Hand Feeding V.s Tong Feeding

[Everton9698]

I have had multiple monitor lizards most of which I have pre killed the food then hand fed the monitor. ..
. I normally pull my monitors out of their cage and feed in a large rubber maid so they are aware that anything coming into the cage isnt food ...But the minute they hit that rubbermaid container they get excited cuz they know its time to eat. .. I pre kill to keep the natural aggression down ... Feeding them outside their habitat influences them to come to me and not be scared to come to the door so I can pull them out.... My six footer actually stands and pretty much reaches for me to pull him out and feed him... Since my cages are all glass 6x4x4 its awesome when they come to me.... Now I have 4 hatchlings and was wonder if its okay to hand feed with fingers or use tongs ... Im not worried about the teeth on a hatchling like I'am a full adult monitor... I just seen a guy a pet shop feeding a 8ft togian monitor by hand and the gentle giant took the dead rat out of his hands so gentally I was amazed the monitor looked like it didnt want to hurt his handlers hand ....
..

[Pirarucu]

Tong feed. Always tong feed. When monitors associate something with food such as tongs, they attack that object on the off chance that it has food, even if it doesn't actually have anything. I wouldn't want that sort of response directed at my fingers.

[Chris72]

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

Tong feed. Always tong feed. When monitors associate something with food such as tongs, they attack that object on the off chance that it has food, even if it doesn't actually have anything. I wouldn't want that sort of response directed at my fingers.

^^^^ That.

And remember since feeding by hand greatly increases the risk of getting tagged....it will ultimately be the keepers fault for allowing the practice.

Not talking about just when its feeding time, and not talking about just the keeper getting tagged. That said, it would be hard to tell a friend who just got nipped at...."Sorry, that's my fault because I feed him by hand".


The "monitor post" makes me wonder where Wayne is...(?)... the monitor knowledge that flows from Wayne is always a good read.


Chris

[Albert Clark]

It's admirable that you have that kind of relationship with the animal but why take a unnecessary risk? Remember all actions have some degree of consequence. Don't risk a injury. I think tong feeding looks professional and makes you a responsible owner. Stay in peace and not pieces.

[MDT]

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Remember all actions have some degree of consequence.

There is so much Yoda-esque wisdom in this one simple statement that would prevent so much heartache and stitches if people would just heed this advice....
but alas...

I have a friend that has target trained his croc monitor with different colored balls on long sticks...

a red ball presented to the monitor means it's dinner time.... and white ball means I'm coming in to clean, stand down.

He has had amazing results with this. Other than that...use tongs and see the above statement by Albert Clark.

[pet_snake_78]

lol @ hand feeding. The only thing I hand feed are my salamanders, they don't seem to have teeth so a bit like being bitten by a grandfather.

[millertime89]

Def tong feed. Just because experience keepers (read: lazy) do it doesn't mean it's appropriate. That's awesome that you have that kind of relationship with your monitors though. I'm constantly blown away by how smart the buggers are. I know I would love to see some feeding video if you can manage. What species do you keep?

[Chris72]

Originally Posted by millertime89

......................

I'm constantly blown away by how smart the buggers are. I know I would love to see some feeding video if you can manage.

...........

Second that.

Would love to see the "running over and hug" when its feeding time.