black throat monitor questions

Chris.M · #1 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 05:14 PM

Hey i bought a black throat monitor a few days ago and i just want to ask around to get some things straight.
My monitor's name is Sai, he's getting used to me quite quickly and relaxing more and more. But i am trying to figure out some things, such as
I have studied the animal, but anything else is i should be aware of?
do they play nice with other non-monitor animals when they are juvenile (2-3 feet long)
after i get him used to me and comfortable with his surroundings, how do i train him to use a litter, and how further down the line do i leash train?
I have read that these animals are fairly intelligent, so i want to make sure that i am meeting his needs while being able to meet my need for positive feedback.

THX

boaterr · #2 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 05:20 PM

I would not trust a monitor with other animals since if the monitor decided to take a swipe at the other animal you could have a very hurt animal on your hands.

Basically forget leashing and potty training. Information like that is blown out of proporation and it is never a safe practice to walk a large monitor (to many things can go wrong). If they want to go somewhere or they want to poop somewhere they will do it, I have the scratches to prove it. Monitors are not dogs.

Chris.M · #3 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 05:40 PM

OK well pretty much the whole leash thing was so i could take him outside and have him enjoy the sun while at the same time staying under control.

luker3232 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 05:40 PM

Dont let your animal play with other animals if its 10"s, 2ft, or 6'. My 3 foot sav has left scars on me without even trying.

These people that say they have "trained" monitors usually if not all the time have sickness', Many people use what would be considered animal cruelty to "train" monitors.

These are solitary WILD animals.

boaterr · #5 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaara and Sai

OK well pretty much the whole leash thing was so i could take him outside and have him enjoy the sun while at the same time staying under control.

You really should have researched monitors more before you bought one. A leash is not going to hold 5+foot of pure muscle still, anyway most Monitors or large reptiles in general do not enjoy being restrained.

Chris.M · #6 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 05:50 PM

yea i have done research, but unfortunately most of this information i have received seems to have sprouted from the mouths of fools. all the articles i read basically endorsed leash training unless the individual animal did not like it, more or less what one would say of a troubled dog. the man i bought it from is a self proclaimed reptile specialist... he owns a reptile store, and from what i remember he was the one that told me that you "can" leash train them. so it is not for lack of research, merely for lack of trustworthy sources.... the internet is far from infallible.

luker3232 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 05:55 PM

"train" and "monitor" really dont go together in anyway. Odds are that guy was just trying to make a sale. I have had pet shop owners, thinking Im new to reptiles, sell me retics, niles, burms, Goliath Birdeaters, afrocks, and even a desert hairy scorpion. Dont listen to unsafe sources of information,
Go right to the source, People who keep those species

Chris.M · #8 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 05:59 PM

yea, it took me hours on the internet to find RTB, and i'm glad i did. So, from the ground up, can you tell me what every monitor owner needs to know from ground up to make sure that i have my education from a source not trying to slam a sale?
i raised a beardie, so i am not new to reptiles, but i do not want to risk my animal's health by making unsafe assumptions based on uneven parallels.

carpondro17 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 08:33 PM

Ok no offence but it looks like you are not ready for a monitor in the first place. What does your set up look like? I wouldent expect the monitor to be nice when it is an adult cuz most dont turn out nice. As for interacting with orther monitor if one monitor is bigger then the other the big one might try to eat the little one or hurt it. The other day I played with a 5 ft Lace monitor and that thing has a lot of power, is REALLY FAST! ( we needed 2 people to handle him ) and wasent very nice. He destroyed my hands and he wasent even trying. A leash will NOT hold a full grown albig.

Big George · #10 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 04:35 AM

Best thing i can say is get a good book on monitors they have all that you need.

Chris.M · #11 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 03:59 PM

OK i will make sure that any questions i have are asked in these forums, a lot of the things the vendor told me have proved to be false, but i am still fully dedicated to making Sai's lodgings suitable. I will take your advice on the monitor to make sure that he is healthy and happy. But if it seems that i am incapable of properly looking after Sai, I will take him back and make sure they owner knows where they were wrong. Right now after looking around the setups other RTB members have, it seems that Sai's tank is woefully inadequate, but i have the space and mats available to me to build a suitable enclosure promptly. As soon as i have a working camera i will take pics of the new enclosure and open for critique.

razeraze · #12 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 08:16 PM

Are you ready for a 10'L x 5'W x 5'T cage? My suggestion is to look up the books I mentioned on this site and if you decide you are serious about this monitor post a picture of the monitor (especially around the eyes, tail, hips and toes) and a picture of the enclosure with a detailed description of humidity, substrate, air temperatures, surface temperatures and size of the animal and size of the enclosure.

Chris.M · #13 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 08:21 PM

for the mean time i am building a slightly smaller enclosure to suit his current size, but yes long term i do intend to build a much larger enclosure. As soon as i complete the enclosure (and fix my cam) i will post pics. Sai is about 2 feet long right now, i intend to have a dirt substrate, and i am going for 3 45 W floodlights for his heat in the new enclosure. too hot, turn off a lamp or have it further away, too cold buy another lamp. If you would like i can post the schematics i have drawn up for the tank.

razeraze · #14 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 08:24 PM

That would be great. I said in your other post you may want to go larger. There are plenty of cage pictures on this site I would check them out.

Chris.M · #15 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 08:28 PM

yea for the last few days i have been looking around and have gotten some great ideas. well... better ideas than i had to begin with, in any case. O, and btw, i keep your pic if your monitor on my HD to remind myself what i have gotten myself into

nice animal, very beutiful.

razeraze · #16 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaara and Sai

yea for the last few days i have been looking around and have gotten some great ideas. well... better ideas than i had to begin with, in any case. O, and btw, i keep your pic if your monitor on my HD to remind myself what i have gotten myself into

nice animal, very beutiful.

I did the same when I was getting into monitors. A guy named Jody has another big blackthroat.
Here were our early cages:

Chris.M · #17 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 08:41 PM

thank you very much. I intend to build it with 3/4'' finished spruce plywood. The only thing i can think of to keep the moisture from the wood is water based varnish, i believe i read a user had coated his tank in the stuff. But you seem to use some kind of black paper, what is it?

razeraze · #18 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 08:52 PM

pond liner.

Chris.M · #19 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 08:54 PM

i see

Chris.M · #20 (**permalink**) 06-13-2008, 02:51 AM

allright i got my supplies today for the tank.... 4 sheets of plywood, pond liner, dirt, two 150w heat lamps, etc, etc....

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