Vital Exotics' Crocodile Monitors

Vital Exotics · 11-24-12, 10:29 AM

I have been asked for photos of the Crocodile Monitors (V. salvadorii) so here you go....

Right now I have a 1.2 trio, the one female is approx 6.5' and I have had her for going on 3 yrs now, she is around 5 or 6 yrs old. The other female was given to me a few weeks ago on breeder loan, she is smaller (4.5') around 3 yrs old and was not in very good care previously. Our male is a big boy, last I measured him was about 4 months ago and he was right at 9' long, I am guessing 40 lbs. I am working hard to see if I can have success with breeding these amazing Varanids....

Male:

Pair:

Vital Exotics · 11-24-12, 10:35 AM

Here is the larger female:

dinosaurdammit · 11-24-12, 10:36 AM

I would never own a croc monitor as I know they would be far advanced for me but what is their temperament like?

**millertime89** · 11-24-12, 10:56 AM

Hey Kris, I didn't know you were on here. Small world.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-24-12, 10:58 AM

Not to be a smartass, but I'm curious, is it really a good idea to breed a female who is far too small and "was not in very good care previously"? I can't speak for reptiles, but I know with other animals, that's never a good idea. A female should be in excellent health before trying to be bred (in other animals).

~Maggot

Vital Exotics · 11-24-12, 11:01 AM

The larger female was a demon when I first got her (she was in a really small enclosure and not in the best conditions), now she trusts me and i can actually handle her but I dont that much as she really does not enjoy it, but she is easy to work around. The big male is tolerable of handling somewhat as you can see in the pics, but he also does not really like it. The small female is pretty decent once you handle her, but I have not had her long enough to get to "know" her actions. Some Crocs are ok to deal/work with, others are not. I think a lot of it comes down to enclosure size and conditions as well as the keepers ability to let them trust you on their terms and not force them to adapt to you or your terms. These things are incredibly intelligent and they take a lot of time and work to get right when dealing with WC animals or even LTC's when they were in sub-par conditions previously.

Vital Exotics · 11-24-12, 11:05 AM

EmbraceCalamity, I will not breed her for quite a while, I have her set up good now, and will get her into good shape and learn her habits before I try with her. Monitors are extremely resilient animals and some can go from terrible condition to ready to breed in a short amount of time with excellent care, but I give them time to adjust and get the condition needed to reproduce.

Yep, Kyle Im here too.

jarich · 11-24-12, 11:09 AM

Amazing pictures man! So great to see such an excellent enclosure for them. How did you take the outside pictures? Is that part of an outside enclosure?

EmbraceCalamity · 11-24-12, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vital Exotics

EmbraceCalamity, I will not breed her for quite a while, I have her set up good now, and will get her into good shape and learn her habits before I try with her. Monitors are extremely resilient animals and some can go from terrible condition to ready to breed in a short amount of time with excellent care, but I give them time to adjust and get the condition needed to reproduce.

Yep, Kyle Im here too.

Ah, okay. Was just curious.

~Maggot

Pirarucu · 11-24-12, 11:16 AM

I love crocs.. Really I think that's all I need to say. LOL

philipniceguy · 11-24-12, 11:18 AM

I wish you luck with breeding these fantastic monitors PLEASE keep me posted. I myself have been trying to breed my own pair, putting them together at the right time is not to hard, getting them to mate is easy (they do it all of course) but I am
finding it very hard to replicate a nest area in which my female likes. I have had 1 lot of 5 infertile eggs (laid all over the place) first time round. second time round I have had 3 eggs burried in 1 area, 5 more in another and 2 scattered on the floor. Unsure if any are fertile. I tried out 5 nesting bins/boxes this time round and not 1 of them she used choose normal substrate areas instead. I really need to get my thinking cap on for nesting next time round once shes back to top condition. Any success or failure that yours have I would greatfully like to read.

BarelyBreathing · 11-24-12, 11:21 AM

These are FANTASTIC pictures! I love seeing healthy adult croc monitors.

Trent · 11-24-12, 12:54 PM

Great pics!!

Vital Exotics · 11-25-12, 09:09 AM

Thanks again guys.

jarich, I am able to take some of my male Salvators and the male Salvadorii outside to allow them some real sun and stimulation. The Salvators swim in small ponds and cruise around on my private property. I am always near them to make sure they dont stray, but they do fine, even with my dog running around, as they seem confident enough and are trusting of myself and my family so they dont get spooked and take off. The Salvadorii male is not as comfortable, he will take some more time to get accustomed to it, but I have taken him outside for photos shoots for our 2013 Vital Exotics Calendar, and others projects and he actually does fine with it, but I am never far out of the shot incase he decides to take off. I DO NOT recommend doing this unless you are on your private property and have taken the precautions if the animal were to get stressed and want to take off. But if you can, It is really nice to be able to allow them to get out and get the fresh air and stimulus that being in those situations can provide.

philipniceguy, I will keep you posted on my group. I hope you have luck also. Keep in touch with me. Thanks

infernalis · 11-25-12, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vital Exotics

But if you can, It is really nice to be able to allow them to get out and get the fresh air and stimulus that being in those situations can provide.

I feel the same way, I have a 40 acre lot with wetlands, meadow and a stream, it would be criminal to not allow my Monitors to use this resource.