Water MOnitor ?

[BurmGuy87]

Ive been reading around and i have come across people who say these are very tame monitors? Is this true. Because if I can provide the space I'd love to get one.

But I'm mainly curious....if they're as tame as people say. Also how much do they usually run? in USD

[chas*e]

COuldn't tell ya off hand how much they run down there, In Canada they usually go for around $90.....$300 if you can prove they're captive bred. I wouldn't beleive everything you hear either about their temperments. I have known a couple different owners of them and none of which had a "Tame" one. They are usually a bit sketchy coming from the enclosure but some tend to mellow out after a couple minutes, On the other hand if you start with a cb neonate and work with it on a steady basis (Not so much to stress it) you could have luck in "Taming" one.

Ed

[jason h]

I love mine,as ed said though its a wrestling match getting out of the enclosure but 10 minutes in the tub and "tame"as you could want though a handful do to his get into everything,nosey,go everywhere he shouldnt,and generally inquizitive nature!

[BurmGuy87]

hahaha maybe ill just stick with the Tegu for now:)

[John A]

tame is a terrible word. tolerant is better. i keep waters exclusively, and atitude is related to genes, interaction time, age, stress levels, food (lack of). my oldest, an 11 year old sulfur is tolerant of me touching, lifting, poking, and hovering over her, while my youngest gets the least interaction time with me, and has a real aggressive way about herself. another 2 males i keep will take food from me, but wont dare come to me for another reason. my wc cumingis will shred you to pieces, after 4 years in captivity. then again, ive seen tolerant waters of both sexes, any age or size, sometimes right out of a bag from indo. -john

http://www.cybersalvator.com

[BurmGuy87]

So then it seems interaction time is mainly the biggest factor?

Maybe after I have the Tegu for a year or two I'll look into a Water Monitor.

Would you think that is a good choice or no considering I've only kept Savannahs before.

[John A]

you get what you like. no one said anything to me at 16 as to what i wanted and what i should have gotten. im 30 now yikes. only things i must say about waters is:
they get big, messy, require alot of room, and cost alot to feed. food bills add up and these guys put it away no problem. -john

[BurmGuy87]

ok sounds good.

what size cage do you have to offer these guys? 12ft long maybe?

I have a small room off of my basement which is probably 12ft long, 10ft wide and however high....so that would definately be big enough right?

hey if i can talk my parents into giving me that...i can either have a water monitor or two.....OR a breeding colony of Tegus!

[reptiguy123]

Tell us what you think after you look into salvators more. Good luck!:D

[John A]

you going to construct a long term "bedroom sized" enclosure that can withstand heat loss, hold humidity, and serve as home for a water monitor or 2 for decades? if you arent sure what you want yet, go visit many serious tegu and salvator keepers. write down their routines, ask them what the maintenence is in terms of dollars every month. food prices, energy bills, time spend cleaning and interacting. ask how much the custom enclosures cost and how long it took to build. ask yourself are you matured enough to be soley responsible for the animals welfare and the people who live in your house. do you realize a bite from a 4.5 foot water has enough power to sever nerves in your writing hand, and fingers become traumatized so badly, you may never be able to throw a curve ball or tie a shoe lace? same bite to the wrist can bleed you pale, and require sergery to take nerves from your ankle to put in your thumb so you can use it again. i have a few close friends like this, bitten by relatively SMALL WATERS (4-4.5 FEET, 1 year old waters). yeah, a huge varanid in the basement is a definite cool factor, but all that changes when the **** stinks, or you didnt change water last nite and the floaties are wreaking through the house and mom wants you and the lizard out asap. this is just a taste of reality for you, not a deterrant, although i have gone thru this (minus the bites from a big one). as of now, with 6 waters, i go thru the upper hundreds$$ of dollars a year in food alone. -john

[BurmGuy87]

Thank you John....although I have a while before I decide anything. I am heading towards getting a Savanna and a Tegu....or a Nile. Or even a bunch of Ackies.

But the room is constructed already thats just it. My dad and I can insulate it even more and put in a ton of lighting so thats no problem. But ya I have awhile before any of htis;)