I'm so far enjoying the argus monitors I got in a couple weeks ago very much. They are very interesting to watch interact with each other, and are, well, a workout to feed! I've never had a lizard literally leap off its basking spot to get food from me before them. Fun stuff. Anyway, the other day I did have an unfortunate mishap which was completely my fault and I take full responsibility for. The enclosure the monitors occupy is in my dining room, so it isn't exactly protected from anything in the house. I do have a couple of domestic cats that have became quite interested in the giant lizards in the cage. They can't see them very well, but there is a small separation between the cage door and the cage wall it is connected to that allows the cats to look in and the monitors to look out. Unfortunately, it's also just wide enough to allow the monitors' tongues to fit through it to detect whatever is outside. Last Thursday while I was sitting watching tv and eating, I noticed the cat that usually sits in front of the cage suddenly start struggling with something. I thought initially that she had put her paw through the crack and one of the monitors had her. As it turns out, I wish that's what had happened. She had actually grabbed the male's tongue when it flicked through the crack and cut it up pretty badly with her claws. Needless to say, she was scolded for her effort, and there is now weather stripping, which of course should have been there in the first place, on the door. He did bleed pretty liberally though, so I took him to the vet Friday and got him some antibiotics along with a general checkup. I offered him food Friday evening and he didn't take any, but today he took a meal so that is a sign of improvement. He's also moving around the cage more than he has been in the past couple days, so I'm thinking that the meds are working and he's feeling better. Moral of the story: if you ever see a potentially bad situation, do something about it then. I know this sounds like a 'duh' type of statement, but many people, including myself, shrug it off until something happens. Always imagine something will happen, and you could save yourself costly vet bills and/or a dead animal.
Other than that though, the two females are both fattening up nicely and becoming much more active, outgoing animals. They're both a lot more pissy than the male and don't tolerate handling anywhere near to the degree he does, but eh, he's probably a rarity among argus monitors so I feel lucky to have gotten one with his temperament.
I'll try to get some updated pics soon.
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com
