Rescued Nile Monitor. Need advice. - Page 6

Vegasarah · 01-21-13, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

There is no such thing as "too big" for a monitor.

As for the water bowl, that's simple. Build a stand for it, so it's on top but has support under it. Like the foundation under a house.

No, I meant how big is too big for the monitor? One foot long? Two feet long? I mean the minimum is 8x4x4 for a full grown adult (6 feet-ish?) So when should I just give him over and stop the socialization?

infernalis · 01-21-13, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasarah

No, I meant how big is too big for the monitor? One foot long? Two feet long? I mean the minimum is 8x4x4 for a full grown adult (6 feet-ish?) So when should I just give him over and stop the socialization?

I figured it would be too late already...

Once they get under your skin, it's a love affair that never ends.

Vegasarah · 01-21-13, 08:36 PM

I will hand him over tonight if everyone agrees that somehow it would be cruel for an animal that is 7 inches long snout to vent to live in an 7 foot enclosure.

Yeah, I really like him and I find him and all monitors fascinating, but he's a RESCUE. I took him out of the slow horrible death in a 20 gallon tank and have spent 100's on his well being. Not for my own amusement, but because I wanted to try and give him a better life.

I wouldn't be on here every single day doing all this research and asking for help if I didn't need it. I really appreciate everyone's help, I've learned a lot in the last two weeks. I am going to be a part of this animal's life for years to come, even if he doesn't live in my house. I'm always going to have an attachment to him, as I do with any foster animal. And I'm going to continue to make sure that he is being taken care of properly into his adult life.

infernalis · 01-21-13, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasarah

I will hand him over tonight if everyone agrees that somehow it would be cruel for an animal that is 7 inches long snout to vent to live in an 7 foot enclosure.

Yeah, I really like him and I find him and all monitors fascinating, but he's a RESCUE. I took him out of the slow horrible death in a 20 gallon tank and have spent 100's on his well being. Not for my own amusement, but because I wanted to try and give him a better life.

I wouldn't be on here every single day doing all this research and asking for help if I didn't need it. I really appreciate everyone's help, I've learned a lot in the last two weeks. I am going to be a part of this animal's life for years to come, even if he doesn't live in my house. I'm always going to have an attachment to him, as I do with any foster animal. And I'm going to continue to make sure that he is being taken care of properly into his adult life.

It's not cruel.

If you have the emotional strength, then keep him as long as you can.

I applaud you, I couldn't do it.

I have several reptiles that I have rehabbed and fell in love with, so they will be right here in my care until the end.

One of my favourite garter snakes was brought in from the wild to save her life, Once she was no longer in danger, I couldn't bring myself to let her go back into the wild... no regrets either, she's a sweetheart.

Vegasarah · 01-22-13, 01:59 AM

Thanks, Wayne. I make a good foster because my fiance, while very loving towards me, isn't a huge fan of the reptiles. Hes put a cap on my numbers right now because he is very sensible and is my voice of reason when it comes to this sort of thing. His gentle reminders and questions help me stay on track. I have to let them go eventually because I "own" enough right now. I have the time to put into rehabbing and rescuing and fostering, so currently the fiance says that he is okay with it. If I didn't have him I would probably be a hoarder right now lol. Hes a great man, I'm very lucky.

So today I was a little late coming home for feeding and could not find Django. In a panic, I overturned everything in the cage looking for him. Then I spotted a little hole on the deep side of the tank! He dug his first burrow! I was so excited! I even took a picture lol. I poked around in the dirt a bit and heard an almighty hiss from deep down, so I left him alone. I came back a few minutes later and just called his name and tapped the tongs on the side of the tank. It was like a dinner bell. The earth started to move and suddenly a very dirty lizard appeared. He devoured his dinner and sat under the light for a bit before returning to his burrow. He seems to be doing well lol

infernalis · 01-22-13, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasarah

So today I was a little late coming home for feeding and could not find Django. In a panic, I overturned everything in the cage looking for him. Then I spotted a little hole on the deep side of the tank! He dug his first burrow! I was so excited! I even took a picture lol. I poked around in the dirt a bit and heard an almighty hiss from deep down, so I left him alone. I came back a few minutes later and just called his name and tapped the tongs on the side of the tank. It was like a dinner bell. The earth started to move and suddenly a very dirty lizard appeared. He devoured his dinner and sat under the light for a bit before returning to his burrow. He seems to be doing well lol

After watching "Gorillas in the Mist" today, and then seeing that ball python with the smashed in back posted on this forum, I was in as sour frame of mind for a while, reading this was just what I needed to turn my mood around.

That is so cool, possible the first time that lizard has been down a burrow. Awesome stuff there....

Pirarucu · 01-22-13, 03:32 PM

Sounds like he's doing well! More pics please!

Vegasarah · 01-22-13, 07:36 PM

He's doing really well, I'm not seeing much of him since the burrow has been dug. I had to set an alarm on my phone to go check if he was out every hour so that I could feed him! I'm trying to only feed from tongs with plenty of talking in the hopes that it will make me the Almighty Bringer Of Food and he might loathe me a little less lol. I know he snuck out and messed in his water dish without me seeing him out. It started to get late in the day, so I picked up the tube hide that he had burrowed under and poked around in the dirt to try and coax him out so I could feed him. He just hissed and stayed put, so I left him alone, but stayed in the room so I could see him if he chose to come out.

About 5 minutes later he emerged, covered in dirt. I fed him, and he was sitting under the basking light looking very content.

I went to put the tube hide back over the borrow and BAM! Tail whip right to the arm with some serious force! I must have moved too fast for his liking and he decided to tell me all about it. Ouuuuuch. That was like 3 hours ago and the mark is turning into a nice bruise!

But I have a question, will they keep to a schedule if I put him on one as far as feeding goes? Or will it kind of all be the same to him because the lights are on 24/7? And would it be bad of me to dig him up in an attempt to keep him on the schedule? I haven't tried doing that, and I have a feeling that it will just serve to piss him off lol.

How does everyone else feed them without having to wait around all day/ dig them up?

And a picture of his little burrow and my poor forearm lol. I'm going to take more pictures of HIM tonight when I feed.

Pirarucu · 01-22-13, 08:38 PM

With young monitors, most keepers leave food in the cage for the monitor, in addition to the feedings from tongs.

Also, in relation to the hiding all the time, I have a bit of a question for those who keep multiple young monitors together as well as singly. Have you ever noticed the ones kept alone are much more reclusive? I have a friend who bought four Nile Monitors with the intention of breeding, and when kept together they spent lots of time out and about, even in his presence, and would tolerate touching, etc. He then decided not to breed, and sold the three smaller Niles. The last one completely changed, and turned into a pet burrow. It eats and is active, but as soon as it hears him coming, he can hear it dive down a burrow before he even gets a look at it. I'm curious as to whether monitors may find the presence of other monitors reassuring, much like ducks do. Has anyone else seen anything like this?

Vegasarah · 01-22-13, 08:50 PM

Thanks, I just thought that the association of human = yummy stuff would be lost if feeding from a dish. I'm just trying to get this guy to a place where he's not going to tail whip me when I reach in there haha.

That's an interesting theory, and maybe there is also competition for food so they are more active and maybe feel like they have to stay alert so there dinner doesn't get stolen? I wouldn't doubt the reassuring thing either, though.

If the rescue was to get in another Nile and it was of a similar size to Django at whatever point, could they live together okay? Even if they were both males? If it was a male and female I would they certainly breed?

Who's sick of all my questions??? Haha.

Pirarucu · 01-22-13, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasarah

Thanks, I just thought that the association of human = yummy stuff would be lost if feeding from a dish. I'm just trying to get this guy to a place where he's not going to tail whip me when I reach in there haha.

That's an interesting theory, and maybe there is also competition for food so they are more active and maybe feel like they have to stay alert so there dinner doesn't get stolen? I wouldn't doubt the reassuring thing either, though.

If the rescue was to get in another Nile and it was of a similar size to Django at whatever point, could they live together okay? Even if they were both males? If it was a male and female I would they certainly breed?

Who's sick of all my questions??? Haha.

If you're feeding him from tongs at all, he will make that connection.

That's a possibility too, I didn't think of that.

In theory it could be done, if they're both still young. Two males is okay with some monitor species, I wouldn't count on it with niles.. Kept anywhere near properly, a pair will breed.

Vegasarah · 01-22-13, 09:44 PM

Okay, I also had a weird idea about putting things with my 'scent' inside the enclosure. I am guessing, but I would say that their sense of smell is crazy good. Django can tell the difference between each feeder animal before he even sees it. My thinking is that maybe my hand going in and out of the tank and scaring him would be less if the tank already kind of smelled like me? Like if I were to wear a T-shirt to bed a few nights in a row and then put it like over a hide for him to smell and climb on?

The never- ending quest to make him a little bit less of a hell-raiser lol.

Okay so the only way we could house another Nile with Django is if he is a she, and if the other is a girl. I don't think that we want to breed two rescues, probably way more trouble than it would be worth. Plus I don't know if I could sleep easy at night knowing that whoever got the babies would probably not take proper care of them.

infernalis · 01-22-13, 10:51 PM

There is more than one documented case where monitors were immediately killed by the one already in the cage.

To minimize that risk, it is recommended to raise them together.

varanus_mad · 01-23-13, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

There is more than one documented case where monitors were immediately killed by the one already in the cage.

To minimize that risk, it is recommended to raise them together.

And if you do have to try and get them to live together its best to do int a cage neither are familliar with.

That way its not one monitors territory or another.

Vegasarah · 01-23-13, 03:04 PM

Too scary! I'm not going to risk it lol. Haven't seen much of him today, he is camped out in that burrow all the time now.

Okay, weird question time!

When I go to zoos, they don't have enough substrate for the monitors to burrow in, but I imagine the humidity is very high because the glass is usually fogged and the monitors look healthy to me? If they are living long lives like this what are they doing differently? Is it the increased space? Access to a perfect diet? The san diego zoo runs sonic foggers in their enclosures, is it just the high temps and humidity?