Monitor's Toe Talons

[dinosaurdammit]

I have seen several people who trim their monitors nails. Why do they do this? I am wondering at the amount of people who cut/trim their lizards nails but with mine, its like his are not the curved sharp as razor nails. He digs ALL the time and climbs and runs and acts a fool so his nails are very well "sanded". Which is correct? My monitors buffed nails or people having to actually trim them? I dont think monitors go up to a Joe and ask in the wild to trim their nails.

How much do monitors dig? Mine is always digging. He will dig a good burrow. Dig until the burrow isnt much of a burrow anymore and basically digs a new burrow anymore. I think thats why his nails are not as talon like as others. If this is not correct how would i correct it?

[infernalis]

I do not trim nails. Never have, never will.

Overgrown nails are just another sign of negligent keeping.

While we are on the subject, it annoys me that so many people think that trimming nails, pooping in the water and force handling into a bathtub are all "normal" lizard care????

[dinosaurdammit]

I do not trim nails. Never have, never will.

Overgrown nails are just another sign of negligent keeping.

So my monitors buffed nails are for all intensive purposes "normal"

[infernalis]

yes, your monitor is wearing down the claws normally

[BarelyBreathing]

Wayne's correct. In a proper enclosure they will wear them down themselves.

[MrBosc]

I do not trim nails. Never have, never will.

Overgrown nails are just another sign of negligent keeping.

While we are on the subject, it annoys me that so many people think that trimming nails, pooping in the water and force handling into a bathtub are all "normal" lizard care????
Could you extend what you meant by "pooping in water" as mine does this all of the time. I assumed this was normal behavior for them?

[dinosaurdammit]

Could you extend what you meant by "pooping in water" as mine does this all of the time. I assumed this was normal behavior for them?

maybe he means forcing the lizard to poop in the bath? Idk :/

Mine will actually by himself walk (its more like a sprint) UP the stairs and get into the bath by him self. He likes to dunk his head under and look around under water tongue flicking about. We have a special bath mat that we drape over the side of the tub so he can get in and out when ever he pleases. Once I was taking a shower and my husband had him out for his hour walk about and I heard a loud commotion beside me and there he was, clamoring to get into the bath. Maybe because its something different to do? I sometimes dont understand why he does some things other than it might be "interesting" or even maybe "fun" for a lizard.

[infernalis]

Could you extend what you meant by "pooping in water" as mine does this all of the time. I assumed this was normal behavior for them?


Perhaps it's learned behaviour, but mine poop on the ground inside their cage. in nearly a year of ownership, I have had turds in my water bowl exactly twice.

We have had discussions here on this subject in the past, and the general consensus is that this behaviour is supposed to mean that something is wrong with the cage humidity if they are pooping in the water bowl.

Chomper used to poop in his water every day, I too thought it was normal at the time, but since I did a complete turnaround with my husbandry, I have not been seeing this happen like it used to.

[jarich]

I didnt realize that was what most others thought. Mine does both in and out of its water bowl, though probably does more in the water than out of it. I have a hard time thinking it would be tied to humidity issues though as my enclosure sits at a pretty even 75%. Are there other reasons that this might be the case?

[infernalis]

I didnt realize that was what most others thought. Mine does both in and out of its water bowl, though probably does more in the water than out of it. I have a hard time thinking it would be tied to humidity issues though as my enclosure sits at a pretty even 75%. Are there other reasons that this might be the case?


I wish I knew, every day I see new things that are educating us all.

Wish I spoke Boscanese, I would ask so many questions....

[dinosaurdammit]

I wish I knew, every day I see new things that are educating us all.

Wish I spoke Boscanese, I would ask so many questions....


if i could speak monitor I'd ask why mine attacks my socks. He hates socks. He attacks and then carries it away and hoards socks. It is really bizarre.

[MrBosc]

maybe he means forcing the lizard to poop in the bath? Idk :/

Mine will actually by himself walk (its more like a sprint) UP the stairs and get into the bath by him self. He likes to dunk his head under and look around under water tongue flicking about. We have a special bath mat that we drape over the side of the tub so he can get in and out when ever he pleases. Once I was taking a shower and my husband had him out for his hour walk about and I heard a loud commotion beside me and there he was, clamoring to get into the bath. Maybe because its something different to do? I sometimes dont understand why he does some things other than it might be "interesting" or even maybe "fun" for a lizard.
Lol that is so kool how you can just let yours roam around the house and how he gets in the bath =] That must have been a weird experience for him to come into the bath while you was in there as well lol, wouldn't want him in there on a bad day or they'd be plenty of places to bite that would hurt :P

[MrBosc]

Perhaps it's learned behaviour, but mine poop on the ground inside their cage. in nearly a year of ownership, I have had turds in my water bowl exactly twice.

We have had discussions here on this subject in the past, and the general consensus is that this behaviour is supposed to mean that something is wrong with the cage humidity if they are pooping in the water bowl.

Chomper used to poop in his water every day, I too thought it was normal at the time, but since I did a complete turnaround with my husbandry, I have not been seeing this happen like it used to.
In that case it would also be hard for me to determine this, because the substrate swap around was done only a week or two ago it may have been that he was doing it before because the humidity levels where always low with the wood chippings substrate and it has now become a habbit even though the humidity is now correct.

[War Machine]

Wayne I believe passing stool in the water, are signs of dehydration, I've never had either albig poo in the water.

My first setup for water dragons pooped in water, I don't blame them, it was a cooking machine. Now I setup my new dragons like monitors, and they have yet to poop in the water, and they eat like monitors... Lol

[dinosaurdammit]

Lol that is so kool how you can just let yours roam around the house and how he gets in the bath =] That must have been a weird experience for him to come into the bath while you was in there as well lol, wouldn't want him in there on a bad day or they'd be plenty of places to bite that would hurt :P

He is so energetic we have decided once a day to let him have an hour of supervised free roam. He likes to get under the sofa and ambush your feet, he attacks, death rolls and takes off your sock then disappears back under the sofa only to run back to his cage and hoard a sock under a rock or in a burrow. :/ About 5 pairs of socks have met this fate.

[DragonsEye]

He likes to get under the sofa and ambush your feet, he attacks, death rolls and takes off your sock then disappears back under the sofa only to run back to his cage and hoard a sock under a rock or in a burrow. :/ About 5 pairs of socks have met this fate.

Perhaps in a previous life he was a cat. :)





http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc102/Moonlight_Beach_Guild/smileySleigh.jpg

[dinosaurdammit]

Perhaps in a previous life he was a cat. :)





http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc102/Moonlight_Beach_Guild/smileySleigh.jpg

he acts more like a weird dog/cat than a lizard. If you pull out shrimp or crawdad out BAM he instantly gets happy, he starts walking in circles all excited and will tripod until you give it to him.

[MrBosc]

He is so energetic we have decided once a day to let him have an hour of supervised free roam. He likes to get under the sofa and ambush your feet, he attacks, death rolls and takes off your sock then disappears back under the sofa only to run back to his cage and hoard a sock under a rock or in a burrow. :/ About 5 pairs of socks have met this fate.

Lmao it sounds like one Bosc who has a lot of character, I really can't wait for mine to be able to come out without getting in the defensive mode when he finds his little spot (usually beside the bed). I noticed on another post you mentioned he goes mad for crayfish and starts tripoding and going in circles, he really does remind me of a dog either way you've got one wicked Bosc :)

[Pirarucu]

I too believe that usually it is a sign of dehydration or past dehydration.
One theory I've heard is that they can't lose water from under their scales, but when the vent is opened up there is an avenue for water loss. I'd have to say I doubt that would be significant enough to matter..
However, if I had to guess I'd say it is because the lizard is trying to get things moving. Just like a dehydrated lizard will get impacted with substrate, poo will be harder to get out. They are trying to make it a bit easier. LOL. If they had to do this at a young age, it would be possible they can grow used to it and will continue to do so even once they are in proper care.

[dinosaurdammit]

Lmao it sounds like one Bosc who has a lot of character, I really can't wait for mine to be able to come out without getting in the defensive mode when he finds his little spot (usually beside the bed). I noticed on another post you mentioned he goes mad for crayfish and starts tripoding and going in circles, he really does remind me of a dog either way you've got one wicked Bosc :)

actually he is an argus/goulds cross :3

[AjaMichelle]

Both of my savs poop in their water sources and on the substrate. My humidity is always 60% and higher. I'm fairly sure neither are dehydrated.

[infernalis]

Both of my savs poop in their water sources and on the substrate. My humidity is always 60% and higher. I'm fairly sure neither are dehydrated.

Makes one wonder if the pooping in the water is another of those myths perpetuated by forums?

[dinosaurdammit]

Makes one wonder if the pooping in the water is another of those myths perpetuated by forums?

I always thought water just stimulated them to poop. Kind of like snakes, if I soak my boas they have a habit of going potty. Maybe it relaxes them.

[infernalis]

I know that if my bum turned inside out every time I pooped, I would probably prefer to go in water too.

[jarich]

Hahaha, now there's a mental image I could do without Wayne. ;)

[dinosaurdammit]

I know that if my bum turned inside out every time I pooped, I would probably prefer to go in water too.

maybe thats the reason they sometimes do it rather than getting sand or rocks in their craw?

[varanus_mad]

Its relaxing to poop in water... Thats just speculation on my part.

varanids lose water through respiration, eyeballs and through there vent there skin ulike ours isnt really permeable.

[infernalis]

Its relaxing to poop in water... Thats just speculation on my part.

varanids lose water through respiration, eyeballs and through there vent there skin ulike ours isnt really permeable.

So much of everything is speculation with these amazing animals.

Well, not exactly everything, but a lot of what they do is still puzzling.

[Wyldrose]

It's amazing the things we are still learning. If anyone wants to own a monitor they should come here and read through all these posts.

Raptor my sav poo'd in the water dish when he was in his smaller viv, now that he is in his adult home I have not seen poo anywhere. He is growing like a weed, so he is pooing somewhere(maybe in the leaf litter?). There are lots of insects in there so I'm sure it's getting taken care of.

[infernalis]

It's amazing the things we are still learning. If anyone wants to own a monitor they should come here and read through all these posts.

Raptor my sav poo'd in the water dish when he was in his smaller viv, now that he is in his adult home I have not seen poo anywhere. He is growing like a weed, so he is pooing somewhere(maybe in the leaf litter?). There are lots of insects in there so I'm sure it's getting taken care of.

If your cage is right, poop should vanish within 48 hours.

[AjaMichelle]

I know that if my bum turned inside out every time I pooped, I would probably prefer to go in water too.

Too true!!! :)