Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do monitors grow their claws back if they get torn off or broken off? I'm asking because at the reptile store where I live, they're selling a REALLY friendly mangreove monitor and he's super fat and almost full grown. I didn't see any sign of illness on him except that he's missing two claws. Will they grow back or will he be clawless?

I want to know because I'm seriously thinking about purchasing this guy. He's everything you could want in a tame monitor except that he eats liver patte so his food might be expensive. He is a gorgeous animal but the fact he's missing two claws REALLY irks me. Should I get over my aesthetic obsession and get him or should I forget about him?

Claws can grow back, toes won't.

I would be more concerned with the conditions it was raised in, than the absence of digits.

--Robert

He's in a 'small' display cage during the store hours and is moved to a 100 gallon tank at night. He's very healthy and he's a good size almost three feet and fat. I wish I could post a pic but I can't.

The people at this 'pet store' deal with private breeders and have a good rep within the immediate area herpers. I've purchased several animals from them and I've never had a problem with any of them.

I read that mangroves are the most likely to lose claws/toes/limbs in the wild and it has started to reflect on the captive bred mangroves as well. Is there a specific reason they lose their claws and toes?

>He's in a 'small' display cage during the store hours and is
>moved to a 100 gallon tank at night. He's very healthy and
>he's a good size almost three feet and fat. I wish I could
>post a pic but I can't.

That is a key reason I wonder about the tame thing, a 100 gallon tank is by no means not 'small' for a three foot monitor, and mangroves can get much bigger. I would bet money that with proper heat and a larger cage, you will see more personality.

I won't even touch the patte thing.

Monitors die in nature too, that's also in captivity. That does not make it good. It (missing toes) was probably caused by stress and/or environmental factors. No big deal by itself, but liver patte???????? Oops I'll shut up now

If you really want the advice, forget him

--Robert

All right, I will. Thank you for your input and you just saved me 120 dollars. You wouldn't by chance know of any sites that deal specifically with monitors of all species and sizes?

I'd like to get another Nile but I don't want to deal with the stress of another baby. Too skittish and too many trips to get stitches from his claws.

I don't get the patte thing either. I guess it's a treat like you give a boa a chicken or quail once in a great while just to add variety to to the mammal based diet.

Is it pate foie gras the monitor is used to? You see, that could get expensive. But if the monitor is used to cheaper pate, you may get away with liverwurst and then your problems are solved.

How's your Nile doing?

just in case this isn't a troll, I was joking. Don't feed any monitor pate.

Ummm....no? I don't own this monitor so I don't feed him pate.

Godzilla is doing fine other than he thinks he's tougher than my new scorpion which is nine inches long. They are put next to each other in glass aquaria so Godzilla taunts the scorpion all the time, just to get him worked up. It's rather amusing to watch but Godzilla gets bored after a while then goes to sleep.

Get that lizard on real food (if you're not just joking). Rodents, and insects are cheaper than that garbage and healthier too. Try some roaches or locust and small mice.

Claws shouldn't be missing but if it's otherwise healthy...they're a fairly minor issue, and if it's just the claws missing, as opposed to the toes, they'll grow back.

I don't own this animal!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I only have a Nile and he's fed everything he could possibly want to eat from crickets to raw beef heart. The mangrove monitor ISN'T mine.