Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. I really need some help and advice. I love all animals, but I have no real reptile experience. I admire their beauty, but I know nothing about caring for one and I have to admit I am scared to hold a fiesty monitor.

A friend of mine just bought 2 lizards at an auction. He had to go out of town and dropped them off at my farm for the weekend.

The savannah monitor got out of her tank, but I was able to get her to walk into a cage. She is safe and secure and will be back with her owner when he returns today.

The black throat monitor really scared me. She hisses and thrashes about, although he promises me that she is very gentle and will not bite. Children were holding both monitors at the auction and they are very tame and hand raised. But this black throat really was terrifying for me.

He tied her lid down on her tank and said she would be just fine until he returned and could take them home.

Well the next day she got loose. She loosened the string and snuck out. She is very smart.
I couldn't find her anywhere.

My daughter found her yesterday morning when she was cleaning a stall. The monitor came out from under the wall and came at my daughter. My daughter took off screaming. The monitor got back under the wall, but we could hear her hissing.

I put two dog crates in there with raw chicken and water in them. The monitor didn't come out when we were around, but later she came out and ate some of the chicken.

I couldn't bring my horses in. I am so terrified. I don't knwo what to do.

Will she attack humans or horses or cats or dogs? Is she dangerous?

The owner will be back today and I am so hoping he can reach in and pull her out.

I don't know what to do.

Her tank says that she may be with child too. I thought they laid eggs?????
Same with the savnanah monitor it says she is with child.

Please any advice. I am very scared and not sure of what to do at all.

Sincerely,
Cathy- who apologizes for being so ignorant about these beautiful creatures.

I do not mean to be at all derogatory but, it sounds like you and your friend are new to reptiles. If you are in a warm region I would not be suprised if the BT is gone. In a barn? Even though this may be an easy fix for someone with experience(if dirt floor i would carefully dig the BT out) maybe there is a local reptile society near by? Seems like any local reptile person would be happy to help catch a BT. I woulnt call outside the reptile community is that can lead to bad intepretations of herp people. Do your best to secure the area for sure. Is is possible you daughter mis understood the monitors behavior? Suprised to hear a monitor took such a proactive approach. People up here(MI) always talk about Blue Racers(fast colubrid snakes) "chasing" them...simply put the snake is startled and may accidently bolt in your direction. Maybe this was the case with your loose BT? Lastly, they lay eggs...no live birth. Good luck and again if you and your friend cant solve this call a local herp club.

Oh trust me I am very new to reptiles. I know nothing about them at all. My friend who bought them knows about them and can handle them. I am scared of them.
In the lizards defense it may have just been walking quickly to my daughter as it saw a human and was happy to find her. This is a hand raised lizard and is said to be very tame. It might be as gentle as a kitten.
I am just very ignorant of reptiles. I am less than a novice with any reptile. I don't know how to handle one or care for them.
My friend will be back today and can hopefully pull her out. She is still in my stall.
She stuck her head out earlier, so I know she is in there.

I can't bring my horses in which is the big problem. My business and livihood is a horse breeding/showing operation. I am afraid to risk the horses being injured by this lizard or spooked by her.

I thought that they laid eggs. The paper that came with them from the auctions says that the two monitors are "with child". Maybe that means that they will lay eggs soon?????
Thank you for clarifying that for me. I always thought they laid eggs.

I will update this after my friend arrives. I so hope he can remove her. I don't know any reptile people around here. I live in Florida. It is warm and probably nice weather for lizards-- I just don't want one in my stable. I am sure that she is scared too. She needs rescued.

Sincerely,
Cathy

where in FL are you? I live in Orlando, and would be willing to help you catch him if you are within an hour or so.