Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)

[Nightflight99]

http://i.imgur.com/RwX0A72.jpg

While my H. horridum project has been producing offspring almost every year, the H. suspectum still have a ways to go. The goal is to give them their first shot next year, but that may or may not happen. This is the male, showing off his colors.

[Blueblood]

I think this might be the year I really convince myself to get some hands on experience with these guys! Maybe even get one later on...

[Nightflight99]

I think this might be the year I really convince myself to get some hands on experience with these guys! Maybe even get one later on...
You should! They are impossible to dislike.

[Herpo]

He's gorgeous! Do/can you handle these guys? Are they aggressive? How venomous? What do you feed? Sorry, so many questions, so little time lol!

[Nightflight99]

Do/can you handle these guys? Are they aggressive? How venomous? What do you feed? Sorry, so many questions, so little time lol!

I generally handle all of my animals, but only when needed. I kept just about exclusively venomous species for many years, and so it became natural to me to avoid any unnecessary risks. You thus won't find me watching TV with my Heloderma...;) As for the necessary handling for maintenance, weighing, or veterinary purposes, I have developed certain protocols that I stick to. The goal is always to minimize both the risk to me and the stress to the animal, while getting the goal accomplished.

Like 99% of all reptiles, they are not aggressive at all. However, as neonates and juveniles they tend to be a bit defensive, which usually manifests in huffing & puffing, bluff strikes, and gaping. Once they reach maturity, they tend to calm down a fair bit.

The bite of any helodermatid lizard is certainly a potential medical emergency, but bites are generally not considered to be potentially fatal. Nonetheless, there have been plenty of cases where the bite victims reported extreme amounts of pain, so envenomations should be avoided at all cost!

I raise my Heloderma pretty much exclusively on a rodent diet. Neonates feed on fuzzy or hopper mice, whereas my adult H. horridum feed on medium to large rats.

[inv3ctiv3]

Beautiful man

[Nightflight99]

http://i.imgur.com/6I6i0Vl.jpg

And this is the female. Not the ugliest lizard I've ever seen. :)

[Herpo]

http://i.imgur.com/6I6i0Vl.jpg

And this is the female. Not the ugliest lizard I've ever seen. :)

Me neither! Beautiful little things!

[D Grade]

You should! They are impossible to dislike.

Agreed, these guys are adorable. Found about a dozen of em' last season herping around AZ. Its too bad they are protected here because I would certainly love to keep one.