"I want to be able to handle him for necessity purposes as he gets larger."

I know exactly what you mean, nearly everyone here has had the same thought, including me. We're all human, and most of the time that is the problem, we think like humans, not monitors.

You want your monitor to be somewhat used to being handled so it won't be so frightened if/when it does need to be handled. You also want to look out for your own safety and not have to handle a 4 - 5ft wild monitor with powerful jaws & sharp teeth. Your reasoning isn't selfish, it's actually good reasoning, it just doesn't work with monitors.

Monitors stress very easily and I can't help but feel that stress might actually be the number one killer in captivity. That's what Frank (FR) was saying about checking the heart rate. Stress, much like in humans, isn't easily detectable but it wreaks havoc mentally & physically.

If a monitor allows you to get close enough to touch it you'll be able to pick it up if/when the need comes. Wait for that time, the time that you need to handle it. If taken care of properly that time, need, will very rarely come. Wait till you get to that bridge to cross it, and let the monitor build the bridge, which it will do over time. It's a lot more exciting when they come to us or climb on us than it is when we pick them up.

Your sav may go thru a personality change a week or so after you stop touching it & trying to get close to it. It may very well seem to turn meaner than a wolverine and appear aggressive, but it'll actually be acting defensively, not aggressively. Give it it's space, it will settle down over time by you just being in it's presence fairly often, not in it's face.

If/when the time should ever come that it needs to be handled just approach it slowly like you've been doing and touch it between it's front shoulders, then you can gently maneuver your fingers under it's belly with a bit of a loose grip and pick it up safely. But please, wait till it needs to be handled, if it ever does. Your monitor will be around a lot longer by doing so.

Take care!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American


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