Reptile & Amphibian Forums

who saids that timor monitors are bad pets. i just got two of these great great monitors. it all has to do with husbandry. if you have a good envierment you will have happy good monitors! today i put my hand in to my cage and they just looked at me as i pet them.

just so you guys know, i have dirt as a substrate and the minute i put them in there they started diging. dirt is the way to go!!

do not listen to anyone that saids that timor monitors are bad monitors and not a good choise. you guys should see for your selfs go buy some and see what i'm talking about.

you probly got lucky with yours... they are not saying timors are bad monitors but for a new hobbyist wanting a "tame pet" monitor a timor is not one someone would recommend. like they said ackies would probly be the best choice. i went to Gene's house to check out his monitor he had timors in an awesome looking setup. never saw them though... it doesnt really depend on what enviroment you have that determines the temperment of the monitor. iv got a blackthroat that is aggressive but eats like a hoss, and is growing fast and biting hard!

No one said they were bad pets. My timors are great, as are all my other monitors.

However, timors are not the most fantastic first monitor. They tend to hide more and be more skittish when observed or when out in the open than some other monitors.

You have had yours a week or so. Although your enthusiasm is nice, your monitors have hardly had time to adjust. Add to that the giant predator (you) harassing them so soon. A week is hardly enough time to characterize the attitude or behavior patterns of any monitor.

Maybe you should hold off on fully endorsing any monitor species until the initial thrill has worn off and you have worked longer with them.

All in good time.

Best of luck

I think your talking about me about my post below. I said timors were very shy and flighty. I suggested a better "pet" for the kid. the timors arent my favorite. The kid probably wanted a pet monitor one you can hold an interact with. Timors do not usually fit that. I have only seen and sort of worked with about 7 or 8 timors, each and every one of them was flighty and extremly shy. They hated to be touched or picked up, and were the fastest things(try pulling a lighting fast lizard out from behind a stack of cages, its not easy). again I never said they were bad pets and no one should keep them... maybe you got lucky I do not know. I simply said to the kid that timors may not be the best choice for him if he wanted a "pet"

Oh and by the way do not go around acsusing people of saying things they did not say. Assuming you were talking about me with the whole timor thing.

Also in your original post you said you had dirt as a substrate... well how come in you pic below its cypres or some other mulch??

Are even healthy. Timors are beautiful but do not appreciate handling even after they adjust, with very rare exceptions. When they know they cant get away they sometimes sit still. My 27 inch male is my oldest monitor right now and enjoys people on the other side of the glass. Once they adjust watch for the sneaky bites and the razor sharp claws. They love to dig, hide, and climb. You might also have been lucky to get more handleable timors also. Mine will dig from morning until almost the next morning making a burrow.

There is nothing wrong with using dirt as a substrate, as long as it has no pesticides in it....and of course varanids like to dig, its what they do best, next to eating and looking for something to eat!
Good luck,
mbayless