Can monitors really *learn* their names?

[nolagurl]

Hey guys. I've always considered myself a snake gal. Today at the reptile show a little savannah monitor won me over so I took him home. He's my first lizard but not my first experience with monitors. I used to help maintain a savannah at my local zoo when I volunteered there.

I've read that monitors can *learn* their names. I'm highly skeptical of this. Does anyone here have monitors that really know their names?

p.s. I've read nearly every thread regarding my new addition. This part of the forums is such a great resource. I found it particularly hard to find concise, detailed care sheets on the web.

[reptiguy123]

Don't know the answer to your question, but I just want to congratulate you on your new addition!:)

[V.hb]

Name learning no. However they do associate things, with other things.. Usually you, with food. Ive heard of people in the past making noises, then feeding... Repetetivly, the animal will come to think that it means feeding time, and approach you for food. I dont need to make any noises, my varanids see me they run for food. :)

Try to be repetetive, when you feed. Get a consistent program going.

[kap10cavy]

My savs only come out when they want to bask and eat. My blackthroat thinks everything means food. Doorbell, time to eat? Dog walks by, time to eat? Wind blows, time to eat?It goes on and on. I doubt I can ever train him to do anything except act like a monitor. He does that well.

Scott

[monitor boy]

i do think they can learn names my old big nile i would call her name and she would walk towards me most of the time or at least turn ehr head it was quite nice

[Tim and Julie B]

Originally posted by kap10cavy
My savs only come out when they want to bask and eat. My blackthroat thinks everything means food. Doorbell, time to eat? Dog walks by, time to eat? Wind blows, time to eat?It goes on and on. I doubt I can ever train him to do anything except act like a monitor. He does that well.

Scott

Haha that is so true! I haven't noticed it with my monitors but my box turtle knows it's name. I am skeptical about monitors though. TB

[V.hb]

I really dont believe that any varanid will learn its name.. Its a strict food response IMO.. I know they can be very inquisitive, but going as far as knowing their name???? I just dont think its possible.

[mbayless]

I have had several Varanus that would respond to their names: an Argus, a savanna, a female white throat and a dumerils that all would reply to either their cues, such as tapping on cage when it was feeding, their names when it was cage cleaning, or when I annoyed when the argus would tear all the books off a bookcase to get inside it....very intelligent, very aware and astute animals: call is condtioning, learning, cognitive whatever, somebody is home and the lights are on = more than I can say for alot people living in berkeley today!
cheers,
markb

[justinO]

Originally posted by kap10cavy
...Doorbell, time to eat? Dog walks by, time to eat? Wind blows, time to eat?

LOL.. that's my sav in a nutshell! Usually if anything even remotly interesting is happening around his enclosure, he's up at the glass wanting to smell/eat whatever it is. When I first got my temp gun, I was in his enclosure temp-gunning everything, and he sauntered up and chomped down.. i spent the next 5 minutes trying to remove the temp gun from his mouth :)


in response to the question, i'm sure there is some action/association going on in their minds.


oh, a good place to start for savannah information is Ravi's website.. www.themonitorspot.com .. he also has a book on savs.