Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I am getting a timor monitor very soon and was looking for a little advice. I already know how to care for it and I have experience with larger monitors. I am hoping to get some general advice on dwarf (timor) monitors such as calming them down for handling (he's quite rambunctious) and if they do happen to escape, how would you go about capturing them? Any other general advice on dwarf monitors would also be appreciated.

Thank you.

I've had my timor (Halai) for about 15 monthes now, and the best advice I can give you is don't expect him to calm down. Timors are known for being really timid and only the extremely unusual individual is not this timid. Halai will still sometimes bolt across the cage when I so much as walk by, although he usually just cocks his head like "What are you doing? Are you giving me food?"
I did read on treemonitors.com that tree monitors tend to be calmer when they are above your head as you approach them. Timors aren't technically in the prasinus species complex and therefore aren't really tree monitors, but I tried some simple experimentation with this anyway. Granted this is with one individual and no statistical analysis, when I approached the enclosure keeping low to the ground, so my head was about at substrate level he seemed to have a greater tendency to continue sitting there basking than if I walked up to the enclosure normally with about my waist at substrate level. So if you can raise his enclosure up some that may help with calming him down, but still don't expect to be able to handle him.
As for escaping, its simple: don't let him. Be sure your enclosure is as escape proof as possible, without compromising safety. One time last April or May, I was checking on Halai and giving him fresh water etc. He bolted right out of the cage and behind a nearby wardrobe. Luckily my roommate and a couple of friends were nearby, but it took all four of us to recapture him and get him back in the enclosure. And thats when I saw him escape and saw where he went. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to find and recapture him were he to escape without me being right there.
Good luck with your timor though, they are truely beautiful animals.

Wouldn't it make sense that all monitors, regardless if they are arboreal or terrestrial, be highly sensitive to aerial predators and would feel more comfortable when interacted with at eye level?

>>I've had my timor (Halai) for about 15 monthes now, and the best advice I can give you is don't expect him to calm down. Timors are known for being really timid and only the extremely unusual individual is not this timid. Halai will still sometimes bolt across the cage when I so much as walk by, although he usually just cocks his head like "What are you doing? Are you giving me food?"
>> I did read on treemonitors.com that tree monitors tend to be calmer when they are above your head as you approach them. Timors aren't technically in the prasinus species complex and therefore aren't really tree monitors, but I tried some simple experimentation with this anyway. Granted this is with one individual and no statistical analysis, when I approached the enclosure keeping low to the ground, so my head was about at substrate level he seemed to have a greater tendency to continue sitting there basking than if I walked up to the enclosure normally with about my waist at substrate level. So if you can raise his enclosure up some that may help with calming him down, but still don't expect to be able to handle him.
>> As for escaping, its simple: don't let him. Be sure your enclosure is as escape proof as possible, without compromising safety. One time last April or May, I was checking on Halai and giving him fresh water etc. He bolted right out of the cage and behind a nearby wardrobe. Luckily my roommate and a couple of friends were nearby, but it took all four of us to recapture him and get him back in the enclosure. And thats when I saw him escape and saw where he went. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to find and recapture him were he to escape without me being right there.
>>Good luck with your timor though, they are truely beautiful animals.
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Jim Kuroski

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