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Been bit by monitors twice this week. They draw blood both times. Thats why I don't keep venomous snakes I would not last a month. The problem is how do you get your hand unclamped from their jaws without injurying the animal? Usually they mistake me for food its not defensive.

There are some easy options, you could use gloves or a feeder tweezer. Or take the animals out of the enclosure and place the food and then the animals?

What monitor species bit you?

There are some easy options, you could use gloves or a feeder tweezer. Or take the animals out of the enclosure and place the food and then the animals?

What monitor species bit you?

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Yeah the gloves will be a good option from now on. Good idea.

Well now you have a little experience of what they can do, (even accidently), I`d definitely be using tongs to feed, NOT fingers (or were you using those, and still got caught)?
You could try a little alcohol in the mouth of the monitor, otherwise, submerge the head under water (I know they can hold their breath a long time), but with the mouth open around your fingers/hand, it might help, if still no good, just gently pry the jaws open with a gloved hand (not easy)...
An occupational hazard, I think! How big, and what species are they?

Ugh, I can imagine that's no fun. A savannah hatchling at a pet store bit the sleeve of my jacket and remained hanging their for almost fifteen minutes. One employee wanted to use the flat side of a pocket knife to pry his mouth open but I stopped him, afraid it would cause damage to its mouth or teeth. I don't know what would happen if a larger one bit me. My new sav has the most intense feeding response I've ever seen. He/she's fast as hell, almost like watching a snake strike. I'll have to watch out with her for sure.

Hey, yeah he's a 3 foot savannah monitor. I used those 12 tongs to feed him but he jumped forward and clamped on my thumb. I used my other hand to open his mouth a little then he let go. He was on their a good 10 seconds. They seem to be very farsighted creatures. They cannot see items too clearly right in front of them. Good thing it wasn't a black throat or a lace monitor it would have been alot worse. Don't worry I don't keep those species LOL.

No, they aren`t "farsighted", like many animals that have eyes on the side of their head, they have a "blind spot" in front of their nose, and not good at depth perception. You`re very lucky not to have a broken thumb, VERY powerful jaws!

i use hotdog tongs, never had a prob. way to get them off: you can pour warm water in their mouth. or if u pour vinigar on your had ahead of time if it gets a hold of u it will let go right away without bitting hard. i never had to use these tongs always keeo me safe and it lets me pet it when it eats