Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Your nile seems alot like mine, tolerant, but not even close to tame. I can get my nile and put him on my shoulder, and he will hang out for atleast an hour. Also, he NEVER tries to bite ME. As far as other people are concerned, however, that is not the case. His claws are quite sharp, but other than that , he never draws blood. Its a good feeling to know you lucked out and dont have the lizard HeIIbent on killing you. well, good luck with him ...

Truth

This is Damien. Damien was pulled out of a pet store in the east along with about 100 other animals. He was dehydrated, underweight, suffering from amoebic dysentery, along with a multitude of other problems. A rescue in NH rehabbed him and then transferred him to our rescue because we had a great home lined up for him. I now have him back, boarding him for a couple of weeks while the owner moves and rebuilds his enclosure (14x10x10). Damien is fairly docile but he will tailwhip when first approached. When being handled he is wiggly but does not attempt to bite. He is an awesome animal and I was pleased to take him back for a while. I can't say that about any other Nile we've had through here.

Nice to see you on the forum Jane; nice pic...

Thanks for the welcome, Phil. Not all posters are that friendly here. I post very infrequently, usually a good rescue story. I do love my monitors tho and the Black Roughnecks are just awesome!! The monitors come in a close 2nd after the Cyclura. Good to see ya!

keeping niles regardless of there temperament,it was luck and a little patience that got me this far with her but i will say this,i think that there isn,t any real tame niles just those that know who isn,t a threat and who could be.Do you use a leash as i have one but if i try to put it on her she WILL bite and it hurts loads!!The mental thing is though once i get the leash on sh is even better behaved and won't run off at all(probably because she knows she can't).
see yah
jason

You may wish to hold of on your determination of your Nile's tolerance of you. Your Nile is still quite young and there personalities do go through changes over time. wait a year or two and see. Best of luck regardless.

I figured that it would change as she got bigger plus she really can change from day to day.Take today for instance,I came home from work and went to change her water,nothing exciting except i got whipped like mad with some major huffing and puffing going on!But yesterday i lifted her from her basking spot with only a little hiss and scratch then she was quite content to sit on my hand and survey her surroundings.Thanks anyway,afterall she is my first and i could do with hearing all the personal info anyone has.
see yah
jason

I have had successes establishing a routine with my nile. I only pick her up in the morning. Also, when she is on her basking log I leave her alone. I think she considers it to be her throne. As long as I "follow all the rules" she permits handling. Well, best of luck as you get to know your nile!

But one could still have hope. I am hopefully not going to go through that change, but, if thats what my lizard wants to do, not much i can do about it. (well, i could turn the room down to 60 degrees, then handle him ... LoL) I figure, if my nile turns for the worse, i will move from daily interaction, to almost none. No sense stressing him out.

Truth

I really cant see me ever trying, i think they would hate it. If i take it out of its enclosure at all, its just let free to raom my shoulders, which he seems perfectly happy with.Tame is just something you cant have unless the health of the monitor is in terrible shape, as far as im concered. I just feel that with enough daily interaction, they will learn not to fear/resent/loath you. Ill try to get a more rescent pic of my bad boy chillin on my shoulder. He's about 30" currently.