Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all
Can anyone tell me if monitors can drop their tail like an iguana can?

Thanks

Jonas

No they don't. They do however whip their tails at you if they are scared. They also inflate their lungs and hiss and bite and scratch.

No, iguanas are prey, therefore they have a tail designed to drop off to keep the predator busy while they run away.
Monitors are predators, their tail is for use as a weapon, and fat storage. The tail does not fall off, if the tail does die there are serious health problems.

The answer is NO they do not. SHvar was right, varanids do not "throw" their tails. If their tail breaks or falls off, SOMETHING IS WRONG.

Iggies also do not "Throw" their tails and if it falls off or breaks, something is wrong.

But, other members of the iggie family do throw their tails as a predator avoidance behavior.

So SHvar used a poor analogy, most analogies on here are VERY POOR. The point is, IF a varanid losses its tail, SOMETHING IS WRONG. Cheers

I'm going to call shenanigans on that assessment .

Shvar could have followed his initial comment by admitting he used a poor analogy to describe a husbandry issue. Instead he tried to a validate it with a number poorly thought out natural history notes. Those statements had nothing to do with husbandry .

First and formost he was trying to prove his predator / prey tail dropping theory was correct. Even after both displaying and admitting that his comments were poorly researched he still insisted on attempting to defend his predator /prey statement. In anyway possible.

It was only after being painted into a corner that he diverted the issue to husbandry. If you read thru what he said then reevaluate the thread I think you `ll understand this.

I think most people understand that the term tail dropping refers to an animal having it`s tail broken during a conflict and not dropping in a literal sense. This was certainly pointed out enough times.

Ernie Eison
WESTWOOD ACRES REPTILE FARM.

There are some kinds of lizards with emergency breakaway tails and there are some kinds that do not. If a part of a monitor's tail falls off something is wrong, sure.

I have not read this entire ruckas because I am busy building a young V.s.salvator and bivittatus multistory outdoor playground. Perhaps the combatants could also think of something useful to do. I do not like seeing people I like, and I like all of you, besmerched with poo poo and flinging same. hahahaaha although this sort of thing tends to break out every summer on message forums..... OK it is sort of funny. Back to Work! hahahaahaha

Just out of curiosity, since it's been stated a few times that "if a monitor's tail breaks=something's wrong" If it breaks from whipping against a hard object, would it fall off or just be fractured and maybe need amputation?

Even one in tip-top health, could end up with a chunk missing and nothing to do with husbandry, right?

I think that if a monitor is so closely confined and so upset it whips and breaks it's tail that is a husbandry issue. If it falls off because the shed was incomplete due to dehydrationthat is a husbandry issue. Sometimes accidents happen and that is not a husbandry issue. The big Nile I have has some tail missing. Also a bent leg bone and scars covering his back from what happened to him during a hurricane.

I had a monitor that broke the tip of its tail by repeatedly whipping a table leg very very hard, it tokk a few shots before I got him out of there. This was my first monitor and was not kept in that great of conditions, but he was doing better than the husbandry the books and experts tell you to do, because I gave options and learned from him.
The tail lost around 3 inches when it stopped dieing, this was a 4.5ft bosc monitor (4.5ft after losing some tail).

The issue wasn't about why monitors lose their tails . It was about why they don`t .

Ernie Eison
WESTWOOD ACRES REPTILE FARM INC.

There's nothin' like watching two men lose their heads over a piece of tail.

Just like old times, 'eh?

Thanks for the flashback, fellas!

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

www.natures-signature.com

Hahaha now thats funny! Thanks HH.

Anthony

I agree with varanidae and enjoy the posts as they are well thought out, lucid and educational, more of which is needed on reptilian forums, IMHO.
Regardless as stated before, probably no need to ram it down shvars throat for his post. I think when it comes to replies, even just reading how it is written can tell you about the intelligence of the poster which will reflect the validity and factuality of the post itself.

In any case, if I may, if the original shvar post in question is revised as written below, maybe an argument may not have ensued.

"No, iguanas, which are sometimes attacked as a prey item, have autotomy which allows them to release their tail to escape from the would be predator should a defensive strategy fail."

Monitor, convesely, do not drop their tail in defense upon attack from a predator but like iguanas, they can use their tail as a defensive weapon."

hope this helps quell the debate.

I just didnt take the time to type such detail (was in a hurry), but the idea is the same. You, like a few others did not read into what was written, instead you read what was written then understood what was meant.
Then again in the process of looking up all of that info to respond and typing word for word what he did into such long drawn out offended reponces the poor guy got lost, he never read what was actually typed, would have prevented all of this would it have?

"In any case, if I may, if the original shvar post in question is revised as written below, maybe an argument may not have ensued.

Granted. I know where you're coming from. However, if _varanidae's original post were to have been revised as written below, maybe an argument may not have ensued.

"Monitors are preyed upon, too, and iguanas also use their tails as weapons of defense. I think there's a better, more technical, way to explain it."

That's a tad softer than -
"Iguanas are prey, monitors are predators? Are you serious? Your attempt at an explaining "why this be?" makes absolutely no sense.

Surely iguanas never use their tails as weapons in defense...

Actually, I see both sides. It's hard for me to fault either one of them because I'm human, just as they are. I believe it comes down to perspective. I saw the flaw in SHvar's original reply but still knew what he was saying, which, in a sense, is right (in my eyes, at least).

You've got to keep in mind, from point one, "...even just reading how it is written can tell you about the intelligence of the poster..." Not so much the intelligence in this particular instance, but the knowledge, experience in the particular are of question. And I don't mean that as an insult to anyone.

In my eyes, the wuestion was asked in simplest of form and an "within the ballpark" answer was given in simplest of form. Yes, we can get technical and really deep into it. Some of us like to, some of us don't.

Our mindset dictates how we interpret things. We're all different. We're all human.

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

www.natures-signature.com

HH= [I saw the flaw in SHvar's original reply but still knew what he was saying, which, in a sense, is right (in my eyes, at least).
the question was asked in simplest of form and an "within the ballpark" answer was given in simplest of form. Yes, we can get technical and really deep into it. Some of us like to, some of us don't.
Our mindset dictates how we interpret things. We're all different. We're all human.]

I bow in your direction HH. Very well stated!!

hahahhaha Mike, I actually I am laughing, right now.

Cheers,
Mike.

Who lost their head and keeps rattling, thumping his chest, and getting upset over a "piece of tail" is the other guy. Ive been laughing since he first responded. Its fun to throw a bit of "gasoline on the fire" to keep it burning sometimes, just not enough time to keep up with this, but I guess some people have nothing better to do.
Shh, my wife might find out Im arguing over a "piece of tail on here, lol!!!