Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone, its my birthday today, and after months and months of deciding, i decided to get a Nile monitor, i was gonna go for one from a breeder, but was at local pet store, and saw the nile there, and, it was really abused and near death, so i had to let it go, hoping its gonna die so its no longer in misery, they had such poor [bleep]ing lighting there, water bowl was dried, it was frail and thin, little guy couldnt even move, barely raised his head to look at me before slumping back down, so i moved along and tried to refrain from punching guy in the face for abusing it, but, I saw an ornate nile there, a few burn marks on him, alert, ignored everyone, i came up to tank, and he crawled right over to me n stared at me through the class, he's I would say alittle over 1ft, a juvie, but, he had no water, it had sand dumped in mulch in bowl, completely dry, so i fell in love with him and took him home, hes pretty alert now, giving him some time, he's pretty stressed but, not sure on care sheets for them? anyone know any sites for them? I know how to take care of niles, but not sure on orante, are they similiar, everyone says temperment is the same, but ornates a bit more massive n built, and not sure, but, do ornates have pink tongues as juvies, his is black so not sure if it turns pink or, is he really a nile, looks exaclty like ornate aside from tongue, thanks for listening, really apprecite whatever help i can get, thanks guys

You seem like a really caring, sensitive person. Thats a good thing, and those are good qualities, but you unknowingly have just done more harm than good. Do you think that that [bleep]ty petstore isnt going to just get 10 more sickly WC little babyy niles to fill that empty aquarium? Believe me, they will. They absolutely LOVE big hearted people who come in and "rescue" their animals. Its the oldest marketing strategy in the pet buisness. Next time take pictures, and document everything you see in detail. Were there other critters in bad condition too? Then call the local authorities, and actually have them meet you on site. You can make a difference and save lives, but you gotta do it the right way.
As far as taking care of the it. I do wish you luck. I hope he makes it, and you learn how to provide for him properly.
try proexotics.com They have good care sheets there. Also right here on this site Frank Retes has been posting begginners tips on monitor husbandry for the last 2 weeks. If you scroll down you will find them. They are numbered from 1-5.

All the best,
Michelle

Yea i wont, but, I couldnt leave this one to end up as the other, just me, he couldnt tell i was big hearted n all, I remained indifferent, but inside I was seething trust me, this guy is alert and pretty active, still healthy, good conditon, just a few burn marks, and he's a bit pissed and stressed, but i checked on him alittle bit ago, he isn't hissing and getting defensive, just climbs onto his hide and stares at me, but, I'm already in love with him but, I'll drop by the vet, get him his shots, check for parasites, I know he's gonna turn out great, its the other one thats still there that my heaet goes out too, way too far gone, he could barely move when i saw him, poor guy, nothing deserves to suffer like that, yea I check those sites, didnt think PE had care sheets for them, again thanks

Hi,

Good luck with the baby V. ornatus. This species has a pink tongue from birth; only the skull/mandibles change with age to become quite massive and teeth become blunt to feed on their primary diet of shellfish/molluscs/crabs/and a few rodents now and then (from wild and captive reports), and the fish in their diet will also help them with skin color and help the burns. Also apply silvadine to burns to help less scar tissue. They get large, maybe 6 feet, and are quite tempermental during their 'teenage' years being quite aggressive and wary. Work with them and they will tame down.

Good luck,
mbayless

This guy has a black tongue!? they listed him as ornate, heh heh, bastards got $10 more saying it was a nile, i figured it was from the start, but, he looks exactly like an ornate, hmm, maybe he is a common nile, or one odd ornate?

What I ment to say was, I wasn't sure if nile and ornates tongues changed as they got older, like ornate starting out with a black then it turning pink, so I guess he is a nile, oh well, I dont mind, what I was gonna get in first place, but I swear, he looks like an ornate, pattern was, just has that more jungle tint to him, only words i could think of, not like those bright flashy niles, but more of a dull greenish tint to his patterns, I take some pics and post, but still hopin he's an ornate, he's actually pretty mellowed out right now, first got him in cage he went ballistic, hissing and lashing, so I set it up and let him alone for a few hours, came back, he was out of hide basking, stared at me, and acted like nothing was wrong, no defensive or anything, so, I'm hoping he isnt stressed, but, never know, again, maybe he is the first ornate with a black tongue in existence , well, too bad, he's a nile, ah well, I'm going to get my $10 from them tomorrow, not chargin meh $10 more lol

Dont Ornates typically have 5 or less bands accross the back?(measured from shoulders to base of tail)

He's sleepin now, in his hidebox, dont wanna open it up, and count his bands, lol dont want him to be pissed or feel insecure by invadin his space there, hoping he'll eventually trust me, and from what i heard, they remember alot, so dont want him remembering me pulling him out of hidespot at 3:00am, and countin his bands , so I'll tell ya guys tomorrow, maybe he is an ornate after all?

Hi Michelle,

The number of bands does not always work in Niloticus and/or ornatus now, and the primary character to look for is tongue color; the problem being, some "niles" have both a purple and pink tongue color!! What are they? I have no idea, unless I can see the brain case, which is another character. It is still to be solved. Of course, the animnals themselves know who is boy, who is girl, and who is who....we're the only ones who do not know straight away - but that is our problem, not theres....
Cheers,
mbayless

Whos the man?! Hahaha! I really dont know how you store all that info!

You have a Common Nile. The tounge color will stay the same from birth to death. No exceptions. For a good book on Niles, check this link: http://www.varanidinterests.com/index_0.html