Reptile & Amphibian Forums

water monitor. Sorry for my spelling. I have worked with monitors before specifically savannahs. I recently obtained a water about 18in. I want to begin to gain trust with him/her but am unfamiliar how. I now i will never be able to have LAP MONITOR but I assume with proper care and hard work my monitor would become managable. So far he is, not biting or aggresive behavior. But any suggestions on how to gain his/trust would be appreciated.

nev

This is what I did and appears to have worked so far.

Monitors are naturally inquisitive animals and are always investigating things. I figured I would let my water monitor come to me, so I never grabbed it or touched it without permission. I spent time just feeding it and letting it get comfortable with the new surroundings. Then I began to hold my hand into the cage, talk in a normal tone, and would just sit there patiently. Patience is the key word there.

Eventually she started to come around and investigate my still hand. As her comfort level appeared to rise somewhat, she began to walk out on to my hand. Now I just open the cage and she comes right out and tries to walk up my arm. But when I have the monitor out of the cage, she is always trying to get places and investigate more. I haven't had her just lay there and do nothing in my lap, but she hasn't ever bitten me and doesn't run away when I come near. She seems too inquisitive to sit still for very long though.

Anyway, I have been very satisfied thus far with how it worked out, so best of luck to you. Remember, be patient and don't force yourself on your monitor. They tend not to forget.

Give him proper husbandry and feed him well. Try not to stress him out to much and he will begin to look at you as less of a threat. My water knows I am the "food Guy" and has the "confidence" that I will feed him. He no longer looks at me as a threat so I guess he has a level of "trust". I have noticed the better I care for my monitors the more they reward me with behavior that can be considered "manageable". Stress caused by bad husbandry or a keeper that can not back away for a bit leads to a miserable monitor. I guess what I am saying is get his set up as perfect as you can. Feed him what he needs and leave him alone until he becomes comfortable. Eventually he will trust that your behavior is no longer a threat and his stress levels will decrease rewarding you with a well adjusted and manageable monitor. Good luck and enjoy. If you do this rite you will have a dinosaur in no time!

They are all individuals, if you get any monitor, hope for the best and expect the worst, they decide what they will accept and who, you cannot make that decision for them no matter what you do.
Usually if they are skittish right away or defensive with you, dont expect them to act any different but more defensive when they grow up. Fact of life with monitors, they are not lap dogs.