Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This may seem like a weird question but I have been wondering about it and can't find any info anywhere. Is the keeping of monitor lizards and reptiles in general a modern day hobby or has this been going on for centuries? Surely if people today keep them for pets there where people in the past that had an interest in them as well. Does anyone have any information about how the lizads were kept in ancient times? Without electricity (no heat lamps) how did they keep them warm? What did they keep them in? I read somewhere, forgot the source, that in some places in Africa Nile monitors are used as "watch lizards". Has anyone heard of this at all? This question may seem out of place in this forum but I don't know where else to ask it.

I am not sure of when the keeping of reptiles began, or how ancient you mean. Do not forget, along with no electricity, shipping was not what it is today. I would think that zoo's were probably one of the earliest keepers of monitor's. The second question is easier to answer. Nile monitors apparently like to snack on crocodile eggs, so it is believed that the presence of the monitor may indicate that a crocodile is near by also. Some say that is where the name "monitor" originates. I am sure that some of the other members know more about the hobbies origin.

I don't think "stealing reptiles" from their natural habitat for human pleasure is very ancient.I'm sure people back then had far more important things to worry about and would use them for food or a nice bass drum skin.Face it,the reptile trade is to serve a human need to own something that is not native to their country(and different)and to make money off our need to own these special creatures.I'm guilty as charged

I will only ask you, how horses and dogs and cows and sheep and domestic pigs and domestic fowl and house cats, and many domestic strains of birds, finches and canaries, and fish(how old are strains of Koi?), how did this stuff come to be?

The keeping of wild animals goes way way back. Heck, by the time of the Roman empire, there were already domestic animals. Even before many of the Chinese empires. Sir, humans have been keeping(stealing) wild animals long long before UPS and the internet. Cheers

n/p

From the latin "monere"; to warn. "monitor"; One that admonishes, cautions, or reminds.
Monitors were thought to "whistle", warning people of the presence of crocodiles.
Monitors were locally traded as well as exported from Terra Gaetula (the latin term for africa) by Roman traders. These were primarily exported for display, as their skins were not highly valued in import countries. "Display" refers to contests between monitors, and actions with prey animals, in the hundreds of local arenas built throughout the Roman Empire. (BTW, "arena" is latin for "sand".) Wealthier cities such as Rome could afford the exorbitant costs associated with transporting exotic animals for "displays" during festivals and holidays. Contrary to popular belief, most contests in Roman arenas involved animals; either animal vs. animal, or man vs. animal.
In short, they were kept (poorly) for short periods as curiosities, but not as "pets" in the traditional sense. Of course, there are always exceptions. Maybe some ancestor of Robyn in a leopardskin tunic....I just threw up a little in my mouth.

Heheheheh

Thanks for the great information and the good laugh!

In wars of ancient times water monitors were used as anchors. A strong piece of rope would be tied to the monitor and then it would be sent up a wall where they would use their tight grip once they got to the top so that the warriors would be able to climd up the rope and get to the other side.

I recall reading that they were also placed on catapults and fired over the defending enemy's castle walls.
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Treemonitors.com

Why were they firing monitors over the walls with catapults? Wouldn't the monitors perish once they hit the ground? I guess I don't see the benefit of splattering monitors all over the inside of the enemies castle/fortress.

The thing you read on a famous warrior using a Bengal monitor as a grappling hook that climbs to breach a fortress wall, also his entire army being taught to do this, as well some thieves using them to climb house walls to break in was in Daniel Bennetts one book, and on his website.
I guess the reference to catapaulting came from diseased cows being launched over castle walls during a seige, lol.