Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As some of you know I currently have a 22 inch Savannah and Im loving her, although I do appreciate the warnings of her trying to eat me out of house and home.

I may have the opportunity to adopt an 18 inch Blackthroat. Everything Ive read indicates the husbandry to be the same with the exception of the blackthroat getting much larger and needing much more room, which is not a problem as Im already working on blueprints for indoor and outdoor enclosures.

I was just curous if any blackthroat owners could share some stories with me about life with their blackthroat, and Im guessing, please correct me if Im wrong, that he would probably eat more than my Sav and grow much more rapidly.

I want to make sure Im thinking of everything before I make this commitment
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1.0.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
1.0.0 Fire belly toad
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rats, mice and hamsters

i have 2 blackthroats that are only about 2 feet. i've had them for around 2 months now and got them since they were babies. they are pretty mean haha, but i think with time they will become a little more tolerable with me, i don't make it a point to handle them though i rather watch them roam their cage haha. i feed mine every day, usually just a mouse, but sometimes they will snack on crickets later on. i love mine though, they are great little monitors and i never have to worry about them turning down a meal. i don't know how much that helps you, but that's the little bit of experiences i've had with mine and i say if you have the space and the means to support it then do it haha

ian

Bigger, stronger, heavier, eats alot more, and needs much more secure caging. Albigs like to climb alot more than a bosc will. They are actually very different. If you ever get bitten by both species the albig will leave no doubt in your mind as to the power those jaws have.
Be ready they grow fast, eat alot, and get huge. My big female (actually a BT/WT cross)grew from a 21 inch 2 month old hatchling to 5ft at a year old, 6ft a year later, is over 6 years old now at 6ft 8 inches long.

Thanks. The one I was thinking of getting is said to have a good temperment. I told the current owner Id have to see for myself, cause if his temperment is anything like my Sav it would be very dangerous at 6 feet.

I like the fact that they climb and would prefer a large, tall enclosure anyway.

I figured he's probably a few months old and will grow roughly 5 inches a month for a year . I just want to weigh everything out.

Im guesing if a large monitor got out my cat could be in danger, correct?

How much and how often do you feed your adult?
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1.0.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
1.0.0 Fire belly toad
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rats, mice and hamsters

Depends on your cat.
Mine is confident around reptiles of all sizes. Typically a monitor knows that a cat is very dangerous effective predator and avoids them. On the other hand my cat is huge.
Its best for all parties involved to have secure caging for your monitor. Ive had 4ft plus blackthroats backed into corners in fear of my cat, my flaviargus runs from our cat (hes 4ft long).

Once a long time back when I was still in high school, my cat jumped into my sav's cage while I was washing out her water dish upstairs. I came back down to see my sav had my cat pinned to the wall by her mid-section. Luckily my cat is long hair and the sav just got a mouthful of fur and clamped down early without getting any flesh. My cat was just howling and was frozen with fear. My sav was a 3' male. I'm sure he wouldn't have done much else, but it was kind of funny to see them like that.

I have a 4ft male flaviargus that can take the entire end of a finger/thumb off in one bite. My cat has gotten past me 2 times in the past and tackled the lizard, had him balled up like a pretzel with the cats jaws around the lizards neck faster than I could say "wow!" Never underestimate a cat and its ability to hunt/kill if it so chooses.
There were a few posters on this forum in the past who had cats kill, or seriously injure their monitors, even 3ft plus argus monitors.
Its not worth any risk to either animal.

Thanks, and no they will never be near each other, I wont take the chance.

Well the 18 inch Blackthroat already eats as much, more quickly than the 24 inch Savannah.

If I drop a mouse (he eats hoppers) at the opposite end of the 4 foot enclosure, Blackthroat IMMEDIATELY knows its there, whereas it takes the Savannah longer to realize food is around and where
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1.0.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
1.0.0 Fire belly toad
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rats, mice and hamsters

i had a black throat for about 8 months. they're cool monitors, but they're not for me. at 8 months he was eating 2 or 3 weaned rats 3-4 times a week, was 3 feet long, and had a major attitude on him. to me, he was like a pissed off savannah on steroids. but, the cool thing about him was that he wasn't shy at all. the only time he'd use his burrow or hide under a log was right after a meal or when he was sleeping.

They just emailed me back and said he never bit anyone but was huffy and puffy. Im going to go see him, but Im worried his attitude is downplayed a bit and I think with something that gets that large I probably should start with him smaller, but then again he is only 2 months.

Thanks for the description of a pissed off Savannah on steroids, as I get a great picture of that since my Savannah thinks I equal food and doesnt even look she just charges and tastes later, yesterday grabbing the bag I had crickets in (above her vage) out of my hand.
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1.0.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
1.0.0 Fire belly toad
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rats, mice and hamsters

They just emailed me back and said he never bit anyone but was huffy and puffy

Exactly, huffy and puffy got the message across, so they didn't get close enough for him to bite! Mine's over 3ft 6" and hissy pi$$y, puffy and all the rest, but the coolest monitor to observe. I wouldn't part with him. To me, they're so much more 'everything' than savs.( Sorry Sav lovers Good luck with your decision, but since you already have a sav, wouldn't you like to get it a mate?

Susan.

"BRUTUS" the hunk!

Beautiful!

Majestic lookin'.

Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Hello,
I love the dark color. Best to you- Mike

Thanks Mike. Me too, but a lot of that is dirt!~

Susan.

"...I'm worried his attitude is downplayed a bit and I think with something that gets that large I probably should start with him smaller..."

Actually, about the only way starting out with a smaller one would help would be if you were considering a freshly wild-caught adult.

Most monitors calm down with maturity & security. If you continue to be a positive presence to your sav and not a threat it will eventually settle down. I believe the same goes for a blackthroat as well.

Hang in there!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Thanks so much. Thats what Im hoping.

SO they do settle down as they age? Thats good to know, my Sav is about 8 months and the Blackthroat about 5 months
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1.0.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
1.0.0 Fire belly toad
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rats, mice and hamsters

In general, most do. It still requires some quality time spent with them, just like the foundation of any good family.

You have backed off enough to give your sav the security and confidence it needs. Good for you! If you were to go back to force-handling it it would become the same lame "tame" monitor it was. I think you've seen enough of a difference in it's confidence & security to give you a good base referrence. A few minutes here & a few minutes there, other than feeding, will do you both a lot of good.

The trick is to interact with it without breaking it's security, level of confidence (the two go hand-in-hand), and it's will to live. Keep in mind that you want a relationship with it on its terms, not yours. But, that does call for a lil' bit of encroachment. One step too many, too fast, and you're back to square one.

You'll get it figured out. You'll have to, because it's not something that anyone can really tell you exactly what to do or not to do.

I've got a feeling from reading all your posts that you'll eventually make it.

Take care!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Here is a pic of my BT "Black". He will be 5 years old in November. He was 13 inches tip to tip when I got him. I just took a new measurement and he is 7'4 long from tip to tip. He was 50lbs the last time I weighed him but he is much too large to even try any more. I feed him twice a week and he seems to be in great shape. He has his own room 15 feet long 6 feet wide and 6 feet high. Have to be careful when feeding (strong response)and make sure not to startle him or you will get whipped. I used to handle him alot but now I like to let him be a monitor. I got him a girl that is only about 2 feet so she will have to grow before I put them together because he would just eat her now. He is a really cool animal and my family has grown really attached to him. good luck with yours.

By the way that pic was taken about a year ago.

That is a massive blackthroat!

What an awesome specimen! I don't think I've ever seen a blackthroat that big.Thanks for sharing. He's a beaut!

Susan.

My female now is over 5' and is still growing. She is pissy most of the time, but you are going to find that with just about ANY nice healthy monitor. They're temperaments are very tolerable. You will find out more as you read that they very rarely bite. As adults they eat a TON of food. Rats can get very expensive. She eats 1 large rat and roughly 1lb of cooked chicken thighs weekly. I would prefer her to eat mainly rodents, but with how everything is nowadays I simply cannot afford it. I can tell you one thing. She snaps chicken thigh bones with little effort whatsoever. Its a good thing they are not biters, LOL!! They do like climbing too. Here is a picture of her...

Ahh, there you are. I was thinking about you & that pic while reading this thread.

Glad to hear he's still doing good.

Catch ya later!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

Yeah she is still doing very well. Thanks for asking. The cage is holding up VERY nicely and the winter here was not a problem. How's all your stuff? Talk to you later!!

Thanks everyone for your responses. I talked to the current owner for over an hour last night. He said he never opens his mouth when handled, just huffs and puffs.
Im going to see him today. If Im not afraid of him and comfortable handling him I will get him. All of your pics actually got me excited.

So you all know I wont handle him often, I just want to be comfortable, cause, honestly Im scared to death of my Savannah.

He's small for his age, Im assuming with the right rodent diet he will catch up quickly so cage designs are definately welcomed. My husband said If I give him a design and buy the materials he will build whatever I want. I thought about turning my Florida room/sun room into his whole room, but I have to figure a way to fence off my indoor turtle pond, or Im guessing theyll be lunch.
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1.0.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
1.0.0 Fire belly toad
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rats, mice and hamsters

Honestly there isn't much to fear, just respect them as you would your savannah. You will notice the food costs skyrocket. Mice just don't do the trick when they get big. They are true bottomless pits. My female pounded 10 chicks, 3 medium rats, and a hand full of cooked chicken scraps in a matter of minutes once. And mind you this is a female at the time of just over 4'. Now I don't feed her like this at all. It was a one time thing cause I was showing her off to my new neighbors and I got carried away, lol.

Thanks. Ill be breeding my own rats and selling excess to a friend who has owls so that I will not be paying the increased prices. I got my blackthroat Friday and I really like him, he's smaller and thinner than I expected, but Im sure that will change quickly.

He is actually beautifully marked with yellow spots and green tint on his face and tail.
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1.0.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
1.0.0 Fire belly toad
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rats, mice and hamsters