strange experience

[dean_h00]

I own and deal with many monitors on a daily basis and on this bright sunny day in Toronto I decided to bring my 10 month old savannah monitor (wedgey) outside to my backyard for some sun, I have done this with many of my monitors and have had positive experiences and negative experiences... Heres a bit of background info on wedgey I have had her since she was a tiny hatchling, have had her checked for worms and other parasites (like I do with all my animals) and keep her in excellant condition I have been handling her seince she was about 2 months old and she is probably my friendliest lizard other than my water monitor but anyways she is excellant.

Back to the story as we enetered my backyard she begins sniffin the fresh air with her tounge and begins taking in all the sights and sounds of the outdoors it appears as if she is having a ball... So i decided to do somethin i always do with her inside and that is let her rome around i figured she is calm enuff and big enuff to deal with the surroundings so I put her down next to me, she began slowly moving around, and doin wat savs do investigate stuff and out of nowhere she runs (why I HAVE NO IDEA) she goes under my fence (somehow) and i begin to pursue her over the fence she then goes under the fence and she runs everywhere into bushes under stairs and it is about a 3 minute chase until i catch her again and I sew a side in her that i hadnt seen since she was about a month old. she was hissing and whipping and jus bein a crazy lizard... COMPLETELY UNCHARACTERISTIC OF HER...

Now I have had lizards do this to me b4 (harmless events) but never would i have thought that my tame lil sav would do this...

watever all is well and she is back to her calm self. I plan on buying a leash for her because i would like to see her calm down outside and get used to everything...

I was wondering if this has happened to anybody else and if you know wat triggers the outbursts... Is it maybe birds, planes???? WHO KNOWS...
My water monitor is completely content when it comes to roaming outside and what not...

well lemme know if anyone has had similar experiences and what you have done in response to it...
Thanks
--Dean Herzberg--

[nguyen_inc]

A every similar event happened to me just about a week ago. I was holding my biggest sav. monitor, Bindie, out side, just like you for fresh air, but as I was walking down my driveway, Bindie was hissing and tail lashing me like never before... weird... then splash! She pooed all over me! : ( ..... It was the first time she did that to me... You know what? I think it's because of all of the new smells and sounds which they would not encounter in their enclosure. What do you think?

[dean_h00]

its definetely strange
i think its just shock of new surroundings kind of like what you said about smells and sounds...

They probably get overwhelmed by the size of this new place and get scared thinking that we are the enemy like when they were babies...
I am still stumped tho
if anyone else can help oyt or share there stories that would be great

thanks
--Dean Herzberg--

[V.hb]

You will notice when taking some monitors outside they can go balistic. Its something to do with UV etc... The outdoors seems to really throw them off.

I occasionally take my albigularus outside and they react very differently. for instance one will become aggressive while another will be more shy. Its an individual thing.

I recommend wearing a good pair of gloves if you're outside with any large monitor.

[dean_h00]

LOL
i learned that the hard way
she gave me a few nice battle scars;)

[V.hb]

Iam sure you also expierienced how goddamn fast savannahs can move? they aren't "lumps" afterall :)

[SHvar]

My first bosc went outdoors and freaked out the first 2 times in an aquarium or on the ground (small monitor during summer), later on at around spring time he was over 3 feet long and was alot more calm outdoors, after the first year or so he was much better outdoors. My second bosc a female was for 4 years unhandleable and no way trustable to go outdoors, well she went outdoors turned calm, friendly, handleable, had her for a while. My first 2 blackthroats needed to be on a secure leash to prevent run aways in certain situations (fast). My niles were never taken outdoors, couldnt trust them to consider it. My male BT/WT cross is calm outdoors now but still fears flying objects etc (normal), my female BT/WT cross is a bit nervous on occaision outdoors which results in myself getting a tail whip or a threat if I approach too quickly, or others cant approach her at all.
In general they all react a bit differently outdoors but one thing that helps as I was told once a few years ago that the closer their cage indoors is to the offerings etc of the outdoors they react closer to normal in both environments, and on average it helps alot.