Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got my new niles about 2-3 weeks ago and I have to say that they are doing great! I have been working with them in the bathroom whrere they can't run to far and now its to the point that they remain very calm unless you touch their tail and are willing to be held and even enjoy petting on the back and head and even chin. I have not been bit by her either. I try to never constrict their movement and the really seem to be reacting very well to me I thinl that in a year or so I will have a nearly tame monitor but it makes sense that they spook eaisly because as youngsters they have many natural predators. I just think that they are starting to realize that I am not a predator now. yea!!!!

Tame nile in 2-3 weeks, wow...
Let me tell you how i see it... Dead in 2-3 years, if your lucky.
Maby what you see as enjoyment when you pet him is stress? As you state, he can't run too far. Perhaps he know there is no issue... so why run, he's cornered.
It's only my opinion and you can do whatever you want with it.
Take care!

Thanks for the concern and pessimistic outlook for my wonderful niles. They are not stressed or he would whip me and hiss at me like he does when I touch his tail and there not dog tame. But they have never tried to bite me because of the way I free handle them. How well do you know these animals. Not what you have read in books or what people tell you. People often exadurate their bad experiences bucause of their lack of knowledge. They do have a tendancy to be a bit on the wildside but have comepletely seperate personalities from each other. Where as the male is bold and he doesn't mind basking on my hand he will let me know when hes mad by whipping me as where the female is just a sweety. She is a little flighty but is not at all agressive. No whips no hisses no bites. They are both in super healthy conditiion and I whatch them both eat. I just wish people wouldn't always jump to negative conclusions without anything to base it on.

Ok, you have to understand something here-

You have had these animals 2-3 weeks. Now, take into account they could live for 20 years.

You have accomplished NOTHING.

I dont mean that negatively, I just mean that, first off, these animals' demeanors will change as they age- I know from experience with Niles.

Secondly, you havent even kept these animals alive beyond a year.... yet you claim to know they are "super healthy"... thats ridiculous.

Youve barely made contact with these things (could have only barely made contact in the time youve had them) and yet claim this and that about their demeanor and behavior.

"I try to never constrict their movement and the really seem to be reacting very well to me I thinl that in a year or so I will have a nearly tame monitor but it makes sense that they spook eaisly because as youngsters they have many natural predators."

Ok, I dont wanna burst your bubble, but most Niles are relatively chill for the first month or so. After that, all bets are off. My guy was exactly like you are describing- super friendly, only slightly defensive, never bit, rarely even puffed or hissed.

That all changed eventually, and I still have no idea why. I would expect the same, if I were you.

I think what Chuck is saying is that, most people that buy a Nile (let alone 2) and only a few weeks later come on claiming this and that like you have, end up with poor results. They either simply disappear, their animals die, they give them up, etc.

What happens when they are too big to pick up? What happens when that slightly fiesty male becomes REALLY fiesty, and his tail is big enough to break the skin? What happens when that females flightiness turns to fear and she no longer lets you handle her?

These are all things that COULD happen, and judging by the way you seem to think things are going to be peachy keen from here on out.... well, you might want to rethink the way you are doing things; because you wont ALWAYS be able to treat them as such.

They are young and probably somewhat small- within a year, with proper maintenance, those animals should be at or beyond the 4' mark. At that size, "free handling" could become not only dangerous in terms of your safety; but destructive. As FR once told me, a monitors claws are the basic design for a carpet knife, and they WILL USE THEM!

Drywall, tile, carpeting, the stuff your bathtub is made out of, any kind of wood- they can and will damage those if you give them access.

You need to realize that what you have said in the previous post is like a man walking down the beach, getting into the waves, then coming back out and saying he knows how the ocean works/reacts.

You are standing on the beach, and very soon, a big wave may just roll in and knock you over- are you gonna have what it takes to hold your breath, kick hard, and make it back to the surface?

And will your animals be anything like what they are now when you've made it back above the surface?

The "sea" of monitor keeping is massive, and can really beat ya up if you arent careful (in both ego and body). You have to never give up, keep trying, and understand that all the amount of work you put in, may in the end result in nothing more than you JUST keeping your head above the waves... especially considering youve got a pair of large, predatory animals in your care.... and if you cant keep YOUR head above water, how can you expect to help them keep theirs up?

Thanks for your concern and warning on the potential of these reptiles. I am prepared to care for them when they age, regardless of their temperment. I do realize that these are much more ill tempered than my little frillie but that is fine for me. In the advent of their life I am positive they will be a handfull but that is something I want to do and am prepared for the highly defensive creature. It makes sense, In their natural habitat the have to put up with some massive predators, so they have developed natural fight or in some cases flight reaction. This said, I know the male is going to become much more of a bruser when he grows up. I don't by any means want anyone to think they are tame but the have came around greatly since I have got them. The are farm raised and have been checked free of parisites. The mail will go up and bask regardless of what I am doing in the cage and they have a pretty nice 100 wat spot that the love to bask in. HE will also eat out of my hand and they are both plump but not overfead and appear to be very health, active and inquisitive and they love to dig. Your right, I have not had them long and their personaliy is bound to change, weither that be more defensive, tolerant or any other outcome. I have been studying and practiceing reptile husbandry for at least 16 years and I love it! My main focus is snakes but I do love monitors and frillies. My frillie is definately a chill lizard and in no way like a monitor. My Spilotes on the other hand was so sweet when she was young and now @ 12 feet has some kind of homing beacon that is targeted on my face. lol I still love her and take care of her like a queen.

Sorry, if I apeared overly agressive in that reply. Its good that people are telling the truth about what normally happens with these lizards. The are exploited in the reptile trade and deserve much more respect and is a shame most people don't hear these kind of things before they buy. I know that lots of people get them because they are "cool" and thats a discrace to the many times mistreated and neglicted lizard. I got them because I am facinated with them and every day is like bringing up my baby that will grow into Godzilla. Learning about them through litrature is much different than coming to face to face with an angry nile. Cute wears off when your missing fingers or have a skin peal in split seconds. This being the case, they are not good lizards for beginers at all! I think though that they will be very rewarding for people if you understand the creature. I don't go the the assumption that they are all defensive but undestand that they can and often times are but in rare occurece could become more placid. Its not impossible but unlikely. Whatever the outcome though I am prepared to deal with these situations and know the risk. I would definately discourage any novice from this path. There ary many options. This is the one I chose.