Monitors: Deserving of respect (xrays included)

[Gregg M]

To the OP,
next time you see a cut on your varanid, LEAVE IT ALONE! Varanids and all other repitles do not need antibiotic ointment. They heal very fast on their own. The injury you got from you sav bite is pretty common from that species. Varanus exanthimaicus have crushing bites. The majority of their teeth are very much like molars.

I was bitten by a huge (5 foot +) black throat a few years back. It broke 2 bones in my hand and dislocated my index finger at the middle joint. Very painful indeed. I have been bitten by numerous monitors over thr years but that was by far the worst. With the numerous bites I have endured, none have ever had any signs of envenoming.

As far as them being venomous goes, there are many animals that are considered venomous, however, being venomous does not mean it is dangerous.

Venom is NOT saliva. It is its own mixture of compounds. Also venom glands are NOT salivary glands. Their anatomy is completely different and so is their function.

So while varanids have venom glands their delivery system is piss poor and their bites are not medically significant as far as their toxicity. At least not in any of the species we keep in captivity. Komodos may be a different story as they are the only varanid that would need the venom to subdue prey.