Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently found an owner of a nine year old water monitor looking to give him up. The monitor is keeped in a 6x5x6 cage,screened sides,few inches of dirt on bottom level.He feeds mainly frozen thawed fish ,shrimp ,and ocasional mice. Monitor looks very small for a water to me (about 3.5 to 4 ft, 5 lbs maybe). If i decide to take him and correct caging , temps, humidity and feeding will monitor grow or being that age is it to late for him to reach his full potential? I know that no one can predict future but looking for any others with this type of experience

Short Answer - It's possible that the monitor will meet or exceed average size with proper care.

Long Answer - Stunted growth remains debatable. Many people, including myself, have taken in older animals that were undersized for their age and the animal grew to meet or exceed average size. There are also some that never reach average size. The debate comes down to - "Was it genetics or actual gowth stunt?" With little to none knowledge of the animal's lineage, who's to say?

If you'll be disappointed if the monitor doesn't reach average size, let the owner find someone else to take it.

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

www.natures-signature.com

And don't forget there is a significant size difference b/w females and males when it comes to waters.

Cheers,
Mike.

I don't know why anyone would think a 9 year old monitor, which is not that old by the way, would grow dramatically bigger at this point in its life. Monitors have a certain period of time when they do the most growing. They might grow very slowly after say 3 years of age or so. They are pretty much adult by then. With the larger species certainly by 5 years of age they are full grown as they are going to be.

Some people argue reptiles never really stop growing....its very slowly after a certain point.

Also on gender I saw a picture of a 7 foot female water monitor once so it depends.... generally males are bigger yes but not always. Same with humans.

"I don't know why anyone would think a 9 year old monitor, which is not that old by the way, would grow dramatically bigger at this point in its life."

Whether you meant it to or not your post came across a bit denigrating and I started to blast you. However, I think more good will come out of me addressing some of the things you said instead. There is nothing personal intended by this post.

Please note that I said, "It's possible that the monitor will meet or exceed average size with proper care." The monitor is at approximately half it's lifespan, yet it needs very little growth to reach the low end of the "average" length range. I didn't say maximum length {though I believe that even that is still "possible". Likelihood is another topic.) Some good research from reputable sources can be enlightening.

My statements are based on years of personal experience as well as stories from reputable, long-time members of the reptile community. I wish the Internet was around back when I first began.

You stated: "With the larger species certainly by 5 years of age they are full grown as they are going to be.

Some people argue reptiles never really stop growing....its very slowly after a certain point."

Certainly full-grown by 5yrs of age? May I ask what you base this on?

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

www.natures-signature.com

I have to wonder what full potential is. I would guess there are some expectations, so what are they.

As mentioned, There are lots of variables, and all I have read on this thread was correct in my opinion.

Most monitors grow aprox 80% of their growth in the first couple of years. After that, growth is slow until it stops, and yes it stops when the monitor grows to its aprox genetic potential.

The, a reptile never stops growing is dumb and naive. End of that story. The problem being, reptiles are cold blooded and age at a biological rate, not so much a chronological rate.

This could be a great discussion. hahahahahahahahahaha, but a little OT. My guess is, the poster wants some confirmation that the monitor in question will be ok.

The reality is, no, it will not reach the goals it could have if conditions were satisfactory. Its was held back by poor husbandry. It could meet that persons goals, as mentioned. i would have a good vet check it out and that would give a better idea of actual health effects from being kept in a screen cage(kidney damage) Cheers

I should add you can still enjoy a smaller monitor too. I have smaller monitors and medium size monitors they are unique.

"Most monitors grow aprox 80% of their growth in the first couple of years. After that, growth is slow until it stops, and yes it stops when the monitor grows to its aprox genetic potential"

So all reptiles completely stop growing after a certain point?

Thats common sense. If they kept growing until they die of old age, there would be some very giant snakes out there.

I had a cal king that lived 35 years, hmmmmmmm he was almost four feet when obtained, He lived that 35 years after he was collected, he was collected as a hatchling. You get the picture, if he kept growing, how large would he be?

i work with wild diamondbacks colonies in nature, the old ones rattles narrow as they shrink up, like all old animals and us. They do not keep getting larger, they actually get smaller.

In the old days when that saying was coined, most reptiles were dwarfed to the max. So after a bunch of years of negleck, they were fed and grew a little.

I have mentioned before, I recieved one of the first albino Gophersnakes. It was seven years of age and two foot long. I fed the heck out of it and it grew to 4 1/2 feet. Which is far shy of what gophers could grow to. And it grew to that length in one summer.

Its not to say, a snake cannot grow later in life, but they surely do not keep growing after they reach their normal size. Again is so, there were be some very giant snakes out there. Cheers

"...the old ones rattles narrow as they shrink up, like all old animals and us."

Uhh..., can we stick to reptiles? The image of your rattle narrowing & shrinking is a bit more than I bargained for. Ha! Ha!

Nice to see ya, Frank!
Mike
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

"Nice to see ya, Frank!"

Pardon the pun.

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

www.natures-signature.com

nice seeing you Mike, hows it going, still have monitors?

Things have been goin' fairly well. I'm still tinkering with the two savs and nile that I started out with years ago. Rescued a juvie female sav that reminds me of the 2-footer you took in a few years ago - meaner than a wolverine/grizzley cross. And thinks she's every bit as big. She's coming around, though.

Good to see ya posting more often and I hope things are going well for ya. I saw David on here a month or so ago but didn't get a chance to yell at him before he slammed the door shut behind him. (Just pickin' at ya, DK)

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

www.natures-signature.com