Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Two of the babies I currently have always try to bite and whip me. Does anyone have any advice how to tame them down so they dont bite and yes I know it takes time to do this. I know there is some of you out there that have white throats please give me your expert advice. I really like these and would like to get a couple of more so I work with them. I would pay 400.00 to get one of frank retes babies. Sorry if i spelled the last name wrong. Please help.

They calm down on their own just with normal interaction during feeding, cage cleaning, whatever. Take them out at least every other day after they get settled. I've never had one NOT tame down after a month or two.

Cheers
Jim

all of mine calmed down on their own with normal interaction(feeding,cleaning) they are all great...Phil..

Tame!!!! What a bad, bad word. GET IT OUT OF YOUR HEAD!!!!! It doesn't exisist. Monitors are never tame, just tolerant. They act that way because they are babies and they're affraid of you. Plus they're in new surroundings. They have new sights, smells, noises, and visuals. Be very patient with your little ones. It's going to take a long time to get them to be handlable w/out biting or anything like that. Even a so called "tame" monitor will have it's moment to where it will bite, tail whip, hiss. Expect it no matter what you do. A monitors temper changes like the wind.
Good luck
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Christine :>~

The meaning of that word is open for interpretation, and I know what he meant.

Jim

I'd have to agree with Christine on this one, because we don't really know how crocmon interprets the word 'tame'. Most people tend to think that 'tame' means never having to be wary of the animal. Not only do 'tame' monitors have their freaky moments when something frightens them and they suddenly hiss and tail whip (perhaps even bite), but they can also go into a feeding response when 'inappropriate' (for us). My 'tamest' animal rarely gets frightened and I can do just about anything around it (including turning on vacuum cleaners and power tools) without eliciting a fear response, but it takes very little to trigger a feeding response, especially when it is in its enclosure

What?! How dare you disagree with me in public!!
Actually, my loose assumption was that "tame" in this case just means not biting and tail lashing him every time he picks them up! I never assume a person is using the word in the sense of a kitty cat or puppy. I think we use it for lack of a better word, and in my mind it has a different meaning with reference to varanids.

As I said, I know what he means. Little albigs like to bite, hang on, and do a death roll! It's pretty funny actualy despite the pain involved. If he wants to call them tame when this behavior stops, that's his business I suppose. If Christine wants to chew him out for it, that's her option as well. Then I'll come back, chew her out, and we can all do this again. Heh!

Peace
Jim

The word pretty much means the same to everyone. When you hear the word tame you think domesticated, calm, handlable. Not jumpy, possibility of biting, pooping on you ect. Even the dictionary has this definition: Reduced from a state of native wildness especially so as to be tractable and useful to humans,
made docile and submissive, lacking spirit, zest, interest, or the capacity to excite.
The only monitor I've ever heard that fits that definition is a sick or a dead one! Hence that word tame shouldn't be used. When you say a tame animal you think dog, cats, puppies, kittens, hamsters, and so forth and so on. Monitors nor snakes are mentioned in that form. i can promise you that just when you think that your monitor is "tame" it'll turn around and prove to you that it's not. Mine have on more than one occasion.
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Christine :>~

"i can promise you that just when you think that your monitor is "tame" it'll turn around and prove to you that it's not. Mine have on more than one occasion."

Well I can tell you that after 10 years or so of doing this, I don't need you do promise me anything about he behavior of my animials!
Furthermore, I'll not disagree in princible with anything you said, especially if you're going to stick by the Websters definiton of the word - fair enough. Let's not piss over such things. I have to ask though, how then does your pic of you holding that large croc on your shoulder near a busy street fit in with your point of view quoted above?
Hmmm?
Sorry couldn't resist.

Jim

Not my Croc! Boy that's going to piss off some of the other herpers! That was something that was hashed out a long time ago. Let it go!!! If you want I'll post the pic agian. As a matter of fact he is another pic of me holding a croc!

The same basic principles still apply! No matter how much handling occurs they are still wild animals. I have broken the rules many times. Actually I've shattered them!!! Yes I've made mistakes, but haven't we all? I was telling it the way most other keepers would have in the "expect the worst, hope for the best" form. Taking what I've learned and passing it on.
There was no chew out session or anything like that, just the simple facts of what could be expected out of his monitors.
That's about it.
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Christine :>~

If you cant tell by the look on my face I was really nervous about holding her. She gave me 100% different signals than the 7' did. Even though it looks like she is close to me she's not. I didn't trust her. She actually wasn't bad. A little flighty but not bad. She calmed down after she came out of her cage pretty quickly.
I had to wait until they closed to hold her. A) For the safety of the other customers B) For the safety of the Monitor and C) My safety. I 150% agreed to that.

They also tell people that she is really mean because they don't want people trying to handle her. That could be a bad thing. I was privileged.
She is a great Croc, and VERY pretty. She has great colors but is now in full shed.
Thanks.
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Christine :>~

For me, female monitors are always the most calm and trustworthy. It seems for you its very different. You felt secure with males, but were nervous with females.

Do you have any Ideas on this, as you can imagine I do. hahahahahahahaha. Thanks Frank

Ha ha ha ha. I guess oposites attract!!!! Not sure on the proper answer to your question. I might have to ponder that one a while.
Maybe she thought I was going to take her boy, invade her territory, who knows. She was just a young monitor that didn't understand!
HHHHHmmmmmmmm as normal Frank you have given us all something to think about.
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Christine :>~

Jim, I am not trying to stick up for anyone. However, as someone who has seen this keeper's collection, the way she keeps them and has heard her thoughts on monitor care, i can say a couple things about it: one, we differ in an area, number two, i think she is right on. we differ in that i do not handle my monitors (it just doesn't appeal to me). I think she is right on, because she has more heart for her monitors and her care than most people, and to top that off, she does a good job of it.

i was very hesitant to write this as most will just think i am being a dork and am bias anyways. but i call a spade a spade and would tell her to her face if i thought she was wrong.

ps: 10 years, and you are an expert? i hope i am not an expert in 50 years. i have been doing this for 5 years, and i have learned little. i am in like the 3rd grade in monitor husbandry, you?
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Varanus Creations

I never used the word expert to describe myself, on the other had by 3 years in I had learned quite a bit.

Jim

wow, 7th grade huh? you must have bred many monitors and have raised them up too. wow, i didn't know i was in the 7th grade. however, since i know i am not, i will just stay in the 3rd for now until i graduate.

cheers

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Varanus Creations