Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that komodo dragons have toxic saliva in the wild. I had a large savanah a couple years back and her bites never resulted in infection. How does it work with other monitors? Does it depend on species, captive breed vs. wild, size, diet? I am planning on buying a baby black throat in the near future, yet will be living in a college dorm for a short while longer. Dont want any drunks feeling like superman getting sick.

I HEARD THAT A CAPTIVE KOMODO DOES NOT HAVE THAT TOXIC BACTERIA IN ITS SALIVA.I HAVE SEE KOMODOS IN ZOO'S AND THEY DIDNT HAVE ALL THE DROOL THAT YOU SOMETIMES SEE IN DRAGONS FROM THE ISLAND OF KOMODO. TO YOUR QUESTION ITS NO. I HAVE BEEN BITE BY JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING LIZARDS, SNAKES ,DOGS, AND MY WIFE SOMETIMES LOL. I ALWAYS USE A LITTLE ANTISEPTIC JUST TO BE SURE.

Hi,
There was a thread about this awhile back by someone who had been bitten by a monitor....most people said their saliva is not toxic, but I tell you something: 6 people have reported very nasty effects from being bitten by Varanus griseus (N. African species) and I can give several sources for that. Furthermore, a Zoo Atlanta zookeeper was grazed by a V. griseus and ended up having surgery!

Althought V. komodoensis has some very lethal bacteria and alike (see Joel M. Montgomery's paper: Aerobic salivary bacteria in wild and captive komodo dragons, Journal of Wildlife Diseases 38:545-551, 2002) other Varanus may have their nasty inhabited saliva as well; FYI: V. salvator, V. melinus, V. jobiensis, V. juxtindicus, V. indicus, V. salvadorii, V. doreanus, V. niloticus, V. bengalensis.

Right now the subject is open for much debate and experimentation and so on to solve this question - a question that seems to arise more frequently than not; perhaps because people are keeping more varanids? People are getting bitten more often? their saliva is toxic? Their victims are toxic? Who knows...

Good Luck,
mbayless