Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How big do they get and can they be handled? Are they tame?

Please, why do you want to mislead people? While Johns site is a wonderful site on water monitors and other species as well. I do not believe anyone there professes to be an "expert". Its great to recomend his site, a great place for Salvator fans. But I do not think any of us are "experts". We all have too many bald spots from scratching our heads. I believe that term is a bit overused. Thanks F

very true. people on my forum have great things to share, newbies and experienced alike. i do not profess to be an expert just a person who wanted others to see what salvator is about. one day ill be able to show my own cb salvators as a few on my site have. ironically some "newbies" hatched salvator, cheers to them! my hair continues to go grey at an alarming rate, balding likely in near future- directly related to the hobby. -john

Cybersalvator.com wil have MORE than enough info to last you a while.

IMO, Water monitors(among with most monitors for that matter) do not make good captives for the inexperienced keeper.

Good luck to you on your quest.

Michelle

Most get BIG! Keep in mind these are the closest living relative to the Komodo Monitor and are second only to those giants in overall bulk in the lizard world. 6-7 feet and approaching 70-80 pounds is not unusual. I think the record is somewhere around 9 feet and I'm sure someone on this forum can confirm or deny that. Their temperaments range from superbly calm and confident to downright hellish and EVERY one has the hardware (teeth, claws, tail) the software (they are relatively intelligent as far as reptiles go) and the wild instincts to do MAJOR damage if they deem it fit. They also eat alot and sh*t alot and take a huge amount of space (40 square feet of floor space is a good start for a single adult). If you still think they may be for you, then you should also know that they have the potential to be among the most interactive, rewarding reptile captives out there, IMO. Probably the best information out there to get you started is on PE's site. Check it out, but know that taking one of these giants on is a very, very serious commitment. Best of luck.

Billy

>>How big do they get and can they be handled? Are they tame?

Less than one inch beyond the record komodo but no where near the weight.

your post below suggests this would be your first monitor.

do not get an Asian water monitor. They can get huge and would not be a first time monitor. If tractability (like 'tame' but different) is important, there is not guarantee with any species, but a big water monitor will do a lot of damage. You may be lucky and get one that ends up 'tame' but you may end up with a nasty one. IMO you are almost better off with a nasty one, as you'll give it the respect it needs and take all of the appropriate cautions with it. Get complacent with a 'tame' one and you'll be losing fingers in short order.

DO NOT GET AN ASIAN WATER MONITOR. They can get huge and WOULD NOT be a good first time monitor.

There, that's better

Just kidding! Im glad Im not the only one! Hahahaha!!! Youre a good man. I luv your pics too.

>>DO NOT GET AN ASIAN WATER MONITOR. They can get huge and WOULD NOT be a good first time monitor.
>>
>>There, that's better

check out this months reptiles magazine. their cover story is on waters.
ian

size varies depending on locality, your husbandry or maybe genetics. some adults rarely pass 3 feet in philippines, to 8 feet in sri lanka. record size is 10 feet 5 inches long from sri lanka, and stands as the record length with proof of any monitor lizard. can they tame down? yeah, but not always the case. i cant tell you not to buy one as a first monitor, i bought my first at 16, did everything wrong. from experience now, they are definitely messy, they eat alot, and can mess you up if you get bit. i have 2 friends that are numb from nerve damage, the animals were less than 5 feet, so care must be taken when interacting. tame animals react to movements by snapping at them if inclined, i am cautious when approaching and lifting or passing by the face of my tamest. ironically, the best waters to work with would be the among the most expensive types, the nuchalis subspecies just for its small size. you get all the water monitor without the danger. can you afford it? thats another thing. can you house it? what about dedication for the long run? say it has a lifespan of 20 -30 years, will you be there for it on a daily basis to change water, or feed it, or clean up, or fix broken things, build a larger enclosure, without getting bored or discouraged? 9 out of 10 times, keepers dont want them after the initial "coolness" wears off. before you jump, go see real keepers who are dedicated. ask how much things cost to get an idea. i have 6 waters, it adds up. i spend around 150 bucks every 2 months or so to feed them. im no expert on waters, but i am an expert on my finances. i know exactly how much i dont have. -john a
cyber salvator