Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey All, I am curious who works with Mangroves. I recently picked up my first, a farm bred captive hatched that is about 12 inches long. I am not sure of his age. He is doing great! he has settled into his cage well and is eating great after I added even more heat to his cage. He has a hot spot of 120 and a cold side of 80. I also put a heat pad under his main hide. Since then he has been more active and eating great!

I have been working on his tolerance to humans. He was worked with from a baby at EBV where I purchased him locally. He is fine with me working in his cage, he will hang out for a while and slowly make his way back to his hide. He will also allow me to touch him, he will usually give a little nudge or jolt when I do but will tolerate it for about a minute when he walks away. I recently took the opportunity to take him out and let him explore a little in my bathroom. I sealed of all escapes. I let him walk around, climb etc. He did build up the courage to come over and check me out a few times. I let him make the decisions. I also took the chance to pick him up and let him crawl around on me. He did great, explored all over me for a while then crawled back to the ground.

I am very excited he is doing so well. I was curious of other techniques that people use. It was a lot of fun and had no problems settling back in and eating for me that night.

Let me know what expereinces you have. I know there are many people out there that dont support these interactions with these monitors.

Thanks,
Ed

Mangrove(indicus complex)types,mangrove monitor(v. indicus), or V. doreanus?

Didn't you just pick up a bluetailed monitor from ebv?...are we talkin about that same animal, or a different animal?

http://www.youtube.com/user/sulfurboy1o3?feature=mhw4#p/a/u/2/4ajxnImhFMQ

This is what you did?^^^

If you just got him, leave him be and don't do anything to make him not like you. By your description, he seems to have some trust in humans so just don't grab him, rip him out of a burrow, or force hold him to do anything. Use food as your stepping stone to get the interraction thing going.

This practice works on many animals and varanus.

Thanks for the reply. He is V. doreanus. It is the same animal.

I did recently get him and if he was still shy or skidish I really wouldn't bother him. He has settled in to his cage well. He is eating well and spends much of his day out. I started by opening the cage and standing there, i then worked up to working in his cage (changing water, cleaning, etc.) I then worked up to touching his body. He would tolerate this then walk away after a minute or so.

And yeah that is exactly what I did. He doesnt tolerate me that well but he will allow me to slide my hand under him and let him run up my arm and around my head and back and then back to the ground. I never take him out of his hide. I wait until he is out and I reach in and scoop him out. He will usually want to run once he is out so i have to secure him until i walk into my bathroom and I let him run the show.

Thanks,
Ed

I would urge you to exercise caution. This species is generally shy and can be skittish. As they get older and larger, they can be a handful. My male, who was initially reclusive, would dart for a log or burrow when I would enter the room or service the cage. As he either gained size, matured, or became quite accustomed to his habitat, he began rushing the entrance of the enclosure. I have a number of pictures of him opening his mouth. He is not something to tangle with. I have heard of similar experiences by those who have worked with adult V. doreanus.

That is a nasty set of teeth for sure. However this specific lizard has never attempted to bite me, tail whip me, or show any kind of aggression. Also as I stated he is quite alright with me working in his cage, or even reaching out to touch the animal. He will eventually slowly retreat, unless i know something over or do something to disturb him. In that case he will haul ass back into his hide. Is yours wild caught or farm bred?

Thanks for the post!
Ed

I'm not sure, but he is a four foot male. I would expect behavior to change as the animal matures.

Thanks for the heads up. I will certainly be aware of his attitude and intentions as he grows.

Thanks,
Ed

Good luck with your leash and under tank heater.

I dont think I said anything about me using a leash. I saw the post above and because I don't have much personal experience and am just learning I did not make any other recommendations other than what I saw and knew. I dont use a leash.

I am currently using a heat pad that is thermostat regulated under his hide, for extra heat. He also has a 120 degree hot spot under a radiant heat panel. I have heard it is not smart to use heat pads as their only source of heat. I was just trying to use it as an extra source. If you think I should reconsider I would love to hear why, or perhaps recommendations. I am happy to post some pics of his enclosure and habitat.

I just dont understand why people have to make assumptions. Just ask if you have any questions. I am hear to learn. If i wasnt after the best health for this reptile and all my reptiles I would not be this active on the forums and trying so hard to learn.

thanks,
Ed

Do you use heat lights? Light,heat being absorbed through the back help with the flow of digestion, the animal is also a diurnal animal, built in to seek and find heat/light.

On the leash subject,if your animal is not struggling to get it oout of it and isn't bloated and death rolling on the leash, go for it.I've put a small harnest on big monitors before, young ones tend to hate it and struggle.

He is currently under fluorescent light with a 40 watt heat panel that is thermostat controlled. Also I recently put a thermostat controlled heat pad under is primary hide. His hot spot is 120, and the cold side is 80. the floor below the hot spot is 97. To be honest I completely hope to be able to get my bluetail to take to the modified leash I discussed one the other post. I will not force my animal if he is uncomfortable. He has taken very well the interactions we share so far.

Surfboy the video you have interacting with your monitor is awesome! I look forward to those interactions. Mine still isnt a big fan of running up me. He will come really close but I have to put my arm in front of him to get him to climb up me.

And yeah you said it. Some people can be very close minded.

If you think I need to revisit my husbandry at all I would be open to any suggestion. Also I will email you pics if you want I just dont have them hosted so I cant post on here.

Thanks

Hello Ed,
I would steer clear of the leash unless the lizard puts it on or gets really excited and jumps up and down like my dog does when I walk to his leash hanger. They also have been known to fail. This means the lizard squeezes out and bolts through your neighborhood or worst yet ends up the subject of a news report. Think this over and best to you- Mike S