Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My mom in law just snapped this great pic and I thought I would share Have a great day peeps! -H-

Been awhile since I posted a pic...hope this works

What a beauty.....and the monitor isn't bad either.

Holly, you seem to know how to work with monitors very well... do you have any tips for me? im a newbie with a water.

Ok, but you aren’t gonna like this...

Monitors are tolerant, not friendly. Bend over backwards to please and it "might" tolerate you. Monitors do not make good pets. I don't recommend any mid to large monitors at all -unless you own your own property and have extra cash lying around on a regular basis.- Monitors are expensive to keep, the bigger the breed, the more expensive. They grow stinkin FAST, and get very big if you do it right. They can be dangerous and unpredictable. Monitors need a habitat/home that meets their needs **including exercise**, medium and large sizes need lots of space. When it grows up you can give it your bedroom, after you fill the room with dirt of course. There WILL be vet visits if you care about the critter, keep $500.00 on hand for the occasion when it arises. There are never black and white answers. You have to include the variables of your surroundings and the situation of each monitor when you formulate decisions on their care. Lots of study, lots of trial and error. Water type monitors are harder to keep, -cause they need all that stinkin water!- which needs to be kept clean for good health.(oh my aching back) Small breeds -ackie, tristis, etc..- are entertaining, beautiful, and much much easier to keep for life. Most people with anything larger find out in the first year or two it is too much to handle and the lizard is dumped on someone else.

If you want good answers around here, read the archives first. Then ask very specific questions. There are some extremely knowledgeable peeps on this forum, they will help if they can because they care about your monitor and want it to have a long, happy, healthy life.

Much luck to you! -H-

My lizard Scooter DOES NOT like to be picked up, he rarely likes to be touched. He tolerates it because we have a long relationship and I don't do it very often.

that is a great shot.

Hi Holly, I hope you don't mind my asking, but is your mothers/grandmothers name Ruth Allen by any chance? There's a similarity in your looks. I knew this woman many, many years ago. She and her husband, Paul, had a place here in Michigan called "Snakes Alive". When he died from a bite from one of his cobras she moved away and I always wondered what happened to her. I apologise for rambling, just struck a good childhood memory.

Quig

Hello

I did have relatives in Michigan about 60,70 years ago. Sorry, I have never heard the name of your friend mentioned in my family circle. I doubt very much we are related. I hope someday you find your friend
-H-

Holli, thanks for the reply. The Allens weren't really "friends."
There's was a place I hung out all summer in my early teen years. LOL, I would go out and catch pillow sacks full of the local snakes just to be able to get a free trip through the place It was a great learning experience, and for such a small place they had quite a variety of critters.

Quig

Hi Holly, you and scooter are looking good. how old is he now? How do you have him set up? Do you still have the tristis and did they ever lay eggs? Ok, enough about you, I am doing good. hahahahahahahahahaha Cheers

Hiya Frank!

We may be looking good, but we are feelin old! Can you believe it? My kid graduated high school last week! Scooter will be a teenager next month. The big one three. The oldest mang I have ever heard of was 17, if that’s the truth.

Same stinkin set-up, everything but the dirt. We get outside when it's warm so he can dig and such. He still has his own room, with all the amenities, which could still be bigger if I had my way. We are about 3 months away from a big move, but are unsure about what the job has planned. Could be California, Florida, Oklahoma or Texas. I am hoping it will be an upgrade for all of us!

I still have no friggin idea about the tristis! They are 8 years old now. They have burrows, but I don't dig them up. Mostly I just feed clean and watch. I have never seen mating, or everting, ever. They just bask together and use each others help to tear mice up They are so beautiful!

I am glad to hear you are doing good!
I am just doing the best I can
Cheers! -H-