Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone ever raised a nile to 3ft,2yrs old and is puppy dog tame? Likes back scratched,go for rides on bike,and 6yr old handlable?

3' in two years is a bit small for starters.
"Puppy dog tame" does not exist with niles or any other monitor. If you think it does, than I'd like to know what breed of puppy you've been dealing with. I've owned many dogs, and many monitors. No monitor has ever acted like any of my puppies.
A dog is a loyal pet that is capable if feeling love for it's owner. A nile monitor tolerates you, that is all. Please don't compare the two.
Furthermore, I have had many monitors that will tolerate being scratched on the back, however they've never told me if they "LIKE" it or not.
I've also had larger monitors that CAN be handled by a child, but I've never been stupid enough to trust the lizard with my child completely. Monitors bite for different reasons, not just defence. A single misguided feeding response bite is all it takes. I've had it happen, as have many others.
I can also carry a monitor on a bike, but I'm not silly enough to think the lizard would enjoy this, so I don't bother.
A monitor is a monitor, not a dog. My dog likes going for rides. If I say "ride" to my dog he get's excited and tells me he's up for it. If I say "ride" to my lizard he doesn't do a damn things.
That's because they are lizards, and I treat them like lizards, and let me BE lizards

Hasta
Jim

Sometimes I let "me" be a lizard too though...

mine is CBH. He is close to 23months old. Was 4in when purchased. No he can't show dog responses, but never the less he is intelligent. Yes he enjoys being held. Cool winter nights he sleeps at foot of bed. Has never repeat never offered to bite. Can be hand fed. I will put on should and walk anywhere, no attempt to get off. Will stay on my back or shoulder while my son and I go for bike ride. Does not show nasty signs of previous niles I've had. Have a younger one almost as nice. Also while in public dispays no aggresion when some pets or holds him. He is so used to me holding him I no longer use gloves. At shows he is always center of attraction because of how he is. Not all I aggree are like this. I must be lucky or have a bond with him.

when you say that he sleeps at the foot of your bed on cool nights, does this mean he is free roaming?

"If I say "ride" to my lizard he doesn't do a damn things. "

I don't know about anybody else but for some reason this seemed really funny.

w
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Jaye- " When you try of all your forces to make your own way, you will help some of others and will be helped by others. As long as you do not make your own way, you cannot help anybody, and nobody can help you. " (Shunryu Suzuki)

I aims to please!

This all does seem silly. The only thing I know my monitors "like" is to eat and bask. They really like to eat.
If I said ride to one of mine, it would think it's food time.
But then again, it doesn't matter what I say, they always think it's time to eat.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

it's great that you enjoy your time with your Nile, and there is a chance that you have the one in a million animal

but on a monitor forum, with the description and subtle husbandry details you have provided, it sounds more like you have a half speed Nile than a truly gentle sweet one.

Niles are one of the giant monitors, 5-6 ft should be expected, certainly 4 ft plus in a single year. being well below that size (a 3 ft Nile is not "half grown" but perhaps a quarter or fifth grown), and having free roam of a cool temperature house, including sleeping out in the open at night, i am going to take an educated guess and say your animal is entirely too cold in its life.

give it a proper setup, mid 80's ambient temperature, 130F basking spot, and lots of food, and within a month you will have not only a larger animal, but a temperamentally different animal as well.

many folks here on the forum are monitor nuts, and they love monitors. don't take it personally, it just kinda offends when folks treat a monitor like a poodle, because naturally, it shouldn't act that way, something must be odd...

best of luck with your animal, be sure to check out Rob Faust's great book on Nile monitors if you haven't already!
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

All kidding aside In the winter my house is at least 75. Its been 75-85 so far this summer in the hot sun, no problem, he is up to speed. Faust has already heard about him. A friend at our reptile show has talked to him, they are friends. His cage is ususally 110-120 all the time. He prefers being loose and around us.I've hate a hambuger off the grill and rubbed noses with him,no fear of a bite. I've had 4 niles. Two I could not tone down, I have a younger one almost as tame. My son gives him a kiss. He reacts to his name. I've tried other words and he knows the difference. Belive me he is not at hlf speed even though not full grown. I know a guy who rasies monitor,currently a 9ft water, he's had several niles and he still canot beleive what he sees in mine. I've averaged at least 2-3 hrs a day since he was born with him.Even lose in the yard 80-90 degrees in sun light he still reacts calm and handible.

>>All kidding aside In the winter my house is at least 75. Its been 75-85 so far this summer in the hot sun, no problem, he is up to speed. Faust has already heard about him. A friend at our reptile show has talked to him, they are friends. His cage is ususally 110-120 all the time. He prefers being loose and around us.I've hate a hambuger off the grill and rubbed noses with him,no fear of a bite. I've had 4 niles. Two I could not tone down, I have a younger one almost as tame. My son gives him a kiss. He reacts to his name. I've tried other words and he knows the difference. Belive me he is not at hlf speed even though not full grown. I know a guy who rasies monitor,currently a 9ft water, he's had several niles and he still canot beleive what he sees in mine. I've averaged at least 2-3 hrs a day since he was born with him.Even lose in the yard 80-90 degrees in sun light he still reacts calm and handible.
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Jaye- " When you try of all your forces to make your own way, you will help some of others and will be helped by others. As long as you do not make your own way, you cannot help anybody, and nobody can help you. " (Shunryu Suzuki)

>>All kidding aside In the winter my house is at least 75. Its been 75-85 so far this summer in the hot sun, no problem, he is up to speed. Faust has already heard about him. A friend at our reptile show has talked to him, they are friends. His cage is ususally 110-120 all the time. He prefers being loose and around us.I've hate a hambuger off the grill and rubbed noses with him,no fear of a bite. I've had 4 niles. Two I could not tone down, I have a younger one almost as tame. My son gives him a kiss. He reacts to his name. I've tried other words and he knows the difference. Belive me he is not at hlf speed even though not full grown. I know a guy who rasies monitor,currently a 9ft water, he's had several niles and he still canot beleive what he sees in mine. I've averaged at least 2-3 hrs a day since he was born with him.Even lose in the yard 80-90 degrees in sun light he still reacts calm and handible.