Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an Argus that's a little over 2ft. long, she like to tail whip and hiss. I know that the argus is usually reluctant to bite. Any ideas on how I should approach this? I'm looking for a way that won't stress her out too badly.

Don't handle it. If it needs to be moved, taken to the vet, etc.. turn off the heat, let it cool down to room temp, and it will be much easier to handle.

--Robert

I reached in the enclosure shortly after I posted this this and quickly picked her up before she had time to react. Once I got her out of the enclosure, she calmed right down (just like I've read many times). I guess I just needed to get the nerve to pich her up. Oh well, she's in her new enclosure, on dirt and much happier.

I have a blackthroat with the same temperment, he whips and hisses but as soon as he is out of the cage he is ok. This was not always so, he used to continue his antics once in hand also, i put a old shirt that i had worn in his cage for about a week, i also didnt force the handling issue too much, i would pet him and move him out of my way for cage maintenance, but i didnt really hold him to about a month or so of daily interaction and my shirt being in his cage. This did not make him dog tame but it did make him more handleable.

Good idea on the shirt, have to give that a try.

I have a theory to this behavior. The enclosures I use currently only open from the top, and it sits on the floor. Since I'm coming in from above, I may appear to the monitor as a preditor? Once I have her "up" and out, that threat no longer exist and she settles down. Just a thought. To test this theory, I'm rebuilding a cage so that the floor is about 3ft. off the ground (plenty of room to dig) and has sliding doors.

This has been discussed a number of times on this and other monitor forums, the idea of housing small monitors at eye level so we are perceived as less of a threat.

Even with adult monitors that retreat to trees when frightened, being able to get above our head height helps them feel more secure.

As I read your responce, I think of how you and others reacted to my posts years ago.

You see, these youngsters do not want to hear what you have to say, they simply want to hold the dang monitor. They know the dang thing is afraid of them, but they "want" to be told how they can beat tameness into the monitors. Not respect the monitor for what it is, man, that does not get the scaly thing into their hands, so they can show off to their friends. They want your responce to FIT their groove, not the monitors.

You see, You did not want to hear what I had to say either, just like them. Hmmmmmmmmm I guess its all about timing and experience. I guess we can only hope the monitors live long enough for the keepers to gain experience, then start to understand what you are saying.

Your posts now have a huge gap, between what you think and what they want to hear. Yes sir, its always been about what people want to hear. I hope you understand this responce. FR

You have been helpful in answering some of my questions in the past, so don't take this the wrong way.

Your over generalizing what this post was about. If you read the whole post you would see that I had a need to handle the monitor (enclosure move). I was looking for a way to move the monitor without inflicting to much stress on her. The second part of the post, what DK responded to, simply confirmed what I had read and thought of reasons the monitor will give a threat display when I enter the room. I'm not saying that your point is not valid, as I'm sure it is in a good number of cases. I personally don't handle my monitors often. I have a salvator that I have handled in about six months. She's perfectly content with my cleaning around her.

Just wanted to clarify things. -- hbailey

Really no offence, but your question is asked daily. Your approach is also very general. You think monitors are sensitive and easily stressed. Well your wrong.

A sick monitor is stressed, but not from seeing you. Its stressed because its enviornment is physically foreign it. Kinda like you living on the north pole without a heater.

A healthy monitor is not easily stressed, in fact, it may be impossible to stress by simple handling. In fact a lite beating with a 2x4 may be considered playtime.

In reality, monitors only want to eat, make a home, find a mate, and make babies, all other elements are either included in this or avoided in order to do this. A simple generalization, yes, but a true one.

You sir(the keeper), are only an a post in the field to be avoided or used. Make yourself usefull and you will be liked, if not, you will be avoided. Kinda like here.

The key is, healthy monitors, you new keepers really should only worry about allowing your monitors to be healthy. After all, healthy monitors are not all that hard to tame/train, they sort of do that all by themselves. That is, if your useful.

The problem is, 99% of the keepers here, are trying to tame, unheathy monitors. I ask you, whats the sense in that? There are more then one type of health. Health includes both mental and physical elements.

Is this a generalization, yes, but so is your(all of yours) approach. Personally, I think you all should start with the lite beating with a 2x4, mentioned above. Not for the monitors, for you. Experience says, you should worry about allowing your monitor to be and stay, healthy, the rest sort of takes care of itself, that is, if your useful. Cheers FR

Scary, huh.

It is definitely the case that how I behave towards my hatchlings now is far different from how I behaved with my first monitor when it was a hatchling.