Water Monitor Taming... revisited

[JimmyRenex]

Hey Guys..
A while ago I posted a question regarding water monitor taming. I got some really great responses and have gone with the “let him come to you” approach. I didn’t really get any real responses regarding the other method of taming, which is “chase them down and grab them” and then handle them gently daily. I have not handled my monitor since then and noticed that it is not that nervous around me. It will take food from my hand and eat in front of me. I have been patient till now and am so far pleased with way things are going. BUT, I also have noticed that he has been growing pretty quickly. He is quite a bit bigger since the last time I handled him. My fear is that he will grow large and never being handled, may be harder to tame him then?
I have only one monitor and definitely want him tame. I have the time to spend with him daily. I guess I’m really wanting to hear from the people who did the daily handling thing. I would like to hear their personal experiences. Am I doing the right thing? Can I switch methods at this point? I don’t want to lose trust and make him shy again.
Thanks Again

This was his size the last time I handled him.....

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jun/20046287582123955934625.jpg

[crocdoc]

If your monitor calmly walks onto your hand as in the photo, then you can let it walk onto your hand and start handling it a bit. You'll know soon enough if you've overstepped your boundaries.

[Bartman]

Ive been doing the daily handling thing with my sav (hes wc so its hard to get him calm as opposed to a cb) and have noticed that he isnt improving much.

At one point he fell asleep on my lap...then today i went to pick him up and he lashed out at me...i think it was a bluff bite but hes never done that before. So i think im going to do the stay back and let him calm down himself method like your trying.

Ive heard better results have come from not handling them repeatedly because this can stress them out and feel like everytime he comes in the room i have to go through all this wigglin and stuff lol. (the lizard)

So im going to just patiently wait now i guess....

[JimmyRenex]

DK:... Thanks again.... I'm still jealous u get to play with those lacies!

Bartman: Thank you... A response that makes me feel like I'm doing the right thing.....

[kap10cavy]

You are using pretty much the same approach I use.
I have an albig that I don't want to hate me when it gets big enough to do some serious damage to my old frail body. lol
I would rather he trust me and act like a monitor than to be one of these animals that have given up all hope of being left alone.

Scott

[bistrobob85]

Well the easiest thing to do, in my opinion, is to take it out as often as you can and scratch it behind his head, his ears, over his eyes... i did that with my monitor and it tamed very fast. My favorite trick is to take him out and make him fall asleep on me! Try to take your monitor out as often as you can and, when you can, try to take it in other rooms, show him to different people, let them handle it. If you do that, your lizard will be used to tons of different situations and wont get nervous easily when it'll be big. Only do that when it is already used to you, thought. You really dont want a large nervous water monitor! If it doesnt want to be handled right away, then just take your hand under it and lift it out...

[mbayless]

Hi,
Each monitor is different - some will melow out quickly and learn to trust you are not a threat, and others will take longer, if they ever learn to trust you - but your salvator seems to see you as no threat so young which is great. Give them time to adjust to you, and visa-versa and good luck - it is nice they see you as no threat and this reduces their stress so much - and makes for a stressless atmosphere for all concerned...
cheers,
markb

[bear24]

I have 1.1 albigs. My female is a doll she never bites, hisses or tail whips. I have been handling her once or twice a week for a year. She measures 39". My male is an a$$ he can tail whip a fly at twenty paces. I doubt he will ever be tame but have only been working with him for two months. When picked up he unleashes hell until I let him run away(I only handle him in thier enclosure). His temperment is not a territorial thing but pure fear. For weeks if somebody looked at him he would hiss and tail whip his enclosure but now he will look at you for a few seconds then hiss and run and hide. He seems to be coming around you can see the trust forming in his eyes each time I inch closer. I just pick either up whenever I want except after feeding. I was to impatient for the "come to me thing."

[JimmyRenex]

Hey Bear24.....
Thanks very much for that reply! (and everyone else too) Thats what I was hoping to hear.... You said you've been doing this for a year, how was she before you started? was she just a good girl to begin with?
Thanks

[JimmyRenex]

Well... I just couldn't wait any longer.... I took him out tonite. He was nervous as expected.... After crawling from hand to hand for about 60 seconds, he just gave in and remained calm... At no point did he even attempt to bite or whip at all! He hissed a wee bit. I took him in the shower and ran the water a bit. He didn't seem to mind that much..... I had him out about 25 minutes. Man did he get heavier since the last time.
I did notice a whiteish spot on his back. Looks like a burn? I just changed fixtures for his heat lamp cause the other broke as I was re-arranging things. Looked too far for him to reach, but I guess he got to it! I'm putting screen around it now.

I think I'll wait a few more weeks and try to handle him again....
Thanks People.....]

[bear24]

Good job and keep the handling up. I think my albigs are breeding so I leave them alone right now. My girl was a little fiesty when I got her but she used to be in a top lifting tank not like her new side opening one I think that really helps monitors in general. Otherwise we might look like birds.

[V.hb]

bear, what makes you think they're breeding??? share some info :)