Hands-on handling, positive and negative experience question

[Toothless]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Hi, I think it may be due to the fact they are becoming adult (sexually mature), and showing they are dominant would be part of that process.
In my experience with a variety of species over 30+ years I`ve actually never had one become more defensive towards me the older they got (always less so) I guess I must be doing it all wrong, so what`s your secret!?

Did any of the monitors you have been around show a sudden change in temperament when they became sexually mature?

My guy's pretty good now, and I think that if I had to I could pick him up without much fuss (maybe a few hisses), but I didn't do anything to make him that way besides ignoring him for a few months. I would hold the food quietly on the tongues, say hello, then close the door when he was done. I tried to change the water whenever he was sleeping or hiding otherwise I quickly reached in, grabbed it, and closed the door.
After a few months of this, his temperament suddenly changed again and he didn't seem bothered at all by me, or anyone for that matter. Strange people used to bother him and he would hiss and whip if they stood too close to the enclosure, but now he comes right up to the door and starts scratching. I think he's more comfortable now that he's larger and doesn't feel as threatened.

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by Toothless

Did any of the monitors you have been around show a sudden change in temperament when they became sexually mature?

My guy's pretty good now, and I think that if I had to I could pick him up without much fuss (maybe a few hisses), but I didn't do anything to make him that way besides ignoring him for a few months. I would hold the food quietly on the tongues, say hello, then close the door when he was done. I tried to change the water whenever he was sleeping or hiding otherwise I quickly reached in, grabbed it, and closed the door.
After a few months of this, his temperament suddenly changed again and he didn't seem bothered at all by me, or anyone for that matter. Strange people used to bother him and he would hiss and whip if they stood too close to the enclosure, but now he comes right up to the door and starts scratching. I think he's more comfortable now that he's larger and doesn't feel as threatened.

Hi, as I said my monitors have all got calmer the older and bigger they`ve got, but then I`m very regularly having physical contact with them (the touching/stroking) which obviously means they are used to that so don`t act defensively at all when it happens.
My present Asian Water monitor is extremely calm outside the enclosure, moreso than inside at times, but that`s because "outside" isn`t his "house" as such, though he is very familiar with the surroundings now (has learned there`s nothing to threaten his existence on the "outside").
In other words, in the wild they know their home range extremely well, but their places of safety are their hides.
There`s no doubt that they react to our emotions, perhaps he picked up on your nervousness and felt threatened?

[Toothless]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Hi, as I said my monitors have all got calmer the older and bigger they`ve got, but then I`m very regularly having physical contact with them (the touching/stroking) which obviously means they are used to that so don`t act defensively at all when it happens.
My present Asian Water monitor is extremely calm outside the enclosure, moreso than inside at times, but that`s because "outside" isn`t his "house" as such, though he is very familiar with the surroundings now (has learned there`s nothing to threaten his existence on the "outside").
In other words, in the wild they know their home range extremely well, but their places of safety are their hides.
There`s no doubt that they react to our emotions, perhaps he picked up on your nervousness and felt threatened?

Sorry I didn't get that the last post. I'm sleep deprived at the moment and its amazing I can read and type at all . I apologize in advance if this doesn't appear to be english :P.

I'm not nervous around him, just cautious as I would prefer not to get bit- I only became cautious after he started lunging and am still so to some degree even though he has calmed down. I'm not sure what triggered the sudden defensiveness but ignoring him for a while did the trick for him.

I'd love to start working with him more as I plan to start getting regular bloodwork done on him (every six months), but plan to wait until he is comfortable enough being picked up and placed in a carrier before I make the trip though. Maybe sometime next summer .