monitors-PLEASE HELP

[varanuskomodoen]

What size cage should I have for adult:

ackies

KRMs

savannah monitors

aisian water monitors

how fast do they grow? How much do they eat?

:D

[Jeff_Favelle]

http://www.varanus.net/faq/

[varanuskomodoen]

Why isn't there information under handling?

[varanuskomodoen]

Sorry, but I already read the site and find much about individual monitors.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Why isn't there information under handling?

MOST people don't buy a varanid for handling. They buy them because they are cool-looking lizards that are intelligent and tons of fun to watch interact with each other and their surroundings. People that buy stuff to handle usually buy a dog or a cat.

[skinheaddave]

I agree with Jeff, although I would add that their interactions with humans can also be facinating. When I'm working in Behemoth's enclosure, he will come up and investigate what I'm doing. I can handle him quite comfortably, but I still don't have him running around the back yard or anything.

If you don't want quite the commitment in care of a dog and you don't care for cats, I'd suggest a rat. They are incredibly intelligent.

Cheers,
Dave

[JeffT]

Ackies and Savs are the only ones I know for sure on there. An Ackies enclosure ( red or yellow) should be around 4X2X2. A sav's should be around 6 X 2 X 2 or if possible more then 6 feet.

[varanuskomodoen]

Thanks, Jeff. Dave, do you let Behemoth around the house, or just in his cage? What type of monitor is he?

[skinheaddave]

Behemoth is a V.exanthematicus (sav). I let him around the house sometimes on his leash. I want to get him used to it for the spring -- he seems to be making some progress. He can wander around but I can still stop him before he manages to get himself into trouble under the couch or some-such. I actualy use a harness that goes around his back legs, since this seems like the best method of control.

Cheers,
Dave

[varanuskomodoen]

Ok. Thanks. Is there a special harness that you bought, or did you construct it yourself?

[skinheaddave]

Made it myself. Now, I don't want you getting the wrong impression. I have been fortunate in his attitude and it has been almost a year of working with him to even get him to be comfortable around me. If you get into monitors with visions of walking them around, you will be dissapointed.

Cheers,
Dave

[V.hb]

I have a hard time wondering why someone would leash their monitor.. I'am not trying to say that you don't know what you're doing or you're mistreating it but its so unnatural, its just not right. I suppose i've seen way to many iguanas treated in the same manner and its scary to see monitors heading in the same direction. It can really be a misconception to a newcomer thinking varanids are leashable animals.

[varanuskomodoen]

Better leash it then have it escape in a harsh environment.

[asphyxia]

varanuskomodoen;

I am courious as to what you keep now... at 70 posts a day how can you find the time to look after a monitor?

[varanuskomodoen]

I need the information before I buy. Then I won't need to be on Ssnakes anymore.

[asphyxia]

1. Buy a book
2. look at care sheets via the net

[varanuskomodoen]

Do have any good recomendations for a good care sheet? A website or something?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Do have any good recomendations for a good care sheet? A website or something?

In this VERY thread I gave you a caresheet that provides all you need to know about getting started with a CB monitor. I don't understand you at all! Or did you ignore it because the caresheet didn't tell you how make the monitor sit and roll over?

[asphyxia]

LMFAO .... finally

[varanuskomodoen]

It didn't have a caresheet in it. CARESHEET!

[asphyxia]

Here is a care sheet for what should be your next pet;

http://www.spflrc.org/user/rats/petbrickfaq.htm#Care

[Jeff_Favelle]

It didn't have a caresheet in it. CARESHEET!

Are you on glue? The page ITSELF was a caresheet! The top of the page contains all the headings: "Into, Purchasing, Housing, Feeding, Handling, etc etc". Its in blue writing at the top. You can't miss it. Well, I guess YOU can. I'm still not sure how.

This is the header:


Captive FAQ


Foreword Introduction Purchasing Housing Feeding Handling Further Reading

FOREWORD

[skinheaddave]

Originally posted by V.hb
I have a hard time wondering why someone would leash their monitor.. I'am not trying to say that you don't know what you're doing or you're mistreating it but its so unnatural, its just not right. I suppose i've seen way to many iguanas treated in the same manner and its scary to see monitors heading in the same direction. It can really be a misconception to a newcomer thinking varanids are leashable animals.

I know where you're coming from, so let me explain. I don't like the limited amount of space I can give my monitor. In the wild they actualy can range incredible distances. I happen to know of a place that is 100% pesticide free and extremely private. I want to be able to take my monitor out to wander around -- catch some rays, explore, dig etc. I also want to be able to catch my monitor if it wants to run off or if it looks like it will get into trouble. So far it is pretty good on a leash and long lead. I maintain slack on the lead and allow it to wander at will -- until it wants to head under the couch or whatnot. Once the weather warms up, I will be able to take him out and about and still have a safety harness (as it were :D ). So basically it is a matter of what is more unnatural -- keeping it in a box or putting it on a leash. Neither is perfect, but that is the reality of captive monitors.

Cheers,
Dave

P.S. No going out in public for me, though. People are starting to react less horribly when iguana people take theirs out for walks and the like in public places -- but a monitor would be stretching it and might result in a local bylaw change in the wrong direction.

[jason h]

V.hb I can see your point on leashs but i personally use a leash on my water monitor for a few reasons,for starters IMO that they will benefit from natural light when i can possibly provide it,therefor on good days i will take him out in the back yard (i dont leash walk it around the town to look cool) but i want to have the extra insurance that he wont bolt and cause a panic with the ppl living near me (thus avoiding more unnessasary bylaws being put into place) aswell i have taken the extra precaution as to give him the brightest hot pink and red leash i could find again im not trying to look cool so the colour is so IF there is ever a chance he for some unforseeable reason gets away the pink leash will stand out no matter if hes up a tree or in some bushes were his dark colouration i may miss him in my search,nor wood i like him to get hit by a car bolting across the street ,so the leash is not so it can be paraded around looking cool (as the case with many aguanas but for his ,my,protection and insurance that i will still have him tommorrow and continue to enjoy his presence in my life,.
Now with that said that is MY reason for a leash though this may not be in many cases, so i dont always think its a bad thing to leash train a monitor for some reasons (again not to look cool,or to give the misconception that they are like in anyway to a dog.
Varanuskomodeon, a monitor is not an animal that you can just sit on the deck with it on your lap and pet like a dog,unlike a dog it does not apreciate nor feels the need for your affection,it will not nuzzle your feet or bring you your slippers, more likely it will kill your slippers and nip at your feet, they are not an animal that finds joy in your company,if this is what you are looking for there are many small mamals available on the pet market that can fill this criteria but a reptile especially a monitor is not going to do this for you so you may reconsider a monitor and explore you other options.

[Jeff_Favelle]

In the wild they actualy can range incredible distances.

Do they range incredible distances in the wild because they enjoy the great outdoors, like long walks on th beach, enjoy frolicking in the grass, or do they have huge ranges so that they can acheive the things they need for life events? Hypothetical.

[skinheaddave]

The latter. Though the phrase "enjoyment" is a bit sketchy when you are discussing reptiles. Regardless, they are anatomically and physiologically keyed to be able to travel distances and I would think that being able to participate in some more natural foraging behaviour could be beneficial. At the very least, I am liable to find it interesting and he is liable to benefit from the exercise.

Cheers,
Dave

[Jeff_Favelle]

Totally Dave. Exercise is always good. For sure.

Thanx for the reply man! Monitors kick butt! :D

[skinheaddave]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Monitors kick butt! :D

You won't get any arguments from me there!

Cheers,
Dave

[varanuskomodoen]

Thanks jason and dave. But jeff, for some reason when I click on the BIG BLUE letters, no page comes up; it if not my fault. As for the glue...I don't sniff it. Well, later!:D

[TheLizardQueen]

I know a fair bit about Savannah Monitors, as I have 3 of my own They are my favourite species. Because of the controversy lately surrounding this species, I purchased Daniel Bennett's new book online at mampam.com entitled "The Savannah Monitor: The Truth About Varanus Exanthematicus". It is well worth getting and has cleared up a lot of confusion for me.

They need a very large cage, at least twice the length of the animal and at least as tall as the animal is long. Savannah Monitors love to climb so there should be lots of hardy logs to climb on. The most important thing you can do for your monitor is to include lots of deep substrate for him to dig. In Africa, they live in burrows and must be able to dig. The substrate should also be kept moist, sprayed at least once per day. Many people think that humidity is not important to Savannah Monitors, but it is, in fact, vital to their health. I also provide a substantial hide box (they need to feel secure) and a fairly large water container.

Savannah Monitors also need full spectrum lighting and a spotlamp that they cannot touch or reach. The enclosure should also have a thermal gradient so the monitor can regulate his temperature.

I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Denise Ryder
www.4otis.com
e-mail: thelizardqueen@4otis.com

[Jeff_Favelle]

???? You clicked on the blue links to ALL the husbandry stuff and none of the links worked? Really? Were you still connected to the Internet? Because they work just fine for me on 4 different computers. I've circled them here in yellow just in case you've mistaken which blue letters I am referring to (although they are the ONLY blue letters on the page).


http://members.shaw.ca/gallerya/varanus_faq.jpg

[TheRedDragon]

Nice screen capture Jeff...look at all the pretty colours! :medtoothy

[Jeff_Favelle]

LOL! Erin has been dipping into the Alberta moooonshine folks.................


:D

[skinheaddave]

It should be indicated that a lot of the information that Denise presented does NOT come from the Bennett/Thakoordyal book, as was implied.

Climbing is something that savs do do, but they can do without. It is not essential, therefore, though I'm not saying you shouldn't provide the oportunity if you can.

As for full spectrum lighting, that is widely debated. The general concensus among those I've talked to, though, is that it is not needed if the diet is right.

Cheers,
Dave

[Jeff_Favelle]

Climbing is something that savs do do, but they can do without. It is not essential, therefore, though I'm not saying you shouldn't provide the oportunity if you can.

I agree with Dave. Climbing is nice and all, and I'm sure it won't hurt them to provice climbing decor, but it is not necessary. And it is certainly not adviseable if its at the expense of USABLE terrestrial space.

[varanuskomodoen]

What is the right diet?

[asphyxia]

I live on Pizza

[varanuskomodoen]

Um...how about a baby.

[asphyxia]

no thanks, I have 5 kids already
But its nice that you find me attractive and wish to have my baby

Why have you not read the site Jeff gave you? i was just there
reading: http://www.varanus.net/faq/feeding.htm

[varanuskomodoen]

ahahaha...no. What should you feed a baby SAVANNAH MONITOR?

[varanuskomodoen]

Jeff, click on handling. It is BLUE, and it is the third to the right. Does any information on handling come up?

[asphyxia]

o m f g

http://www.varanus.net/faq/feeding.htm

[varanuskomodoen]

ok. ok. Tell me though, when YOU click on handling, does it work?

[V.hb]

Ok man since it sounds like you're having tech problems, lets do this! Savannah monitor caresheet
www.themonitorspot.com

excellent sheets there for many species, hopefully it works.

If not, feed your baby savannah a mixed diet of dusted crickets, superworms, snails (if available) and the odd pinky mouse.

[jason h]

hes right it doesnt work!

[Jeff_Favelle]

No, the link works just fine. I'm not sure if you know how the Internet works, but when a page is not there or a link is broken, you get a display from IE or Netscape saying "The page cannot be found" etc etc etc. Do you get that page when you click on "Handling"?? Nope. There's no info there, I agree.


Now, why do you think that is?

LOL! :D

[varanuskomodoen]

Haha, I know why. I just wanted to make sure that's what you were saying:D.

[varanuskomodoen]

Thank you V.hb. The site worked, believe it on not! Lol:D