty little black and gold thing. We'd had a few savannah's, the roughneck and water monitors we kept for a guy once were wonderful sweeties, but that accursed nile.... They're smart. One of my friends had one that he INSISTED was tame... raised it from a hatchling.... five feet long and decided it wanted a bite of his leg. Luckily he was wearing jeans because he had a hole in them afterwards, hate to think if it had been his leg.
So really, it kinda depends on what kind of monitor you have, and what his personality is.
2007-01-17 08:07:09 · answer #1 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot depends on the kind of monitor you have, how much time you spend with it when it's young, and the individual's personality. I've had two savannahs. One was evil from the time I got it as a baby. The other I got as an adult (rescue) and was a sweetheart. Two Timors I've had were generally always tame (I was bitten by one the day after I got him, but this was because he was stressed out). A Dumeril's monitor was like a big puppy.
You can make them less likely to bite by frequent handling when young, not handling them after handling their food (if your fingers smell like something to eat, don't be surprised if your monitor tries to do just that!), and not making any fast moves around him that might frighten him. If your's begins to bite you, handle him with leather gloves. You can by something called "Phooey" (it has a bitter taste) that is used to train dogs and cats not to bite or chew. Spray this on your gloves. If your monitor gets a mouthful of this a few times, he'll learn to stop biting (it doesn't hurt them, other than tasting bad). It may take some time, though.
2007-01-17 12:51:13 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know a thing or 2 about monitor lizards having kept a few different species of monitor lizard. I will try to be brief and as informative as possible , so here goes.
I have had 3 savannah monitors, 2 nile monitors and 1 tree monitor plus loads of different snakes ( pythons and boas mainly ).
Both of the Nile monitors i had were both evil tyrants , to put it bluntly ! They were so spiteful and fierce. My friend looked after them while i was on holiday and he had a nightmare time of it . He had kept reptiles before so i thought he would be cool.........................how wrong was i!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He tried to change the water and was charged at. Norman the biggest one bit him on the hand and would not let go. He was a big boy was Norman so my friend landed up in hospital having his hand stiched. Daisy the smaller one was just as nasty.
I tried everything to tame them both but to no avail. Everytime i wanted to clean them out it was a battle . I loved them to death though. Had to sell them and most of my reptiles when the kids came along.
The Savannah monitors were not as bad but were still quite fiesty. All the monitors ive kept have eaten well. Wouldnt recommend them to learners but they are great to keep. Tegu's are similar and are also spiteful. Have you tried keeping snakes? These are also good to keep.
My mrs has put the hex on the reptiles though , as she is wary of them and worried about the kids. Moving to a bigger place soon so will try to bend her arm a bit. Anyway, glad you like your monitors your a lucky guy . Especially a tame one as well . Good luck mate , hope you like my answer.
2007-01-17 07:29:05 · answer #3 · answered by warpig 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're cool? Hehe, I personally know nothing about them, but try contacting a local pet shop. (not one of those stupid ones where the animals are cooped up all the time and it's more of a factory than an actual store, one with REAL proffesionals who actually know what they're doing).
Someone might be able to give you some information there. Try searching for Billingham Aquatics, there is a really good reptile expert there.
2007-01-17 06:09:24 · answer #4 · answered by Bloo Cheese =P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
monitors are generally nasty.. but they are usually nasty from the start.. if yours is nice now, there is a pretty good chance that it will stay that way as long as you interact with it normally and do not feed it mice... i had one that was nice until i fed it a mouse.. then it did a 180.. it just seems to bring out the bad in them
good luck
2007-01-17 08:16:29 · answer #5 · answered by dolfanchris153 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i haven't seen any lizards on my monitor, pink elephant now an again
2007-01-17 05:55:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it tame it should be OK
I'm not sure tho
sorry
2007-01-17 06:00:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they're very big and have protective membranes which protect their eyes when spat at by a spitting cobra
2007-01-17 05:50:22 · answer #8 · answered by Troubled Joe(the ghost of) 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
check these sites
http://forum.kingsnake.com/monitor/index_a.html
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/monitor_lizards.htm
2007-01-17 05:42:22 · answer #9 · answered by ♥♥™Tia™♥♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋