Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone, I just wanted to post some updated pics of my water monitor!!!!!!! This forum and another helped me raise this guy correctley and i just wanted to show his progress. He is growing like a weed and is eating three times what he was a few months ago!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks & Enjoy, Jason

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Everyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

A couple more pics!!!!!!!!!!

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Everyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool pics. I especially like the one where his body looks totally limp, with his eyes closed.

Se7en,

I really like that pic too!!!!! He actually feels comfortable enough to sleep out in the open now, that took a long time!!!!! Thanks for the comments!!!

Thanks, Jason
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Everyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. Great looking water. How long have you had him? How long did it take for him to be able to stay out like that? What type of interaction do you have with him if at all? Thanks for posting..

Hello Grimly, thank you for the comments. I have had him for about 10 months now!!! I did not really ever handle him much except for changing around or cleaning his enclosure. He has been in my living room since I got him which is a high traffic area, he was never really a hider.

The interaction I have with him now is pretty good, I can change his water pan with him standing right next to It. I can lower food right in front of him. I can also now pet/rub him under his chin if I let him tongue flick my hand first.

I took him out to get pictures of his vent area a while ago to see if anyone could guess at his sex. During that interaction he was stressed as he puffed up and was breathing heavy. I recently added on to his original enclosure and had to remove him, this time he did not puff up. He was not breathing as heavey this time either. He did however have his eyes on my face the whole time as if to say " OK But I am watching very close". Do not get me wrong though, I know If I would have touched the top of his head, his back, tail or a spot he could not see he would definatly squirm maybe even tail whip or bite. He just looked a little edgey. Interactions have come a long way, I give him total respect though and only really remove him and hold him when It necessary and not when I feel like holding a "Monitor Lizard".

Thanks, Jason
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Everyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

That looks like a sick enclosure set up you got there

Jason
First off let me say he looks great! Good job Brother!

A concern though, that heavy looking rock balancing on the "tripod" root.
It looks like a death trap, reminds me of something Les Stroud aka "Survivor Man" would construct to smash himself a meal.
Perhaps it is secure, perhaps it is a fake rock...but if not it could be trouble!
I'd hate to see a dumb accident happen at this point!

Again good job, but watch out for falling rocks!
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

Hey Mike, thanks for your concern!!! That particular rock is very secure believe It or not. You can't see it but it is wedged in there, also has three points of Gorilla Glue holding It in beyond the wedge. I can actually hold that contraption upside down with the rock intact.

Also congrats on those peachie eggs, they look really good!!! I appreciate your post's and insights, they have helped me out greatly, so keep on with your "Bad Self" SIR!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, Jason

P.S I think I know what episode of survivorman your talking
about, he was either catching rabbit or squirrel!!!!!!!!!

My O My, how fast these creatures grow. Below is a pic from about six weeks after I got him!!!!!!!!! He fit in one hand, now you need both hands to hold him.

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Everyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

That squirrel looked delish cooked on an open fire!
Please don't call me Sir! Reminds me of "suit" type people...and that aint me...Brother!
I glad you had enough sence to securely glue the rock in place.
Thanks for the kind words.
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

Hello, Nice looking water. If your going to use heavy objects, please use an old exhibit rule, that is, put heavy items on the bottom. Make them so they cannot move down. Consider glue will eventually fail(or the material its glued to). So the rock is fine, but its better off squarely on the bottom with not way to get under it. Better safe then sorry.

Good luck and keep up the good work. Cheers

Hello FR, Mike also had some concerns with that rock, you guy's are probably right about this rock. This particular rock is very light though, it feels like it's hollow almost even though it is not.

The only reason I used it was because it was light weight and I have it placed where it reaches 105F as a second basking spot!!! It really is on there tight but you are right, heavy is better on the ground. Maybe I can just replace it with a thin piece of slate or see if I can drill holes through it and fasten it down with screws or plastic ties. I appreciate the concerns, you guys are always looking out for the monitor. I will see what I can do with that piece.

Question for you FR or anyone else who has a preference or insight, do you use all wood basking spots or rock or some other kind of material? What do you find to conduct or hold heat best?

Thank You, Jason
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Everyone Is In A Hurry To Get Nowhere Quick, Fast!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason
I would like to see some others chime in as well.(non wood guys)
I have always used logs, branches or wooden shelfs as basking areas.

Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

I use wood a lot because I can control the temps between layers. With rock or other materials its much harder to do.

In fact, I have a pallet of stone tile I got to use for monitors, but now it sits outside and has wild lizards using it. Cheers