Sav endurance

[nepoez]

I've been making it a habit to never feed my sav unless he can out chase me. I basically make him chase a worm round and round the tank until I make a mistake and he snatches it. I've been doing this for a week and a half now and he seems to be running faster each day and harder and harder for me to keep the food from him haha.

Today I timed this activity and realized that he'd been running around for over 20 minutes, and my arm got sore before he did. So I'm not sure how long he'd be able to go for if I hadn't given up first. Anyone know how long these guys can run for?

p.s. he didn't seem out of breath at all after running for 20 mins.

[infernalis]

Monitor lizards as a whole have the ability to force oxygen into their lungs while running, they are the worlds most able long distance runners. (of the reptile world) therefore, they can out-endure prey animals and eventually catch up and get a meal.

Listen to the commentary closely....

614hIg2lNM8

[jarich]

Believe it or not there are quite a few studies where they put savs on treadmills to test their abilities that way. (I wish they had taken videos :D ) They have a pretty interesting way of shunting blood to deal with oxygen/CO2 levels.

[varanus_mad]

Monitor lizards as a whole have the ability to force oxygen into their lungs while running, they are the worlds most able long distance runners. (of the reptile world) therefore, they can out-endure prey animals and eventually catch up and get a meal.

Listen to the commentary closely....

614hIg2lNM8

And its damned hard to chase down a rabbit...

[murrindindi]

Walter Auffenberg mentions in his book on Komodo dragons that he rode alongside a dragon for a quarter of a mile on his motorbike, it`s maintained a speed of 12 mph over the whole of that distance, that`s pretty impressive!

[varanus_mad]

Walter Auffenberg mentions in his book on Komodo dragons that he rode alongside a dragon for a quarter of a mile on his motorbike, it`s maintained a speed of 12 mph over the whole of that distance, that`s pretty impressive!

Thats not bad considering the average sprinting speed for a human over a similar distance is around 8-10mph.

[nepoez]

It's impressive! I think my arm is too weak to keep up with him so he's not getting enough exercise. I wonder what else I can do to get his heart pumping.

[smy_749]

Thats not bad considering the average sprinting speed for a human over a similar distance is around 8-10mph.

Do you know the average for 23 year olds with big bellys? Just curious...not that I have one or anything :P

[Pirarucu]

It's impressive! I think my arm is too weak to keep up with him so he's not getting enough exercise. I wonder what else I can do to get his heart pumping.Stuff to climb on.

[franks]

It's impressive! I think my arm is too weak to keep up with him so he's not getting enough exercise. I wonder what else I can do to get his heart pumping.

Put roaches in his enclosure and let him go find them. I put earth worms in at night while he is sleeping, and a few roaches. They will all find a place to hide, and after he wakes up and basks he goes and tears his cage apart. Also, adding and removing branches or even leaf litter helps. They will pretty much interact with whatever you put in there.

[varanus_mad]

Do you know the average for 23 year olds with big bellys? Just curious...not that I have one or anything :P


depends on what your idea of excersise is a walk to macdonalds lol

i generally average about 11 mph but i do a fair bit of running cycling etc.

but id say the lower end of that scale if your not big on running etc

[franks]

depends on what your idea of excersise is a walk to macdonalds lol

i generally average about 11 mph but i do a fair bit of running cycling etc.

but id say the lower end of that scale if your not big on running etc

11 mph is weak. I almost hit 100mph in my truck last week

[nepoez]

Put roaches in his enclosure and let him go find them. I put earth worms in at night while he is sleeping, and a few roaches. They will all find a place to hide, and after he wakes up and basks he goes and tears his cage apart. Also, adding and removing branches or even leaf litter helps. They will pretty much interact with whatever you put in there.

not sure why but my sav doesn't seem to dig for food ever...

[murrindindi]

Do you know the average for 23 year olds with big bellys? Just curious...not that I have one or anything :P

On average, 23 year olds with big bellies don`t run, they walk very slowly and deliberately.... (Hope that`s of some comfort to you)... (Not that you have a big belly, but if it should ever happen just out of the blue).... :wacky:

[murrindindi]

It's impressive! I think my arm is too weak to keep up with him so he's not getting enough exercise. I wonder what else I can do to get his heart pumping.

Hi, in such a small area the monitor would probably not be running at it`s maximum, and the actual distance covered will not be great.
To increase the energy use you obviously need to have the space (a 25metre long enclosure would be a start), any chance?? :)
Once the animal is acclimated enough to be allowed a little "outside" time (outside the enclosure, not the house), you could cordon off an area to do that (a whole room), but there must be a time limit depending on the conditions and size of the monitor (because of the heat loss).

[franks]

not sure why but my sav doesn't seem to dig for food ever...

How big is your guy?

[nepoez]

Hi, in such a small area the monitor would probably not be running at it`s maximum, and the actual distance covered will not be great.
To increase the energy use you obviously need to have the space (a 25metre long enclosure would be a start), any chance?? :)
Once the animal is acclimated enough to be allowed a little "outside" time (outside the enclosure, not the house), you could cordon off an area to do that (a whole room), but there must be a time limit depending on the conditions and size of the monitor (because of the heat loss).

Thx. I'll need to try at a later time. For now the past 2 times taking him out the enclosure causes him to freak out and become scared of me and refuses to do anything as he is just too scared.

I'm not sure if it'll ever change even as he grows up.. hopefully it will change.

I also have a really big grass field next to my house.. not sure if that would work too... but I'm worried if it has weed killer chemicals there so it might be a bad idea?

[smy_749]

On average, 23 year olds with big bellies don`t run, they walk very slowly and deliberately.... (Hope that`s of some comfort to you)... (Not that you have a big belly, but if it should ever happen just out of the blue).... :wacky:

I prefer to call it walking with purpose and dignity. I do have a gut unfortunately, thats what happens when you don't know how to cook and your wife is across the pond :-/

I guess 5 years of college could be considered just out of the blue, right?

[franks]

Thx. I'll need to try at a later time. For now the past 2 times taking him out the enclosure causes him to freak out and become scared of me and refuses to do anything as he is just too scared.

I'm not sure if it'll ever change even as he grows up.. hopefully it will change.

I also have a really big grass field next to my house.. not sure if that would work too... but I'm worried if it has weed killer chemicals there so it might be a bad idea?

This sounds a bit like "force handling" it is fine to take the monitor out, but let it come out on its own terms. MDFmonitor has some good videos up on youtube on this. Basically, you want to be tong feeding, (which you are) then use the tongs to lure the lizard onto your hand, so he learns to feel safe with you.

[nepoez]

This sounds a bit like "force handling" it is fine to take the monitor out, but let it come out on its own terms. MDFmonitor has some good videos up on youtube on this. Basically, you want to be tong feeding, (which you are) then use the tongs to lure the lizard onto your hand, so he learns to feel safe with you.

Actually I don't. The lizard doesn't even need my tong to come onto my hand. It walks up to my hand if I put my hand near him as I stated in other posts. It will also chase my tong around the tank for food. It's a unique one it has no fear as long as it stays in the cage.

I lured it to come out of the cage and it got freaked out, tried it again 1 month later and same result so I don't plan to do it for a while.

No forced anything there.

[murrindindi]

Thx. I'll need to try at a later time. For now the past 2 times taking him out the enclosure causes him to freak out and become scared of me and refuses to do anything as he is just too scared.

I'm not sure if it'll ever change even as he grows up.. hopefully it will change.

I also have a really big grass field next to my house.. not sure if that would work too... but I'm worried if it has weed killer chemicals there so it might be a bad idea?


I agree with franks, if you`re physically taking the monitor out, the stress of the forced handling is the reason he freaks out "outside".
I sat in front on the enclosure (on the floor) on my laptop for many weeks, that got the monitor used to my close presence, yet still not in his space (outside the tank, right next to the sliding glass front). Over a few weeks he made repeated attempts to slide the glass back, so one day I opened it slightly and he climbed over my legs and very calmly walked around the small area I`d cordoned off, he was out for maybe 5 minutes, I gently picked him up and placed him back inside, within a minute or so he wanted out again, and it`s gone on from there.
You can also lure them back inside with food, and many times they will deliberately go back in themselves (see MDFMONITOR`S videos).
I would definitely NOT advise taking them into a large space like a field and letting them roam freely, it should always be in an enclosed space (a backyard only if it`s securely fenced off).

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6790927633_423039e75e_z.jpg

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http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5454/8988374911_301c0285c8_z.jpg

[franks]

I do remember your other posts, sorry neo, i did not put 2 and 2 together at first. Regardless, even if he jumps up on you, I would not physically remove him from the area. That puts the interaction on your terms again. The way your monitor is acting now means you will most likely have a very tractable pet. The older they get, the more comfortable and confident they get as well. There is different schools of thought here, so what I am saying is my opinion- not what I perceive as truth- but I do believe that especially when young, you should let all the interaction be on his terms, if he climbs on you, sit outside his enclosure etc, do not carry him around the room. Again, that is my opinion, many people (on youtube) do seem to have "tame" monitors through force-handling, but I can't help but notice how all of those monitors seem overweight and wonder if there is a connection. MDFmonitor's tactics have worked for many, and I am happy with my monitor that is comfortable with me, my family, even my dog, and can come out and go back in his own enclosure at his will, but still acts like a wild monitor should in many aspects.

@stefan, I never get tired of seeing those pics.

[nepoez]

Yeah I am with you. I have never ever physically moved the sav, he has to be the one that comes to me, and that all works fine in the cage. Even when I got hom out of the cage, it was at his own free-will because he wanted to eat, he walked out of the cage.

During the first minute out of the cage, he was eat the food, then about a minute later he realizes he's not safe or something, again I didn't physically move him here(or anywhere ever) But still.. he started to freak out. So I'm really not sure how I can let him be outside of his enclosure without him stressing.

Maybe the problem is there's a 1 foot drop when he exits the cage and he doesn't know how to get back and can't really see the inside of the cage when he's out of the cage so maybe that could be why he freaks out?

I do remember your other posts, sorry neo, i did not put 2 and 2 together at first. Regardless, even if he jumps up on you, I would not physically remove him from the area. That puts the interaction on your terms again. The way your monitor is acting now means you will most likely have a very tractable pet. The older they get, the more comfortable and confident they get as well. There is different schools of thought here, so what I am saying is my opinion- not what I perceive as truth- but I do believe that especially when young, you should let all the interaction be on his terms, if he climbs on you, sit outside his enclosure etc, do not carry him around the room. Again, that is my opinion, many people (on youtube) do seem to have "tame" monitors through force-handling, but I can't help but notice how all of those monitors seem overweight and wonder if there is a connection. MDFmonitor's tactics have worked for many, and I am happy with my monitor that is comfortable with me, my family, even my dog, and can come out and go back in his own enclosure at his will, but still acts like a wild monitor should in many aspects.

@stefan, I never get tired of seeing those pics.

[nepoez]

p.s. that's a huge monitor you got haha. Is that considered the right "weight" for that type of monitor? I'm trying to get an idea of the healthy look for a sav so I know if he ever becomes over weight or under weight.

In ypur pics they look slim, but the last one in the grass field his belly looks bigger than the rest.

I agree with franks, if you`re physically taking the monitor out, the stress of the forced handling is the reason he freaks out "outside".
I sat in front on the enclosure (on the floor) on my laptop for many weeks, that got the monitor used to my close presence, yet still not in his space (outside the tank, right next to the sliding glass front). Over a few weeks he made repeated attempts to slide the glass back, so one day I opened it slightly and he climbed over my legs and very calmly walked around the small area I`d cordoned off, he was out for maybe 5 minutes, I gently picked him up and placed him back inside, within a minute or so he wanted out again, and it`s gone on from there.
You can also lure them back inside with food, and many times they will deliberately go back in themselves (see MDFMONITOR`S videos).
I would definitely NOT advise taking them into a large space like a field and letting them roam freely, it should always be in an enclosed space (a backyard only if it`s securely fenced off).

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6790927633_423039e75e_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8446/7754359288_303285f862_z.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6052/7029870985_d7775623ac_z.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7246/6879106594_60fe89a5d7_z.jpg

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http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8596143508_75e65794f8_z.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5454/8988374911_301c0285c8_z.jpg

[murrindindi]

I`ve actually had him for 3 years today, he was only a few weeks old when I got him (he`s an Asian Water monitor), so he`s a young adult, at this stage they tend to get heavier in the body as the growth in length slows.
As close as I can measure he`s 74inches ToL and still growing, though at a much slower pace. His body condition compares very well with a healthy wild Water monitor from those I`ve observed, and I`m pleased with his progress so far!
The Savannah monitors have a relatively short tail in comparison to some other Varanid species which gives them a "stockier" appearance when mature. Yours is still a youngster, so it should still be relatively slender as most of the growth at this time will be in length, rather than bulk.
Can you put a few photos up (in profile as in when the animal is walking along), so we can see what his/her condition looks like just now?

[nepoez]

Yup I just took a few yesterday so let Mr post out in the morning!

I`ve actually had him for 3 years today, he was only a few weeks old when I got him (he`s an Asian Water monitor), so he`s a young adult, at this stage they tend to get heavier in the body as the growth in length slows.
As close as I can measure he`s 74inches ToL and still growing, though at a much slower pace. His body condition compares very well with a healthy wild Water monitor from those I`ve observed, and I`m pleased with his progress so far!
The Savannah monitors have a relatively short tail in comparison to some other Varanid species which gives them a "stockier" appearance when mature. Yours is still a youngster, so it should still be relatively slender as most of the growth at this time will be in length, rather than bulk.
Can you put a few photos up (in profile as in when the animal is walking along), so we can see what his/her condition looks like just now?

[nepoez]

I decided to use a video instead you get to see from all angles. He's relatively full here already as you can see he's not totally interested in the worm and not going crazy. He's not bloated either though, unlike when he eats a mouse.

E4GkLq9U94M

[nepoez]

p.s. I usually feed him 2-3 times a day so I don't really get him stuffed, unless it's mouse then that's a different story. But for worms I only feed him till he doesn't seem to go crazy after them then I stop.

[franks]

During the first minute out of the cage, he was eat the food, then about a minute later he realizes he's not safe or something, again I didn't physically move him here(or anywhere ever) But still.. he started to freak out. So I'm really not sure how I can let him be outside of his enclosure without him stressing.

Maybe the problem is there's a 1 foot drop when he exits the cage and he doesn't know how to get back and can't really see the inside of the cage when he's out of the cage so maybe that could be why he freaks out?

Mine has been like this too until very recently. Murrindindi told me to section off a small secure area in front of the cage and let him out to feed and allow him to go in at will. This worked great for me. You can put some wood or a brick to let your monitor go back in if he chooses. At first, mine would fearlessly charge out to eat, then, like you said, suddenly notice where he was and run back in to hide. Eventually he would run in, then run back out, in and out in and out. Now he will come out and feel comfortable. This was all over the course of a little more than a week, they learn so fast.

Your guy looks great by the way!

[infernalis]

http://www.varanus.us/SavannahMonitors/rampired.jpg

[franks]

Wayne, any chance you can get a measurement, or a photo with a dollar bill or something to compare to? We got our monitors the same time and I am curious to see the difference.

[murrindindi]

I decided to use a video instead you get to see from all angles. He's relatively full here already as you can see he's not totally interested in the worm and not going crazy. He's not bloated either though, unlike when he eats a mouse.



Hi, he/she looks fine, a nice full stomach (but definitely not overweight)! Eating a mouse doesn`t mean the monitor will be "bloated", obviously there`s more in the body of that prey than a few worms or similar.
Can you get some leaves or bark to put on top of the substrate, it will help to keep it moist for longer?

[nepoez]

Yeah I plan to put leaves(maybe) but not sure the point of bark. But I'm still waiting to borrow a relative's truck so I can dig up enough soil to fill my 8x4 cage which has no soil in it right now. Once that's done I can do more, right now I'm not gonna bother messing with the old enclosure.

[nepoez]

Oh and it's a He. The hemipenis looks like a flower or some octopus thing.

[formica]

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6052/7029870985_d7775623ac_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8595041065_4c7352b5a5_z.jpg


I love that hes learnt to open doors properly, awsome! Definitly putting locks on my enclosure exits now haha