Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering how a lot you tame your monitors. It seems like most of the stuff i read was contradictory. About half of it said I should slowly let him get used to me. They said this can take years, but the monitor will trust me 100%. I've been using this method on my bosc.

The other half say that the key to it being tame is to handle it ALOT. Some say at least 15 minutes a day, others at least 2 hours a day. I think the basic idea is that if you hold it enough, it will learn you aren't a threat and begins to trust you.

Whenever I train rats, i usually use this method. In the beginning they are scared as heck, but if you hold them enough, they start to trust you. Pretty soon, they are begging to come out. I've done this with and without treats, the result is always the same.

I know rats and monitors are different, but the basic fear instinct is pretty much the same, isn't it? I'd like to hear from some of you who have tried either method. Experience teaches better than a website, so please reply.
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Scott,
Proud owner of Porker the savannah monitor (currently 17 inches, 450 grams)

In my experience, the 'handle every day until it succumbs' method works well with snakes, but makes monitors hate you even more. Perhaps they'll eventually get used to it, for I've never pushed it that far, but what will happen long before then is that the monitor will associate you with unwanted handling and will start hiding when you enter the room. With the 'leave alone until they come to you' method, at least you have a better chance of seeing your animal out in the open when you walk in the room, well before it becomes tame.

Around a year ago I got a new, adult female V varius that was apparently a very nervous animal and wasn't handled at all as it was being raised. Once in my care, it very quickly realised that I didn't bother it when I did things in the enclosure (cleaning, water dish changes etc) and would stay out in the open at all times. A month or so ago it looked particularly curious and was tongue flicking me, so I held out my hand and it crawled up my outstretched arm. Now, a few weeks later, I can pick it up, provided it initiates our interaction by crawling onto my outstretched hand. For the first time since I've owned it, it is now allowed to wander around the floor when it wants to be let out (indicated by crawling onto my hand) and will let me pick it up to put it back in the enclosure.

Ive tried both with the handled animals trusting me fast and the "let them learn to trust me" types take sometimes a few years or more then they either do or dont allow handling. Its up to you because your results may be different than mine or anyone elses.