Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thought another picture always helps...

I really do not mind, I enjoyed it, shes such a nice monitor, but come on now, reruns are a different thing.

You know, I could do that with more then a hundred monitors and I am sure many others could too. But whats the point?

How about some cage pics and such, as that is what is of interest.

You see to me, a monitor out on the lawn is wrong, that is unless it runs off, as thats what monitors do. They are not afraid of me, its just they are alive and want to roam, yahooooo.

Today I am out in the sun, welding up a turtle breeding rack for my son. Hey I know, I will post a pic of one that hatched yesterday and one that hatched ninteen days ago. The older one is already six times the mass and several times the size of the new one. Let me know if you are interested. F

I think it's a good thing to post ongoing pics.If you ever had a 6' female albig,I would like to knowFemales just don't get that big.Maybe that's why he posts them keep it coming,it might be a record

These are not Large mouth Bass or some trophy are they??

Reptiles grow to what there conditions allow them to be and they keep growing throughout there lifes. I have seen some real big female blackthroats and some real big males. I have a real big male here and a real big male croc and a real big water etc. etc. but I dont post them and say oh we have a record keeper here folks. i do not understand why it has turned into a record breaking event lately.

I think Shvar is just trying to show his monitor and what he thinks of it, that is awesome. There should be more people who care about them so much and are that proud. But why post details to every inch so often and why post that it is a record?? That part I do not understand as it does no one else any good so why post it? would be better to post what conditions you offered it to achieve such a growth. That would benefit us all.

Saying it is a record keeper only benefits ones ego and ego's are like well you know everyone has one.

Throughout her life from the time she showed up by UPS from Proexotics, including her 5 cages that have all been outgrown and plans for her next cage in the future of 10x6x5ft. Im still working out what will go into it as far as branches etc. Ive posted her substrates, her feeding amounts and types (what she ate), her basking temps, sizes and numbers of basking bulbs, basking site construction, depth of dirt, size of water dish her 5ft cork bark log, and a million other details with pics the whole way, but the size and growth is the only thing anyone remembers. I post about her opening her cage and climbing into my bed (suprise welcome home from work), her recent change of ambient lighting for day light is a twist tube flourescent bulb (very little heat alot of light, little wattage). I post that she goes outdoors in an unfenced yard with no leash and craps in the same location daily, about her many color changes (one currently underway, shes shedding big time), and her attempt to kill my male BT/WT cross (her half brother/uncle).
I have simply asked for proof of another that is growing in this normal manner, because Ive yet to see this in over 12 years, thats all. Im not worried about records, I wish others with these beautiful animals would have the same results in growth etc. I see that many dont keep them when they get 4 ft or more. The average size of a banded WT from what I hear is about 4-4.5ft, and Sobek is a combination of "Dozer" a large banded WT of Pete Zuplichs offspring, with a large female BT, then one of their female offspring was mated with Dozer again.
I read a reference from Daniel Bennett during a study in Kruger national park where the largest WTs seem to live, the largest male was 5.5ft and 20lbs, the largest female was 5ft and 14 or 16lbs. These are great examples of the species to reference as a normal size for adults but are wild animals that may never reach their full potential, but I look at them as reference to what is overweight or not. Ive recently posted pics of her current cage with 1.5ft of dirt etc etc and 4x4x8ft in size (too small I think but room is tapped for now). I love seeing other peoples beautiful animals because I collect the pics to reference later and admire their hard work and dedication.

Hi Jody,

I entirely agree with you on this. For the record, the largest V. albigularis found (in Tanzania) was 7'3". I have seen a 6'10" male V. albigularis = absolutely huge! The largest female is unknown, but I have seen 6'2" female.

There are accounts by Livingstone (1870) and others, of albigularis reaching 8 feet, and at that time, I do not doubt it, but anything close to that today would be remarkable to just be alive! It would have been killed by superstitious Africans, in a stew pot, or in someones private collection long ago.

Just enjoy them, they're Wonderful Animals!
cheers,
mbayless

I wish I could see the animal, as I have seen a 7'3" male BT once (enormous). That could be interesting 6'2" hmm, thats 6 inches away which is not long from her normal growth so far. After all at a year old she was 4'10", and at surgery time for egg removal she was 5'6" (a month ago). I keep her from being overweight and feed her when I see she really wants food or looks as if she needs it, usually depends what she had how much etc. She eats alot of hissing roaches now, with week old chicken peeps, and jumbo mice all varied between feedings.

Hi Shvar,

Tell you what: when your beasty attains this enormous lengths, lets write it up officially in a peer-review article on albigularis sizes, historical vrs present vrs captivity, including your growth rate, feedings, temps etc...sound good? Let me know.

Cheers,
mbayless

Providing great info.

You have the pleasure of access to some wonderful animals and I love the pics and info you give Ive learned so much from you and a few others with my current monitors. Those lace montors are so beautiful and your albigs, the colors and patterns are great (zeus is a keeper, and so friendly for a male, my friend would never give him up). Your right about your male WTs wanting to mate all of the time because Zeus tries to ride everything that smells like Sobek, at one quarter of her weight and less than 3ft he has no fear of her or anything. He actually tries to chase her around. Ive added more depth of dirt recently and plan to add more area of dirt when the chance arises. Im going to raise her basking site and add an underground section under her basking board to provide more useful area. Id love to see pics of the turtles. Good luck, maybe some day Ill get to see Goannaranch, I hope so when I ever have time.

looks great. I know you've said this before somewhere but how long is he/she, and how old?

Such a sweetheart also so friendly and affectionate, Im glad because she could be dangerous with a bad disposition. Ive watched her kill a large rat in one quick strike, so quick it didnt have time to flinch. She stood on her back feet (tripoding) waiting for the rat to come into the open, them WHAM she bit its hip/lower section in one bite, she crushed its hips legs, back and stopped its heart/breathing. Of course she couldnt get it down as it was too big around. I gave her a friends nasty large gerbils and she did the same thing but ate them quickly, all instinct because I raised her on frozen thawed rodents, birds, with crickets, roaches (several species).

Even though I do not have a monitor at this time, I really enjoyed your picture. Your monitor is not only beautiful but obviously well cared for. I did ask a question about ackies on this forum and received two replies, one of which said my question was "goofy." Being a newcomer, I didn't realize my question was stupid. I won't ask again, but I will continue to enjoy everyone's pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Pam

Sedona is an active little friendly bulldozer that doesnt stop tunneling or excavating. He only likes crickets and lobster roaches, but thats great. Those little beasts can jump 2-3 ft, suprising. He does stop to sleep, eat, and climbs up your arm when you reach in the cage. I use a red dirt in his cage as well as the others.

Sedona is really beautiful. The color and pattern are awesome. I have read a lot on the care and feeding and am trying to get me cage just right. I have some nice cages with sliding doors but I don't think 6" of substrate will be enough, so I may have to start with an aquarium cage which is not my favorite. Any care, caging and feeding tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

Pam

let her keep records it makes her happy if u dont like it dont reply geez

I you dont have anything nice to say...go away
you big meanies!!!

And records dont matter, but I would love to see others with the same results in growth.