Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello, i just got myself a male mangrove monitor, and he's not even 2 feet yet, head to tail tip. I built a pretty good cage for him, it's 6 feet high x 4 feet wide x 2 feet deep, so i think it's pretty big for now, but he's always climbing up and down, up and down, looking for a way out... what gives? can't he just settle down and accept his boundries? well at least it gives him exercise. any thoughts?

1. He sees something/somewhere he wants to go outside of the cage.

2. He is not finding what he wants in the cage. This could be security, temps, food, etc...

Good Luck,

--Robert

i wanted a mangrove, but didn't have the space. do they tame well or are they a pain in the ass. i here that they have the bite of a baby croc monitor is that true?

Robert, thanks for the advice... I checked temp... it's good... could be a little warmer, but he knows where to go if he wants to be hot. I did improve a hiding spot for him, i'm using an old plastic bucket bottem turned upsidedown, and I cut a piece out so he can slip in. Havn't seen him in it yet, but i know it would work.

As for the other poster's questions, yes, they (well, mine at least) can be a pain in the ass, he dosen't bite, at all, just tries to scramble and free himself, scratching in the process. I hope that after holding for everynow and then he'll become tame.

Hey, what did you use for branches?
Are they recently from the outside? If there are spiders or ants running on them, your monitor might be excited from the food it sees.
Just a thought. Throw him some fat crickets in there, so he has something he can catch.

Your cage sounds a decent size, but might I suggest setting up more than one hidespot? My BRNs like to wedge themselves between things. Your bucket idea sounds too roomy for a 2 foot monitor, and it might be ignored. You could try stuffing it full of damp sphagnum and leaves. Gotta have leaves.
D.

Wouldnt you check the area out until you know it well? Sounds healthy, hes testing for weaknesses and his limits. If hes healthy hes happy.

Is he a recent import? If so then he is going nuts because he once knew no limits. He will have to learn what a wall is and that he cannot get past it. If you offer him some hide spots that should calm him down. Try some logs, branches, even plywood or rubbermaid hide boxes work. If using a small rubbermaid just cut a hole in the top and fill it with leaves or sphagnum moss.
They also enjoy a large water tub for soaking and swimming. My mangrove cage is set up with tons of tangled branches, just like the mangrove tree's grow.

Give him time he should adjust to living in a cage but let him settle in before you interact to much with him.

Good luck