Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey hows it going guys. i went to a texas herpatologiet association expo sunday here in san antonio. i went mainly to obserb... for the past 3 months ive had my eye on a baby argus monitor but i couldnt find anyone in town with babies! since i couldnt find one, i was thinking of a savanah but i had always like the nile monitor's color/patterns
alot better. knowing of their ill temper and natural instinct to be agressive, i decided to pick one up.

im gonna try my best to tame this guy, he hasnt tried to bite me but
he is always on the look out for an escape route. only thing is,
after i put in hiding spots, he hides all day. i think its getting a little better, the first few days i didnt see him come out at all, then i started seeing him basking but if he saw me he would go back into his hiding spot, today was the first day he basked with me in the room.

is this normal behavior? should i force him out of his hiding spot to handle him daily?

another thing, when i first got him i just had paper as the substrate and only 1 little hiding spot, when i would feed him, he would hunt instantly. After setting up his tank (multiple hiding spots, decorations, bedding) it seems he only hunts when im not around. any comments?

I can post some pictures of the monitor/set up if anyone is interested.

thanks an advance!
Mark

Most monitors have an adjustment period when you bring them home. Usually, it is longer than 6 days.

Niles are rarely animals that calm down and tolerate interaction. It does happen, but for every one that does become this way there are many others who do not. Be prepared. Do not become overconfident that it has not bitten yet. Your time is probably coming! Those nails hurt like hell too when they get bigger. I still have a few scars from a 3-4 foot nile I had 6 years ago or so.

The hide spots that your monitor uses are his homes. Much like you would not appreciate strangers opening your front door and walking in, your monitor will not appreciate you breaking into his hide spots and removing him. If you encourage trust between yourself and the nile, he will probably bask in your presence more often and not rush to hide immediately. He will likely hang out in the open and not mind your presence until you get too close. However, this is a process. It takes time. Also, in my experience, niles tend to remember when you violate their trust longer than any other monitor I have had.

As long as he is eating it should not matter if he does so in your presence or when you are away. If you do things fairly well, in time he will eat in your presence.
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