A different kind of hot....

[Will0W783]

Today my fiance and I went to the Oaks reptile show. He had adamantly insisted that I not buy any more snakes, but when we got there the guy who always has beaded lizards was there. John had been looking at the beadeds every show he went to, and the guy offered us a very discounted price on his last holdback baby. John and I talked about it, hemmed and hawed a bit, then decided to split the cost and bring the little guy home.

John named the beaded lizard "Gojira" which is the original name for Godzilla. He really does look like a tiny monster, but he's actually quite cute. He's a cranky little bugger too.

Here are a few pictures of Gojira in his temporary juvenile quarters. When he's a bit bigger we'll get him set up in a more permanent decorative cage. For now, we were told it's better to keep him in a simple set up with paper as a substrate until he's got more size on him.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/9331ACA9-93CA-46E3-876B-265BDFF7631C-178-00000006112E2EA5.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/59CD85E5-764B-4C92-B414-95806C202665-178-0000000615574A91.jpg

[MDT]

That. Is. Cool.

Very nice indeed!!!!

[rmfsnakes32]

Cool looking little lizard

[Aaron_S]

I prefer the gilas but still a sweet addition!

[alessia55]

Congrats on the new lizard Kim :)

[Kingsnakechris]

Very cool! Congrats!

[infernalis]

Lizards are cool.....

[CK SandBoas]

Congrats on your newest addition!

[Brently]

I think that is very awesome. I would love to have a beaded or gila one day. Just a little tempting to touch. And such a wallop if they hit you. But very cool in all regards.

[BarelyBreathing]

Congratulations!

[millertime89]

I'm quite jealous, they're illegal here, congrats on the new addition, how big is he now and how big will he get? I know they get bigger than gilas but that's about it.

[Rogue628]

That's a really cool looking lizard! Congrats on your new pick up! :D

(off to google exactly what it is...I've never heard of them before lol)

[Will0W783]

I too prefer gilas, Aaron, but they're next to impossible to find. Right now Gojira is about 10 inches long or so. He can get up to 3 feet long and 5 or so pounds.

[etc]

Haha so you ended up with something hot after all.

:)

[DragonsEye]

Neat acquisition! :)

[Trent]

very cool!!

[jaleely]

He's cute! Can't wait for more pics of him in his enclosure! congrats : )

[Aaron_S]

I too prefer gilas, Aaron, but they're next to impossible to find. Right now Gojira is about 10 inches long or so. He can get up to 3 feet long and 5 or so pounds.

First off, still a very cool addition! Hopefully you can get a female. Did you need a license for him or does he fall under yours for your venomous snakes? Or do you need one at all where you live? Pardon my ignorance for not knowing please.


Hmm, gilas eh? Shoot me a PM and I'll point you in the direction of some Canadian ones and maybe they can help you sort out any in the States for when you're ready. Doesn't Dr. Seward breed them?

[Will0W783]

I do not have a license for any of my animals because PA does not require one to carry a license.
In fact, most areas that I could find don't make a mention of venomous lizards like they do for venomous snakes. Maybe it's because venomous snakes are more common and more likely to be lethal? Heloderma are full-on venomous, and have the potential to be lethal, but much like a rear-fanged snake they need to chew their venom into you. It oozes out of the gumline and through grooved teeth via capillary action, so the delivery system is slow and inefficient. If you are bitten and the lizard holds for only a few seconds, you will likely have extreme pain and swelling for a few weeks, but will be ok. If the lizard is holding onto you and chewing though, you are going to have problems. Systemic reactions of labored breathing, dizziness, nausea, and cardiac arrest or heart attack can occur in severe bites.

Beaded lizards and gilas are best handled using tongs. I plan to wear my Venom defender gloves along with using the tongs. They have a fairly limited range of motion, much like a monitor lizard, so they are easier to avoid than a striking snake. Still, he needs to be handled with extreme care.

I rearranged the cage last night. When we were at Petsmart getting food for my parrot, I saw a clearance foam rock sculpture/tunnel that fits in a 10-gallon tank. It was only $0.01 so we got it, and stuck it in a tank for Gojira. It butts up against the side of the tank so that when the animal goes into the tunnel you can still see it, but it feels secure. Gojira loves it- he scooted right down into the tunnel and flicked his tongue all over it.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/B13022C8-A10D-4C66-A748-5F0E9264FC76-1633-000001EC8870BE67.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/9CD9D5C4-515B-4614-B7E4-27BA4C9A1F83-1633-000001EC8C3C4477.jpg

[bushsnake]

I love it! Everyone prefers gilas....not me....beaded lizards are the shiznet! They have subspecies...correct?

[Will0W783]

Hahaha, bushsnake...they are both cool. Gilas are really pricey though, IF you can find them.

There are subspecies of beaded lizards...4 I think.
Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum horridum) ]
Black beaded lizard (H. h. alvarezi)
Rio Fuerte beaded lizard (H. h. xasperatum) ]
Motagua Valley beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti)

The Mexican beaded is the one usually seen in captivity.

[Ivanator]

Beaded lizards and gilas are best handled using tongs. I plan to wear my Venom defender gloves along with using the tongs. They have a fairly limited range of motion, much like a monitor lizard, so they are easier to avoid than a striking snake. Still, he needs to be handled with extreme care.

How do you handle a lizard with tongs? Seems like it wouldn't be able to stay on as well as a snake would to me.

[Will0W783]

I use wide tongs, and he isn't terribly difficult. They are plump and slow moving, so they just kind of hang on the tongs. Snakes are longer, thinner and a lot more flexible, so in my experience they are much more difficult on tongs as they tend to thrash and freak out.

[AjaMichelle]

That's too cool! :) He's beautiful!

What are you feeding Gojira?

[Will0W783]

Gojira is eating f/t mouse fuzzies....3-4 twice a week.

[Roadtrash]

Great addition! I've never seen one in the wild but I do see a few Gilas now and then out here in the desert. Other than being venomous are there any special needs for keeping this type of lizard?

[Will0W783]

I was told that they are extremely hardy and adaptable. They live in the wild in both desert areas and forest, so they can handle a wide variety of humidity levels. I give Gojira a bowl large enough for him to soak in so that he can hydrate at will. Pretty much the most time-consuming aspect is feeding and cleaning up after him. He is fed twice a week, so he poops a lot....and it's nasty. It is way worse than snake poop. It stinks and it's sticky and he poops in his water and all over his foam rock hide. So as long as you are up to the challenge of cleaning up and feeding, they are supposed to be easy.

[Roadtrash]

Sounds like fun cleaning up after him but other than that it's a great looking animal. Might be a hand full when he gets to be 3 feet long though. He will be leaving a much larger "calling card" for you. ;)

[Will0W783]

LOL, Roadtrash,...yeah I bet he will leave lovely "presents" for me when he's an adult. But he is really my fiance's lizard, so I should just make him clean it up! HAHAHA!

[Abby]

Congratulations! :)

[Roadtrash]

Good luck with "making him". ;)