Reptile & Amphibian Forums

our 2 year old monitor got out of his enlosure today. someone, i wont mention who, for got to clasp the lock. anyways, he is 100% completly gone. We have checked everywhere and have spent the last 2 hours combing over our apartment from top to bottom. Does anyone have and suggestions as to where a monitor would go with the oppurtunity of freedom. or does anyone have any suggestions on how to lure him out? a speedy reply would be greatly appreciated if you have any ideas at all.

thanks
niki

Always look close to the enclosure first, usually the tightest spot you can find, then circle outwards. Most don't seem to bolt on escaping, but hide first, wait a while, then emerge to look for a better spot later.

Well, you didn't say what kind of monitor is, that would have been helpful. I will assume he is a medium sized monitor for now. First, look on the back side of the cage, like holding on flattened up against the back of the vertical surface. then search out from there. Pull the stove out, refrigerator, washer and dryer. Then search around built in cabinets and the crevices there. If you find him up there just set some food out around there to lure him out and that will perhaps get him to another part of the house.

Generally though (as long as there are no outside escape routes)they are close to the cage.

andrew

Hi Nikki,

I agree with the other post, they generally stay close to their enclosures or where ever you have them at the time. My Sav once got out of the tub and got into the wall thru a hallway closet and wedged himself under the tub. I had no clue where to look but then i remembered the last time it escaped its enclosure, my ferrets lead me right to em. So i figured it was worth a try and 5 minutes later they indeed lead me right to em but getting it to come out was the hard part which took another 24 hours. What i did after locating her was to set up a basking spot right near where she was along with food. When i awoke the next morning i caught her basking, grabbed her and placed her back in her enclosure.

So if you any other animals that can sniff it out but will not hurt it that may come in handy!
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James Grigsby
Newark,Delaware

Animals Kept include:
0.0.1 Varanus Salvator (Gator)
0.1.3 Varanus Exanthematicus (Adisa "long term captive" other 3 "yet to be named hatchlings"
2.0 Ferrets (Chaos & Kasha)
1.0 Cat (George)

I feal for ya! My cage is not the most secure and my monitor leaves his cage on weekly basis, the door to his room is always shut so I can find him easily. The advice posted is good, I really like the basking light idea. The other thing to remeber is that if they get cold they won't move for awhile so it could take a few days. It took two weeks for my Jungle Carpet to show up.

I had a two foot water disappear once. I turned my house upside down. I put out several basking spots and food. Nothing. Then a week later I found a big pile of lizard crap smack in the middle of my garage. The monitor was wedged behind some wood nearby (that I had already inspected millions of times). Be patient, because your monitor will.

Thanks to everyone who posted. i have placed a basking light in every room of the house and am waiting patiently for Floyd to come out of his hiding spot. my husband and i have looked EVERYWHERE three times and still no Floyd. The guy at the petstore told me to put up the basking lights and to make it very cold in the house because he will come out in search of the heat. What do you all think about that? i thought that ectotherms got there energy from heat and if he was cold then he wont move. Let me know what you all think.

Still waiting patiently,

niki

My BRN got out a few times one time when i couldnt find him he was behind the cutains basking in the sun rays at the window he was there approxx 24 hours were guessing, hes a really sneak. Hope this helps

Sean
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1 Black roughneck Monitor (Slick Rick)
A ton of Crested Geckos
1 Vieled Cham (Tony Montana)
Nosy Be Panther Chame (GEE)
1 Leo (Nikki)
1 Uro Yoshi
60 Gallon Hex African Cichlid Tank
26 Gallon Bowfront Marine Tank
1 Blue Quaker Parrot Kenny Blankenchip
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Play very loud agressive heavy metal music, if you get the right stuff (i personally dont even like heavy metal) he will start hissing, it works wonders for my bt

this works only if you have no other animals or children around the house.

put out the basking lights and put some mice in a cage in the middle of the room, then lay out a line of flour on the floor at all entrance points to the room. You may find out which direction the lizard is coming from/going to and therefore its hide spot. I used this years ago to locate a python which had escaped and accessed the space between floors via a room in the basement.