nile monitors

[monitor boy]

hi
i was just wondering what are ppls opinions on these
well i will start out on this topic
well most people won't agree wit me but i think there one of the most stunning monitors and are the most rewarding monitor there is when you can tame one down so it doesn't have the attitude of the normal nile. My pride and joy is my 4.5 foot nile she has to be the calmest and most easy going nile monitor i have ever seen

[drewlowe]

I don't know too much about monitors but i am going to start my research on them pretty soon. me and my boyfriend were at a local herp shop last year and the had a nile monitor that was about 2 feet long (including tail) that was playing with James (my boyfriend) for probly a good 15-20 min. He has wanted one ever since. But right now we live in the basement so we do not have the room to house a nile monitor yet. But we do plan to move out in about a year. Then we will build an approprite enclosure for him/her. But i still have bunches of research to do before i even think about obtaining one for my collection. I have also heard they are not a good starter monitor but if i will only have one monitor in my life i really want a nile.

[deadpinkphish6]

Yea I saw a nile in the pet store the other day and really thought about getting it but I need to build a new cage for my sav first.

[Colonel SB]

I will agree with you on that one Monitor Boy, My nile was the one of the most rewarding herps I've owned. Note niles are not for begginers and I am in no way condoning thier keeping by inexperianced herpers.

[burmer]

I got my first Nile last month (after lots of thought and research). So far it's been great having him/her. He is barely a foot long and he is not a terror and even takes to handling when he feels like it. I think they are one of the more attractive monitors and am looking forward to working with him/her for years to come.

[LdyDrgn]

Burmer, you hit the nail right on the head there: "When he feels like it"

Niles are the type that everything needs to be their idea whether you like it or not! LOL

[Invictus]

So, they are like big cats with scales then? :)

[deadpinkphish6]

haha pretty much

[Mardy]

You can't beat the color of a nile.
My girl is about 7 years old, and 5.5-6 feet
Correct not for beginers. Large soaking tubs are needed and are crapped in daily. THey eat lots
and warm the heart. Do a lot of reading.

Mardy

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/502/1371nileheads-1a-med.jpg :cool:

[burmer]

She is beautiful. I hope mine keeps the pattern when he/she is that big. She seems to tolerate handling in your pics.

[drewlowe]

what a beautiful nile. but i can wait till i belive i'm ready to obtain one. I know i have a lot of reading to do so it will be a few years till i get one. Plus i want the enclosure perfect before i bring it home.

[Mardy]

This is the new cage we built this year. It's 6x3x3(well almost 3)
Yes she is quite nice, I rarely pick her up.
and she does not mind, I do give a daily rub behind the head and always blow my sent at her.
They are smart and will know you by sent.

Most "nice" niles I hear about are females???
don't know if this is fact, or anything.

Mardy

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/502/1371nilecage2.jpg

[markb]

Hi Mardy,

Beautiful niloticus. There is so much material on niloticus it is amazing - natural history, and so on from 180 b.c. to present. The arabs kept them for pest control across the Sahara, and the reports of them in the Dead Sea, Israel are interesting too.

Are those heat lamps too close to your animal - will she burn from those lamps being so close to her back?? I have been told lamps should be 18 inches above an animal, especially aquatic varanus, like jobiensis as they burn very easily in captivity often - just thinking out loud Mardy....

Best of luck with your animals and Splendid Animals!
Thanks for sharing,
cheers,
markb

[V.hb]

Hey Mark, your above post was a very interesting read.. About the niles being used as pest control. I read myths about niles working colaberativly to raid croc nests.. Probably not very accurate but pretty interesting to read. Heard anything like that before?

Hey, if you have anymore interesting facts like that post them! I'd love to read more..

[Mardy]

Mark the lights are pretty low watt and I checked
the temps for a couple before my nile was put it.

With these big guys you want two basking lights at the distance from front legs and back. This allows them to bask from snout to vent under a constant temp.

Mardy

[monitor boy]

mardy i have a question for you
don't you think that cage is alittle small for the nile you have
like my nile right now is it a 8x4x4

[markb]

Hi again,

Yes, I have gobs of info on niloticus/african varanids - I was writing a book on african monitors, but when my computer crashed, I lost the book - and I am hesitant to start again - Im a novice w/computers, and after my last incident, I detest them.

Anyways, as for niloticus hunting in groups for croc nests: The first report in 1923 I think it is, w/photos (b/w) of (presumed) brothers/sister) working collaboratively to dig the nest up, watch guard for moma croc and Bon Appetit Julia Child Omelet!! V. griseus have been seen raiding croc nests too on offshore islets where the croc lay their eggs in Egypt and the griseus monitors also working in pairs/trios go to the nest from the land-side, not sea-side as moma croc would expect, and get the eggs that way.

Apparently the nile monitors are very accomplished at this nest raiding behavior, and has a significant population dynamic on crocodile populations, and visa-versa, as crocs seek out and destroy nile monitors whenever possible, as they mutual predator of the other sometime along their respective lives....

cheers
markb

[V.hb]

Thanks for clarifying that mark. Where are you getting all of this information? Really interesting..

[markb]

Hi Vhb,

Yes, there are other reports of nile monitors working toghether in groups of 2, 3 getting croc nests, and some have photos with them! Its believed the animals involved are probably brothers/sisters engaging in this behavior. V. griseus also does this offshore Egypt in the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea when seeking out croco nests, but approaches the nests from leeward side where the croc do not expect them to approach from; much like the Bengal tigers who hunt men attack them from the sea side, not land side, leaping over the boat grapping a man by the head/neck swimming to shore and eating him down to heel! Varanus griseus got its Egyptian name "Land Crocodile" as the Phaeronic Egyptians thought that the eggs laid by crocodiles had two types of babies, crocodiles and land crocodiles (V. griseus), hence its name, a mythology that lasted until 80 A.D.. There is a single acount of V.albigularis feeding in group behavior on a termite mound opened, but apparently they do not do this very much, although they can be found in close proximity to one another in some region, little field information of them readily available....there are alot of misc notes in the old journals of explorers of central, south Africa of the middle 1800's which have some good tidbits of info on mostly V. niloticus, but sometimes the tree leguaan too...
cheers,
markb

[creander]

Thats e very awesome pic of this Nile Monitor.

http://www.pythonmolurus.com

[CDN-Cresties]

VERY VERY COOL PICS