OK let’s have some fun,

[B-Rep]

Steve,

I PM'd you earlier in the week and let you know why I feel I should be chosen above all others...I now hand myself to the mercy of the ssnakess forums experts....

My name is Jonathon Blair. I have been keeping Varanids for some time now. My largest, most dangerous monitor is by far my niloticus...I don't claim to have the utmost experience in Varanids, but I do claim to always be interested in the pursuit of new knowledge. I have been looking for a great pair of crocs for sometime now, and I can' t think of a better person to recieve them from.

Now I wish I could say that I knew a little more about Salvadorii's, but that would be a lie. I find that if you work with monitors long enough, all care for varanids, no matter what species is somewhat similar. I am going to assume that because they hail from the jungles of new guinea, that they're temperatures should be around 85-88 during the day...and drop to around 72-75 at night...humidity around 65%. But if this is wrong, please let me know...I am more than happy to learn as much as I can.

Thank-you all for your time,

JB

[Steeve B]

First let me thank you for this honest post,
your first statment is exactly what a tot when I first wrote the thread, however I decided to do it anyway as I think thers much to leurn from it.
1. Croc monitor experiance
not alot of pepoles have croc experience! therfor we can only ask Varanid experience, or shod we ask large reptiles experience? however I think no experience will ever replace dedication and love, this why I always say get what you love its easy to care for what we love!
2. to pass a test that you will write on the monitor care and handling
this can be don aim sure! but handling of croc is a feeling and judgement combine event, aim very strong but still cant handle a large agresive male alone!
3. a signed agreement that they will not sell or trade them
this whod be fantastic! but also ilegal I think? can such a contract be don, whodnt it be invasive to new owners?
4. pictures of the cage
this is a resonable request, I shoud of ask for this before, now I will.
your ending is thrutfull and apreciated
Rgds

[Steeve B]

Good post, my largest is only 8 feet, but this shod be considered a few months ago a friend of mine trapped a specimen with an 11inches head, to put you in perspective my 8 footer has only a 73/4 inches head, they grow fast one pair was breeding at 11.5 months they hade TL67inches at 4 months. I do not know just how big they will get but under good care they will be on your testimony, think real hard
Rgds
thanks TB

[Tim and Julie B]

Holy crap! 11 inches? Wow that is bigger then the head size on my friends 4 1/2' dwarf crocidle. My word that is a shock. I really have got to see one someday! 67" at 4 months!!! So do you want comments about prespective owners posted or pm'd?

[Steeve B]

I want this here for all to leurn! I know there will be many controvers latter on, lets just keep being gentlemen's about everything and every one!
cheers

[Tim and Julie B]

OK! I have met Ryan and Sheila. Since I am on the west coast they are probably the only people I could comment on. Ryan and Sheila are great people. I have met them a few times and they are genuinely good people that seem to really care for their reptiles. If they say they can care for them, I believe it. Although I must be honest as I have never been to their zoo. But I have only heard good things about it. I ( in my humble opinion) think that you should take them up on their offer and talk to them yourself and see for yourself about the care they can offer. Since you are the one that makes the ultimate decission. Like I said, "Just my humble opinion." But I think they are great candidates. As long as the water monitor still gets some lovin! (jk ) TB

[Steeve B]

B-rep
Scaled zoo
Chuck911jeep
Monitor boy

These are the peoples interested in keeping a pair of Varanus Salvadorii
Many members will not agree or will not participate from now on! WHY
Simply because judging peoples isn’t fun, it’s very easy to misjudge and then you have to live with your decision, and this friends is exactly why I need your help!
Thru the years I developed decent animal husbandry, however my weakness reside in my interaction with my fellow humans, not only do I misinterpret often but I have proven to be easy prey on many occasion.
What I ask isn’t to hard for most of the members on this forum, you don’t even need experience with monitors to contribute, all you need is to simply give your opinion and ask any question you may think is needed, you may even think its futile but often I may never have tot about it before. Any question or remark can be said in a respectful manner, this community may very well hold the key to resolving many animal related problems, I think its our responsibility as a community to try and improve every aspect of herpetoculture, this was simply thrown on this forum as an experimental, but many times that’s how Ideas go a long way and improvements can be perceived, maybe this can lead to some sort of board of approval forum hosted by respected members from different forums or even by moderators!
It goes without saying that this is not to say you do! You don’t! And it will most likely never be an obligation to future owners to stand before you as pioneers at your mercy, but think how practical it can be when breeders of large reptiles or new owners to be, wish they can make better judgement call before they sell give or buy.

Pleas participate I really don’t know where this will go from here; I just hope it will be useful for a number of peoples wanting the reptiles most likely to cause a threat to this hubby. Many thanks to all participants.
Rgds

Have fun!

[Steeve B]

Bryce, Mark having fun?
am I keeping you up?

[Bryce Masuk]

First let me thank you for this honest post,
your first statment is exactly what a tot when I first wrote the thread, however I decided to do it anyway as I think thers much to leurn from it.
1. Croc monitor experiance
not alot of pepoles have croc experience! therfor we can only ask Varanid experience, or shod we ask large reptiles experience? however I think no experience will ever replace dedication and love, this why I always say get what you love its easy to care for what we love!

True But when your dealing with something as potentially dangerous as a croc monitor more then love is needed for the animal and with no experiance you can quickly change your mind about how you feel about them when a croc takes a huge chomp out of your arm. IMO you Need either to have worked with croc's before or own them Croc's Demand respect And you damn well better know what your doing


2. to pass a test that you will write on the monitor care and handling
this can be don aim sure! but handling of croc is a feeling and judgement combine event, aim very strong but still cant handle a large agresive male alone!

True but I mean they should have the knowledge that they shouldnt try to handle a huge male alone they should understand croc body language as well and know how croc's attack

3. a signed agreement that they will not sell or trade them
this whod be fantastic! but also ilegal I think? can such a contract be don, whodnt it be invasive to new owners?

Steeve its Legal and legally binding if they sign get one written by a lawer and for punishment have a $50 000 fine if they break the contract

4. pictures of the cage
this is a resonable request, I shoud of ask for this before, now I will.
good idea

your ending is thrutfull and apreciated
Rgds


Bryce

[Steeve B]

Bryce just pointed out an important thing about crocs, body language! Let me say its very hard to predict an attack they don’t give sings they just lounge grab and hold ripping with claws until your dead, at least till they realise they won’t kill you this way!

Also what every ones view on a contract and fine? I know Ferrari has such contract prohibiting to sell your car.

Keep it up guys
Rgds

[asphyxia]

Based on past posts, a long ago informaive, correct and helpful personal post to me with respect to my Boa, the post on this thread, there knowledge, of monitors and herps in gereral, and there age, amonge numerious other attributes show me that they are the superior choice to inherit the Crocs.

I believe that Ryan and Shila from Scales Zoo should revieve the Crocs.

Best regards
Brian

[justinO]

I have a quick question here. Breeding the crocs down the road. Would the "winner"(for lack of a better term) be obligated or willing to try to screen out prospective buyers of the offspring? This I guess would be a personal decision of course, and can only be honestly answered by the "winner". They would have the same responsibility as Steeve has at this moment.

my $0.02 thought.

[Steeve B]

This was my first concern when *Chuck911jeep* said he wants to breed varanids to supply CB animals, don’t get me wrong its very noble to breed crocs, and I do want others to work with crocs, but as this and other thread demonstrate, its also one of the biggest responsibility, peoples will eventually breed them how will they sift out new owners?
The worst thing that can happen to this hubby is to sell them as cute little critters that can become pets. I assure you most will not ever become tractable.
Rgds

[Steeve B]

Monitor Boy, I guess by now you must have realised this thread is about responsibilities VS other herpetoculturist and the general public. Aim sure your well intended and you may very well have what it takes to work with them, but you tell me, how responsible it who’d be to sell an adult pair of croc to a minor?
I have no discriminations against age or gender, I know a few young guy that show more knowledge then many adult, but pleas understand the responsibilities involved in this case.
Kind regards

[Steeve B]

B-Rep
Perhaps you represent exactly what I wanted to show this forum, a young man very interested in a particular specie, and most likely willing to learn, you admit to having little experience, nevertheless you feel this shouldn’t stop you from working with them, this is your first post on this site, and most peoples here will see this as a problem, but in reality this is the kind of problem aim facing when new Varanophils ask me for crocs, its not easy to make a deal with someone totally unknown to us.
Good luck thanks for participating
Rgds