Hands-on handling, positive and negative experience question

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by Toothless

Would a dart gun even pierce their scales? My guy's been bitten by an adult mouse before, and it didn't do a lick of damage to him- he didn't even react.
How do they restrain komodos when a vet visit is needed? Are you able to 'tranq' in any way a monitor? Just curious .

As I said they would never use a dart gun in the first place, but it would be possible to give an injection (not that that would be common either).
Just because your monitor didn`t show much/any reaction to being bitten doesn`t mean he didn`t feel it (if it penetrated the scales he would have).
Some (not all) species have osteoderms (small bony plates) under the dorsal scales, but if my memory serves me, not the African Varanids.

[Toothless]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

As I said they would never use a dart gun in the first place, but it would be possible to give an injection (not that that would be common either).
Just because your monitor didn`t show much/any reaction to being bitten doesn`t mean he didn`t feel it (if it penetrated the scales he would have).
Some (not all) species have osteoderms (small bony plates) under the dorsal scales, but if my memory serves me, not the African Varanids.

There was no scale damage- the mouse's teeth didn't pierce through. I do not feed him live food anymore though (this was when he was young) because watching him get bitten scared me.

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by Toothless

There was no scale damage- the mouse's teeth didn't pierce through. I do not feed him live food anymore though (this was when he was young) because watching him get bitten scared me.

It would be similar to the mouse biting your fingernail, perhaps it wouldn`t completely penetrate. You didn`t say which part was bitten?

[Toothless]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

It would be similar to the mouse biting your fingernail, perhaps it wouldn`t completely penetrate. You didn`t say which part was bitten?

It was on his face. I of course freaked out, but there was no visible damage done. Still scared the poop out of me though.