Problematic with cheep imports(African Varanids)

Steeve B · 06-20-03, 05:25 PM

nt

V.hb · 06-21-03, 09:25 AM

Its the stores that purchase from importers that are to be blamed. Pet stores of all kinds buy the cheapest thing possible from importers and sell to anyone that will pay for them. I feel the overall response by educated herpers lately has been to turn away from any wild caught animal and really search for a CB. Unfortunatly there isnt many CB animals in Canada, and the ones that do exhist sell rather rapidly. Good post Steve. I think everyone who owns a monitor should work their hardest to pair it up and breed it.

I do agree though, in a few years certain animals will become more of a rarity and cost more. Lets just hope its because CB replaces WC for good, and not the animal has become endangered!

Colonel SB · 06-21-03, 10:50 AM

I agree with you steve.

Gregg M · 06-21-03, 06:48 PM

Anyone Keeping any type of reptile should breed them..... Captive breeding should be the #1 thing a keeper should do....... If they are breeding you are keeping them right and you can help lower the number of imports by offering captive born babies for fair prices......

markb · 06-22-03, 02:10 AM

I agree with Steve, Greg and others on this; breeding them here and reducing the pet import trade by even 1 is better than doing nothing. All of us who have worked with African herps, we seem to get hooked and never leave this continent or the animals upon it and their amazing mystique - even now in the 21st century a new Varanus in Africa has been found, described long ago as 1937, but My esteemed colleague and I have finally the proof we need to show others, as Pliny the Elder said in 87 A.D., "There is always something new out of Africa", and his proverb still reigns true! I am now looking at the report of the 50 foot rock python reports and may have a valid explanation for this animal as well, and it too may be a living relic of a time long past....the Age of Gigantism (Pleistocene Epoch)....but we'll see. Whether Breeding very rare or common (as dirt) herpetofauna is important, not only for the species, the impact on your family and sadness when you sell it off to whomever it may go and its fate has left your care - breed those Niles steve, breed those gaboons Greg, and breed those chicks john! haha....and although I have not bred V. exanthematicus since 1986, or even have varanus now (first time since 1981), I will continue to share the staggering amount of material I have on Varanus with those who care to read, and not over-feed!
Regards,
mbayless

Colonel SB · 06-22-03, 08:12 AM

The only problem Mark is that Niles take a lot of space to breed and most people just don't have that kind of room or time to undertake a project of that magnitude.

Tim and Julie B · 06-22-03, 12:05 PM

Another great post! Can't wait to get another varanid! In the meen time these Tegu's are keeping me on my toes! I whole heartedly agree that all reptile keepers should try and breed their animals no matter what they are or how much they can be sold for. We need more CB's out there, even on small lizards or not as popular herps. Because it all helps to maintain a good bloodline of that species. I only buy WC if it is a species that is not well breed yet. Another great post to get people thinking.

deadpinkphish6 · 06-22-03, 11:36 PM

I cannot determine the sex of my Sav ive read its really difficult but have not seen a site that shows how to do it.

markb · 06-24-03, 02:42 PM

Oh, Ive worked with exanthematricus for many many years and sexing them is difficult at times - where is this source for sexing them? Is it Daniel Bennett's new book? If so, that is the best examples/source I know of ....

markb

Dom · 06-27-03, 04:49 PM

Great post.. captive propagation should be encouraged..

As for sexing exanthematicus .. I never found it hard.. well not if u have a few..

I have found the girls to have narrower heads and smaller nostirl bulges then the males .. Its hard to tell by only looking at one but if u look and compare at several on beside each other.. I find it to be very efficient..

OR if all fails.. I place the montior in with my large male.. what happens next almost garantees the sex.. Out of the 6 females my male has been introduced to .. he tried bredding with them instantly .. within minutes.. the only one male that he was introduced to ... well there was a minor fight and they were seperated right away..

Unfortunetly .. I have never managed to produce baby savs.. only infertile eggs.. and one dead egg bound females.. all her eggs went bad in the incubator..

My goal is still to breed em although .. I have encoutered to many obstacles and spend so much money that I am now in despair..

I jsut wish more ppl bred em' so they could share their experiences with others...

markb · 06-28-03, 05:28 PM

Hi,
Yes, I was lucky enough to breed exanthematicus before the sun came up as it were back in 1984, 1992, but like you my breeding group all died (while I was out of country for 6 wks) when female were egg bound in 1993, and I stopped working with them since then, as that broke my heart. My albigularis also died egg bound at this time. I was not home to keep an eye on them, and when I came home all were dead, in my freezer, in the trash, or in bags outside!! Thats the way it goes sometimes....don't give up like I did....now my health is very poor and I can't keep anything, I can only say keep going....its amazing to see a hatchling pop out!
good luck!
markb