Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I went to feed my blackthroat today. I entered her cage with long tongs and a huge dead rat, and jiggled it where she was hiding.

She came barreling out at what seemed like the speed of light, snatched up the rat, and pounded it down.

Now here I am still inside the cage with the door latched behind me, when she takes a turn for my foot wrapped in my addidas sandals, you know the black ones with the large WHITE stripes across the top!!!

I managed to keep my cool and when she went for my foot. I stepped down with my other foot, on the base of her neck and kind of shoved her back. Keep in mind I wasn't crushing her. I used just enough force to keep her from charging. At that point she knew there was no more food and just went on her way.

I unlatched the door and walked out with a whole new respect for her. After so long of feeding and thinking you know your monitor, but they can still be very unpredictable. She usually has a very strong response, but today was different. There was something more evil about it, lol.

If she had bitten me, I guess it would have been well deserved, I was asking for it. Silly me, lesson learned.

Afterward I was trimming around the yard with the weed whacker and I just saw her in her cage with her head on her paw hanging halfway out of her hide, just doing her thing. I approached her cage with the machine and trimmed all around it with the motor screaming. She didn't even budge.

Now that is attitude.

Thank you for that great story! I can honestly say, I know what you're talking about, as my 'almost' 5' male albig has been testing me too in similar ways. You're absolutely right, you can't underestimate them (don't you just love that?)

I've had some close enough calls now, that if I do get tagged, too bad for me not paying attention when he warned me the first couple of times!
Oh, and it's all about the rats with him. I never noticed this until I started him on rats. Had to cut them up at first and he got the taste for blood. Now he'll turn up his nose at chicks and quail, but rats are a whole 'nother story.

Glad to hear someone else is having 'fun' with their Albig.

The years.
The scenario, large monitor keeper enters their monitors cage with bare feet or sandals, they are either carrying food, or its close to feeding time, the monitor goes after their feet or toes. Yes, almost all monitors medium or large will do that. The smell of your feet to them, and the appearance of your toes triggers a feeding responce, maybe its the movement, the shape, combination thereof or you have smelly feet.
They will go after shoes that are worn by someone who does not wear socks also (again to me, it says the smell attracts them).

Maybe its common sense to me, or over 20 years experience keeping monitors and other reptiles, or for that matter any animal with teeth, especially carnivores, to wear shoes, and more safe clothing when dealing with them. Also the instance with Sharon Stones husband having his toes bitten by a komodo because he was wearing sandals comes to mind.

I guess its just one of those things. Something I was used to long enough with no incident that I let my guard down.

As of the feet thing, I completely agree. It is the closest thing to the ground (where monitors find there food), moving about, and has a different odor. Why wouldnt they mistake them for food, lol.

I was fresh out of work too yesterday, my feet were pretty rank, lol. Needless to say socks and shoes are a must from now on.

Even though my guy is quite a bit smaller Ive noticed a major feeding response and I must wash my hands, arms and change shirt before going near his enclosure if Ive handled my rats, rabbit or even ferret.

Thanks for the warning Ill wear boots when entering his enclosure.

My Savannah by the way, really wants to get a hold of my cat's white feet!!!
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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
0.0.1 Blackthroat monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rabbit, rats, mice and hamsters