Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I thought that I would share an experience with "newer" keepers. To most of you, this message does not need apply.

It is very important to understand the damage that (any medium sized) monitor can do. While an Ackie, if it decided to bite you for some reason, the result usually would not be bad, but a commonly kept savannah or dumeril's bite can be very bad.

I have been bitten by many reptiles in my life, including Niles, and have been able to keep it at a minumum by exercising caution, as well as by never underestimating a monitor or situation.

Well, all that it takes is one second of letting your caution levels down. This was a remnider for me:

I was giving my adult Black Roughneck a bath recently, right after bringing him in from his outdoor enclosure, and I was swishing the water around in the tub, and just for a second, I turned my head, and at that moment, he mistakenly took my finger for food. Now, I have had many BRN's, all of them were equally docile. Not one of them has ever tried to bite me, not even by accident as a feeding response. This day was different.

Since I had this animal since he was a hatchling, I had become comfortable with him, BUT not too comforatble, (so I thought). I was always well aware that even a docile species such as this could feel the necessity to bite for whatever reason, or could do it unintentioally during feeding. I was always very cautious, but know that part of keeping these kinds of animals is that you could be damaged at one point or another. It is not uncommon.

Now, he was good enough to let go right away, I assume that he realized that this was not food, or maybe he just let go accidentally. Nevertheless, even though he had a hold on my finger for less than a second, the damage was very serious. I had 4 VERY deep slahes on one side and one on the topside. Each was fully down to the bone, and there was nerve damage. The wound is healing well, but the bone sure hurts still. This was the worst bite I have ever had in my life, despite the fact that the monitor only gave it a minimal bite.

All in all it was my own fault, as keeping monitors requires careful attention to the animal at all times when handling them, cleaning their cages, etc...

Accidents do happen with even the "tamest" of species, keeping in mind that no monitor is really tame. A better way to describe BRN's is that they are known to be "non-biters". That does not mean that if your hand gets in the way during feeding time that they will let go right away. Imagine how much worse my finger would be if he would have given it the death shake!

It also must be kept in mind that many people purchase these kind of "medium" sized monitors thinking that 3 and a half feet is not big. Well, 5 to 10 pounds of lizard is certainly not small, and maintainance on such animals demands much responsibility and dedication, along with the everlasting possibility of incurring an injury. Plus, the size of "medium sized" monitors can be a misconception, as they can grow much larger than expected. Monitors of this size range can also become somewhat difficult in handling. BRN's as babies are easy to handle, but as adults can be very stubborn and want to go where THEY want to go. Regardless of the fact that they usually will not attempt to bite, they can deliver a very painful tailwhip or scratch when they are handled. My male was never a real problem to handle, as I know to let him down when he wants to check out an area, or he will try his darn hardest to get there any way he can. He has really for the most part been a pleasure to work with, but can also be very unpredicatble. For instance, he has never been scared of me, but sometimes will show me that I am really not the boss at all times. Monitors are not like horses, (who do not realize that they can overpower their keepers, just imagine what a horse could do to a person if they knew that they were bigger and stronger than us). A monitor, by nature, will try to find a way to get what they want...

Just thought I would share this experience and provide a reminder of how dangerous these animals can be.

I too, have been bitten a few times by my five foot male rudi. In no way do I consider him a 'mean' animal. He's actually really tolerant and forgiving of me, an absolute sweetheart. IMO, he is just comfortable enough with me now, to include biting me when I am bad. (Yay, me.)
His CB son, who hatched out into my hands, is quite the trip. He has absolutely no fear of me or my size. He's already nailed me once, I need to give up the food faster, I guess...

So I agree that certain species do not normally include biting as a defensive action. But you have to watch the biting as a form of communication, since we humans always ignore the more subtle cues.
Sorry about your injury, and it is nice they let go right away! Now a nile would have to be surgically removed from the flesh...
D.

Thanks for your kind words.

I too, feel the same way about the BRN that bit me, he is and always will be my favorite reptile. Sadly, I recently transferred ownership of him to a friend as I am running out of space in my house for him...

See you guys should've just got V. dumerilii!! lol

Just kidding fellas!!

I'm very partial to V. dumerilii, as I've never even had a single one open its mouth at me in defense.

Universal precaution should be taken with ALL herps.
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Greg Holland
G&M HERPS
www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

I have never had a rudi open it's mouth in defense either... but I have heard of it happeneing

Excellent post! I only have dwarf monitors, but like you said, they can bite, but the results certainly are not the same as larger species. Your post was an excellent reminder to never let your guard down, no matter how "tame" your monitor is. Thanks for sharing your experience, hope you heal quickly.

Pam

Pam,
Thanks! My finger is doing a lot better, it has healed very quickly. Only the bone is sore at this point... Shows the intense pressure that their jaws have.

Lou

I've had my Sav for a year now and have learned she can move very fast and very purposefully when she wants to. I've also seen what she does to live rats after chasing them down for a few minutes... and each time I'm very thankful thats not my finger.. so when I do cafe maintenance or am going to have my hands (Or body) in the cage for any period of time..I make use of a shield and "training". Kiros knows that during cage maintenance she's to return to her hide.. and she does it without fail.. took me 4 months of working on it with her to get it into a steady behavior..and then the shield is placed in front of her hide hole... But then again I also will hand feed her which I know is probably stupid.. and dangerous but I also feel it creates a stronger positive association with you as the owner and bringer of food as someone to trust in. And in that I feel the positive outweighs the negative. If I get bit its my own fault and it wouldn't change how I do things... Merely because I know she's not biting out of maliciousness but out of food drive.. or fear...or dislike of something outside her control.
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Lucien

1.1 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh and Isis)
2.2.1 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 1 het Blizzard (Lilith), 1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short) and 1 dbl. het blizzard x tang albino (Malice))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
1 Gerbil
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Sahara and Hercules)

Not a "newer keeper" but always glad to see someone roll with the punches.

I have bite wounds from many things and even some of the things you think won't hurt you can and will. Like them darn iguanas who ever said they are gentle anyways????

Take care and don't worry you'll heal up and be ready to go.

Thanks!

Lukily, the finger is healing amazingly fast. When this happened, it really looked like the wounds would not close anytime soon... Either way it did not change how I feel about monitors.

My baby water sometimes threatens to bite when something comes close to his head. He will open his mouth slightly. I've been bitten only once without gloves and his teeth didn't draw blood, but from then on, I wear gloves everytime I try to handle him. His speed is amazing.

A wonderful post.

I also just recently took a bite from my adult male Bosc who is 37" long. He did it while in food mode. I feed him with tongs and I dropped them. As I picked them up he grabbed my index finger. I'm thankful that he is a good boy and realized my finger wasn't food. He let me go quickly. But he did some damage to my finger. I'm going to have some scars from that one. This is the first bite I have ever recieved from the monitor since I've owned him. I got him as a hatchling almost five years ago.

You can never be too cautious with monitors. Thank you again.
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Christine :>~
A good friend will come bail you out fo jail, but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn that was fun!!".

THanks Christine! Your story is similar to mine . . .

...unfortunately, the people that really need to heed your advice will be reading your post and thinking that it will never happen to them because they are better able to read their monitors than you, or are better handlers, or are more experienced blah blah. It's the nature of the hobby.

You are likely right, but hopefully it might help some...

My brother has a scar on his chest for life from being bit by a horse. He had just recently feed it then was attempting to bring it out of the stable when it refused he tried to put the reigns on & it nipped him. Hey I've been rammed in the knees by Rams( sheep) who didn't want to leave their pen or wanted me to leave their pen. I've been bit by many herps, but the most vicous things I've ever dealt with are small rodents mice, gerbils,& those notorious hamsters. All animals need to be exercised with caution. But as you stated at least with animals you usually get a warning before they strike if you are paying attention.