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Old 06-15-13, 11:06 AM   #16
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Re: Sav endurance

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Originally Posted by nepoez View Post
not sure why but my sav doesn't seem to dig for food ever...
How big is your guy?
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Old 06-16-13, 09:27 AM   #17
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Re: Sav endurance

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Hi, in such a small area the monitor would probably not be running at it`s maximum, and the actual distance covered will not be great.
To increase the energy use you obviously need to have the space (a 25metre long enclosure would be a start), any chance??
Once the animal is acclimated enough to be allowed a little "outside" time (outside the enclosure, not the house), you could cordon off an area to do that (a whole room), but there must be a time limit depending on the conditions and size of the monitor (because of the heat loss).
Thx. I'll need to try at a later time. For now the past 2 times taking him out the enclosure causes him to freak out and become scared of me and refuses to do anything as he is just too scared.

I'm not sure if it'll ever change even as he grows up.. hopefully it will change.

I also have a really big grass field next to my house.. not sure if that would work too... but I'm worried if it has weed killer chemicals there so it might be a bad idea?
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Old 06-16-13, 10:20 AM   #18
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Re: Sav endurance

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On average, 23 year olds with big bellies don`t run, they walk very slowly and deliberately.... (Hope that`s of some comfort to you)... (Not that you have a big belly, but if it should ever happen just out of the blue)....
I prefer to call it walking with purpose and dignity. I do have a gut unfortunately, thats what happens when you don't know how to cook and your wife is across the pond :-/

I guess 5 years of college could be considered just out of the blue, right?
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Old 06-16-13, 10:30 AM   #19
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Re: Sav endurance

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Thx. I'll need to try at a later time. For now the past 2 times taking him out the enclosure causes him to freak out and become scared of me and refuses to do anything as he is just too scared.

I'm not sure if it'll ever change even as he grows up.. hopefully it will change.

I also have a really big grass field next to my house.. not sure if that would work too... but I'm worried if it has weed killer chemicals there so it might be a bad idea?
This sounds a bit like "force handling" it is fine to take the monitor out, but let it come out on its own terms. MDFmonitor has some good videos up on youtube on this. Basically, you want to be tong feeding, (which you are) then use the tongs to lure the lizard onto your hand, so he learns to feel safe with you.
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Old 06-16-13, 10:51 AM   #20
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Re: Sav endurance

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This sounds a bit like "force handling" it is fine to take the monitor out, but let it come out on its own terms. MDFmonitor has some good videos up on youtube on this. Basically, you want to be tong feeding, (which you are) then use the tongs to lure the lizard onto your hand, so he learns to feel safe with you.
Actually I don't. The lizard doesn't even need my tong to come onto my hand. It walks up to my hand if I put my hand near him as I stated in other posts. It will also chase my tong around the tank for food. It's a unique one it has no fear as long as it stays in the cage.

I lured it to come out of the cage and it got freaked out, tried it again 1 month later and same result so I don't plan to do it for a while.

No forced anything there.
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Old 06-16-13, 11:31 AM   #21
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Re: Sav endurance

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Originally Posted by nepoez View Post
Thx. I'll need to try at a later time. For now the past 2 times taking him out the enclosure causes him to freak out and become scared of me and refuses to do anything as he is just too scared.

I'm not sure if it'll ever change even as he grows up.. hopefully it will change.

I also have a really big grass field next to my house.. not sure if that would work too... but I'm worried if it has weed killer chemicals there so it might be a bad idea?

I agree with franks, if you`re physically taking the monitor out, the stress of the forced handling is the reason he freaks out "outside".
I sat in front on the enclosure (on the floor) on my laptop for many weeks, that got the monitor used to my close presence, yet still not in his space (outside the tank, right next to the sliding glass front). Over a few weeks he made repeated attempts to slide the glass back, so one day I opened it slightly and he climbed over my legs and very calmly walked around the small area I`d cordoned off, he was out for maybe 5 minutes, I gently picked him up and placed him back inside, within a minute or so he wanted out again, and it`s gone on from there.
You can also lure them back inside with food, and many times they will deliberately go back in themselves (see MDFMONITOR`S videos).
I would definitely NOT advise taking them into a large space like a field and letting them roam freely, it should always be in an enclosed space (a backyard only if it`s securely fenced off).












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Old 06-16-13, 11:48 AM   #22
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Re: Sav endurance

I do remember your other posts, sorry neo, i did not put 2 and 2 together at first. Regardless, even if he jumps up on you, I would not physically remove him from the area. That puts the interaction on your terms again. The way your monitor is acting now means you will most likely have a very tractable pet. The older they get, the more comfortable and confident they get as well. There is different schools of thought here, so what I am saying is my opinion- not what I perceive as truth- but I do believe that especially when young, you should let all the interaction be on his terms, if he climbs on you, sit outside his enclosure etc, do not carry him around the room. Again, that is my opinion, many people (on youtube) do seem to have "tame" monitors through force-handling, but I can't help but notice how all of those monitors seem overweight and wonder if there is a connection. MDFmonitor's tactics have worked for many, and I am happy with my monitor that is comfortable with me, my family, even my dog, and can come out and go back in his own enclosure at his will, but still acts like a wild monitor should in many aspects.

@stefan, I never get tired of seeing those pics.
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Old 06-16-13, 01:32 PM   #23
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Re: Sav endurance

Yeah I am with you. I have never ever physically moved the sav, he has to be the one that comes to me, and that all works fine in the cage. Even when I got hom out of the cage, it was at his own free-will because he wanted to eat, he walked out of the cage.

During the first minute out of the cage, he was eat the food, then about a minute later he realizes he's not safe or something, again I didn't physically move him here(or anywhere ever) But still.. he started to freak out. So I'm really not sure how I can let him be outside of his enclosure without him stressing.

Maybe the problem is there's a 1 foot drop when he exits the cage and he doesn't know how to get back and can't really see the inside of the cage when he's out of the cage so maybe that could be why he freaks out?

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Originally Posted by franks View Post
I do remember your other posts, sorry neo, i did not put 2 and 2 together at first. Regardless, even if he jumps up on you, I would not physically remove him from the area. That puts the interaction on your terms again. The way your monitor is acting now means you will most likely have a very tractable pet. The older they get, the more comfortable and confident they get as well. There is different schools of thought here, so what I am saying is my opinion- not what I perceive as truth- but I do believe that especially when young, you should let all the interaction be on his terms, if he climbs on you, sit outside his enclosure etc, do not carry him around the room. Again, that is my opinion, many people (on youtube) do seem to have "tame" monitors through force-handling, but I can't help but notice how all of those monitors seem overweight and wonder if there is a connection. MDFmonitor's tactics have worked for many, and I am happy with my monitor that is comfortable with me, my family, even my dog, and can come out and go back in his own enclosure at his will, but still acts like a wild monitor should in many aspects.

@stefan, I never get tired of seeing those pics.
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Old 06-16-13, 01:34 PM   #24
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Re: Sav endurance

p.s. that's a huge monitor you got haha. Is that considered the right "weight" for that type of monitor? I'm trying to get an idea of the healthy look for a sav so I know if he ever becomes over weight or under weight.

In ypur pics they look slim, but the last one in the grass field his belly looks bigger than the rest.

Quote:
Originally Posted by murrindindi View Post
I agree with franks, if you`re physically taking the monitor out, the stress of the forced handling is the reason he freaks out "outside".
I sat in front on the enclosure (on the floor) on my laptop for many weeks, that got the monitor used to my close presence, yet still not in his space (outside the tank, right next to the sliding glass front). Over a few weeks he made repeated attempts to slide the glass back, so one day I opened it slightly and he climbed over my legs and very calmly walked around the small area I`d cordoned off, he was out for maybe 5 minutes, I gently picked him up and placed him back inside, within a minute or so he wanted out again, and it`s gone on from there.
You can also lure them back inside with food, and many times they will deliberately go back in themselves (see MDFMONITOR`S videos).
I would definitely NOT advise taking them into a large space like a field and letting them roam freely, it should always be in an enclosed space (a backyard only if it`s securely fenced off).












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Old 06-16-13, 02:43 PM   #25
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Re: Sav endurance

I`ve actually had him for 3 years today, he was only a few weeks old when I got him (he`s an Asian Water monitor), so he`s a young adult, at this stage they tend to get heavier in the body as the growth in length slows.
As close as I can measure he`s 74inches ToL and still growing, though at a much slower pace. His body condition compares very well with a healthy wild Water monitor from those I`ve observed, and I`m pleased with his progress so far!
The Savannah monitors have a relatively short tail in comparison to some other Varanid species which gives them a "stockier" appearance when mature. Yours is still a youngster, so it should still be relatively slender as most of the growth at this time will be in length, rather than bulk.
Can you put a few photos up (in profile as in when the animal is walking along), so we can see what his/her condition looks like just now?
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Old 06-16-13, 11:07 PM   #26
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Re: Sav endurance

Yup I just took a few yesterday so let Mr post out in the morning!

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Originally Posted by murrindindi View Post
I`ve actually had him for 3 years today, he was only a few weeks old when I got him (he`s an Asian Water monitor), so he`s a young adult, at this stage they tend to get heavier in the body as the growth in length slows.
As close as I can measure he`s 74inches ToL and still growing, though at a much slower pace. His body condition compares very well with a healthy wild Water monitor from those I`ve observed, and I`m pleased with his progress so far!
The Savannah monitors have a relatively short tail in comparison to some other Varanid species which gives them a "stockier" appearance when mature. Yours is still a youngster, so it should still be relatively slender as most of the growth at this time will be in length, rather than bulk.
Can you put a few photos up (in profile as in when the animal is walking along), so we can see what his/her condition looks like just now?
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Old 06-17-13, 07:33 AM   #27
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Re: Sav endurance

I decided to use a video instead you get to see from all angles. He's relatively full here already as you can see he's not totally interested in the worm and not going crazy. He's not bloated either though, unlike when he eats a mouse.

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Old 06-17-13, 07:37 AM   #28
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Re: Sav endurance

p.s. I usually feed him 2-3 times a day so I don't really get him stuffed, unless it's mouse then that's a different story. But for worms I only feed him till he doesn't seem to go crazy after them then I stop.
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Old 06-17-13, 08:38 AM   #29
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Re: Sav endurance

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During the first minute out of the cage, he was eat the food, then about a minute later he realizes he's not safe or something, again I didn't physically move him here(or anywhere ever) But still.. he started to freak out. So I'm really not sure how I can let him be outside of his enclosure without him stressing.

Maybe the problem is there's a 1 foot drop when he exits the cage and he doesn't know how to get back and can't really see the inside of the cage when he's out of the cage so maybe that could be why he freaks out?
Mine has been like this too until very recently. Murrindindi told me to section off a small secure area in front of the cage and let him out to feed and allow him to go in at will. This worked great for me. You can put some wood or a brick to let your monitor go back in if he chooses. At first, mine would fearlessly charge out to eat, then, like you said, suddenly notice where he was and run back in to hide. Eventually he would run in, then run back out, in and out in and out. Now he will come out and feel comfortable. This was all over the course of a little more than a week, they learn so fast.

Your guy looks great by the way!
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Old 06-17-13, 08:58 AM   #30
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Re: Sav endurance

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