Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I have had a nile in the past and she gave me hardly any trouble and became quite trusting in just a couple monthes.
Well i got a hatchling nile about 6 monthes ago or so, and am haveing the hardest time trying to get it to calm down. It is finally at a point where if i walk into the room with him he doesnt jump from his log and hide, he will actually sit there and look at me. So I guess thats the first step, but the second i open that cage he freaks... and advice on calming the little bugger down?
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"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

I would spend more time in the room with him. Either read a book,watch TV,etc. It takes some guys longer than others.

Time and patience.Just keep feeding and doing regular cage maintenance and eventually he will learn you are no longer a threat.This could take weeks,months or even years and some my not settle down at all.I have a Nile and have had him for year and he has not settled down.

greg

Monitors all have different personalities, especially younger ones are more nervous as they know they can be preyed upon by many predators, as they get larger they calm down and loose this with age for the most part. Their are always exceptions to this rule though. I would cover all the glass with newspaper so the monitor cannot see anything but you from above at feeding time, people dont realize it but if you just walk past a monitors cage and they can see you it is a threat to them, these are wild animals and unlike dogs/cats ect. It will eventually settle down and with the newspaper making it less flighty you will eliminate nose rub damage to it.
Good luck, Bob

he is not in a glass terrarium, I have him in a 4 x 2x2 large plastic box with modified lid, so he can only see me from above when i get near his cage for cleaning and what not.
-----
"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

Niles are one of the most temperamental monitors available, notorious for a poor disposition.

Keep them cold and they will act half dead, because they are.

Keep them properly, with good husbandry, and they are typically quite the handful.

Everything in your setup can affect attitude. Lowering stress leads to a better situation- great temps, great substrate, lots of great hide spots, etc.

And yet a Nile might still take your thumb off.
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

Sounds like you have some experience with Niles considering you have one that is managable so without sounding condescending......time, time, and more time. As I'm sure you know each monitor is different and some NEVER completely tame down.

Alex

yes I have experience with niles, and i also keep a couple savs. My nile has a sand and dirt mix which i keep semi-moist. His basking spot is between 105-120...it fluctuates with the weather as i keep his enclusure in my basement.. he seems happier down there then he did when he was in my snake room..to much comotion(spell check?) in there for him. and the ambient temp is around 75-80.He has a large water pan and many sticks and logs to climb and hide beneath.
-----
"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George