monitor stories

[gemisnake]

Hi, I have one 3 foot Savannah (Boscs) Monitor, she is my first. How I got her was her last owner threatened to dump her in the woods if I didnt take her when I said I couldnt take a monitor in at our rescue. Needless to say I took her and she was incredibly mean and skinny, not good for a newbie to monitors. Anyways, I planned on fattening her up and adopting her to an experienced keeper, but she won my heart and found a permanent place in my scaley family. Anyways my love and fascination over my Sav (Nala is her name) has gotten me interested in the possibility of one day (not yet, not enough room) getting into monitors more. I am just interested in reading any stories about keeping, breeding, handling, ANY species of monitor or tegu. I dont need exact care requirements really, I WILL do the proper research before getting any but I just want to see some personal experiences good and bad. Just for fun! Thanks Sarah

[NicoleRussell]

I know how you feel Sarah--monitors are just awesome lizards! What stops me now is space, more lighting (lol) and feeding another large meateater. I have gotten into cyclura in an attempt to ease my large lizard fettish without going to buy more whole prey!
I love the croc monitors though and the day I have thr resiurces, that is the monitor for me.

[Ace]

Monitors are neat, i rescued a 2 1/2 monitor that was good size but very mean, I settled her down a bit but was still a little bitey. I now have a 1 foot savannah monitor also and this one is a little nicer but still trys to hiss at me. But they are so cool, i love to watch them eat.

[savannah_babe]

yeah, savannahs can be agressive if they want to. repscue had rescued a bunch that were just improted, and none hadnt eaten in days, and on the verge of death, as they were just imported. they had too many parasites and what not, it was horrible. i took 6 of them, well, i think it was about 6...lol they were sooo sick, poor babies.. anywho, first i recommend taking your new monitor to the vet, get a fecal done, and make sure he gets a clean bill of health. thats always a good start. good luck, and hope he tames down for ya

[Broncoman]

My Savannah Monitor (Homer), http://redtailboa.net/index.php?name...hlight=#127319. He is having, what I was told to be a bad shed. But he is looking alot better and getting big fast. Man, he sure likes to eat. Most of the time he is very agressive to me, some days he is not at all. He has never tried to bite me, just hisses and slaps me with his tail. I hope he tames down. He is just over two feet now.
Good post, I can't wait to hear about the other monitor stories.
Jeff

[NicoleRussell]

what are you doing about the shed so far Jeff? Has it gotten any better?

[Broncoman]

Originally Posted by NicoleRussell

what are you doing about the shed so far Jeff? Has it gotten any better?

He is looking alot better. Thanks. I have been putting him in a warm tub of water. He likes it, but I think he is just happy to get out of his small cage. Still working on building him a new one. I have been working 7 days a week.

[unBOAlievable]

I have worked with many different monitors in the past but argus monitors are my favorite. They are so inquisitive and funny, I had one around 4 feet with an infected prolapse so we had to feed him a non solid diet so needless to say his poo was quite runny. I kept a fan to circulate air in the room infront of his cage which had 1/2" wire mesh on the face. One day I came in and he backed up to the wire with his tail up in the air and as I came closer to see what he was doing he let it ripp right in the fan. OOh nasty, it only took him doing that twice before I moved the fan. I sure miss ol Argy.

Good luck with your Savanah!

[gemisnake]

I guess I didnt mention that she is very tame. I got her a while ago and like I said she was nasty and thin. Now she is plumper and after I have handled her as often as I can, even when she was trying to kill my hand, now she is actually cuddly I guess you can say. I lay on the flor and she likes the security of laying next to me. Whenyou first go in her cage you gotta use the hook to pet her for a little bit so she knows oit isnt food time, but Id say she is taming real good, awesome animals!

[eddie]

I saw a big monitor climb on a guys head once

[themoononastick]

if you'd like a monitor but haven't the space you should consider an Ackie! they have all the personality and curiousity of their larger cousins and they are so active! One of the cutest things about mine is he always goes to sleep in his tree house when the lights go out... wherever he is, come lights out he'll dutifully climb up and across the bridge to his favourite sleepy place. bless him!

I keep him happily in a 5ft long by 3ft high by 2ft wide viv. Need the height because Ackies LOVE climbing (often find 'em in trees in the wild)