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I've had my argus a few months now and I've been leaving him alone trying to get him to settle in and calm down but he only seems nastier if not the same. He freaks out when you go in his cage to do anything and he even lunged at my girlfriend to bite her repeatedly when she put his food in today (he's never done this before). I haven't been feeding him live food to try to get the killer instinct out of him. Are Argus monitors just naturally nasty to a certain degree or are some chill? He's getting around 2 foot long and I really don't want to get bit now, I'm guessing at this size he would leave a mean bite?

>>I've had my argus a few months now and I've been leaving him
>>alone trying to get him to settle in and calm down but he only >>seems nastier if not the same. He freaks out when you go in his >>cage to do anything and he even lunged at my girlfriend to bite >>her repeatedly when she put his food in today (he's never done >>this before). I haven't been feeding him live food to try to >>get the killer instinct out of him. Are Argus monitors just >>naturally nasty to a certain degree or are some chill? He's >>getting around 2 foot long and I really don't want to get bit >>now, I'm guessing at this size he would leave a mean bite?

Welcome to the wonderful world of argus ownership!

Seriously, expect arguses to be jumpy and high strung. They'll hiss at you if you get too close, puff up, and put on a big defensive display. They are also extremely food oriented. They ahve a feeding response stronger than any other monitor I've worked with. Do not feed these animals by hand! Seriously. Use a pair of 24 inch hemostats (you can order them from the Bean Farm www.beanfarm.com/equipment/1.html if you do not have a local supplier). I would also recommend a pair of thick leather welding gloves. Fortunately, although they go into a feeding frenzy when food is around, they are reluctant to bite in self defense (despite their threat displays, they are mostly bluff). If you get bitten, it is usually from a stupid feeding error on your part. Be careful and you will not have problems.

I have found that arguses tend to mellow out a bit starting at sexual maturity. Don't expect them to be lap pets, though.

By the way, the live food thing makes no difference. Arguses will go all bonkers over any food, alive, dead, undead, in between, whatever. The important thing is to let them understand that there is no food around when you need to stick your hand in their cage. They are smart enough they can usually figure this out if no food is present.

Luke

Wow!, thanks a lot for the info. that makes a lot of sense now. He never tried to bite before and the pet store said he wouldn't and that it would be all show as you say. But yesterday when he tried to bite my girlfriend we were a little freaked out and it was when she was feeding him, so that explains it. I really like him, I can't wait to get home everyday to see what he's doing. I was afraid he's was just getting mean and I'd never be able to pick him up again. He's so friggin smart too, he doesn't like to be messed with very much and he usually puffs up if he thinks i'm going to get in his cage so now he figured out when I get home from work and he goes in his hole just before I arrive. I've come home early a few times and thrown him off and he stares at me until i leave the room then goes in for the nite. thanks again for the help and if you have any additional behavior to share please do, I'm still new to the whole argus thing, he's nothing like my other monitors.

>>Wow!, thanks a lot for the info. that makes a lot of sense now.

Glad I could help!

>>He's so friggin smart too, he doesn't like to be messed with very much and he usually puffs up if he thinks i'm going to get in his cage so now he figured out when I get home from work and he goes in his hole just before I arrive. I've come home early a few times and thrown him off and he stares at me until i leave the room then goes in for the nite.

Hahahaha, that sounds like and argus to me!

>>and if you have any additional behavior to share please do

I've got various thoughts and care tips for arguses up on my web page:
pizards.com/hbd/argus.html

Have fun with your critter.

Luke

as with luke i agree that it just kind of sounds like an argus. granted i''m pretty new to actually owning one, but they kind of force you to get used to it... and quick... i've had my argus come at me.. "punk me" if you will, and it looks like he would bite, but at the same time seems like he has no intention... almost over-confident in a sense... not sure if that's the case with you, but it really does seem that they're smart enough to have several displays before actually resorting to biting...

just some thoughts...

-blake
"the new guy"