Reptile & Amphibian Forums

of when I was a boy and the foundation of reptiles I developed at the time.

I will try to keep this monitor and reptile related. I was always into watching reptile videos,catching herps, and reading reptile books.

My first shot of a monitor was seen on an Aussie herp video. I saw a goulds monitor and freaked out, I was probably four years old at the time. I begged my parents but to no avail.

This is how all of this applies to our current keeping of monitors. At no time in the dozens of vidoes or books or whatever did I ever see a wild monitor eating prepared food, being handled by people so they no longer whipped tails and hissed or anything else unless it was associated with captivity. I thought to myself that if I one day had the opportunity to,I would try to relate what I learned from seeing wild monitors (not in the wild but from the comfort of home)to my captives.

At the time I was able to do this with some local reptiles, an anole my uncle caught in Alabama and a RES my father and i got at a pet shop.

My question now is, if we see what the monitors do naturally (hiss, bite, whip, eat live foods)why is it that people want to take that away from them?

I personally know that my monitors are healthy when they hiss and bite and whip. I wouldn't know this if they were laying around and being complacent. It seems that that is what dying monitors do, not ones who are in good health.

also, it seems that there is an ongoing discussion about feeding and what to feed. This doesn't necessarily relate to the turkey diet because if properly made it provides all essential nutrients (but i still ask why do it?). there have been questions about feeding eggs, hamburger meat, dog food, etc. all of this is probably due to poor literature that was written years ago. just a tip here, if it is outdated take it with two grains of salt.

thoughts?

andrew
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VARANUS CREATIONS

Breeders and Hobbyists of Pilbara Rock Monitors, Kimberly Rock Monitors, Red Ackies, Argus, Argus x Flavi crosses, Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Argus x Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Bredl's Pythons, Dunn's Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, South American Boas, Atheris Squamiger, Leopard Geckos and rare Spiders.

I agree entirely,

The problem is that people class them as "pets" and thats the problem, trying to change an animal into something that it isn`t.

on the other side its wouldn`t be much fun to own a 6 foot biting whipping animal, So where does the education start?

Its human nature to act first then think later, How many people can say that they have never bought anything on "impulse"? Not many, whether it relates to animals, cars, music etc, we often buy just on impulse or something we have heard about it and think that we know enough to make that purchase!

When people go to a Pet Store they presume that everything will either already be or will become super cuddly and want to spend time with us! Which has to be stamped out!

The better the education gets then the better the animal welfare will be!!!!

Just my $0.02

Phil
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1 Varanus Exanthematicus, 1 Morelia Spilota Cheynei

My line of thinking... was always that it also isn't natural for an animal to get completely stressed over a constantly present feature of its environment (ie the owner). To me the biggest benefit of a 'tame' reptile is that it can handle all the wierd stuff that happens in captivity without developing a metaphorical ulcer, and doesn't die of a heart attack if you have to examine it for medical reasons.
My monitor, who had been in captivity several years before I got him, absolutely positively will NOT eat live foods, so I just give him f/t fuzzies. He's an oddball.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

i have never heard of any monitor dying of a heartattack when picked up for medical reasons, could you please help me out there?

also, i was speaking more of whole foods, not necessarily live. although my animals eat both.

i feed my snakes f/t when they take it, my monitors are definitely capable of eating live without incident.

andrew
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VARANUS CREATIONS

Breeders and Hobbyists of Pilbara Rock Monitors, Kimberly Rock Monitors, Red Ackies, Argus, Argus x Flavi crosses, Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Argus x Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Bredl's Pythons, Dunn's Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, South American Boas, Atheris Squamiger, Leopard Geckos and rare Spiders.

It was a hyperbole... although I think my monitor comes pretty close sometimes...
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch