Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I was wondering if any one has had any success taming a WC adult Croc monitor. I know there are some animals that can not be considered tame like tigers, lions, croc monitors, ect..., but there are exeption to every rule. I've had him for over a year now (he's 6 feet) and he has not calm down much. I hold him about twice a month and he is pretty fiesty but calms a bit after about 5 minutes, but i still hold on to his neck. I was wondering If I held him every day would he calm down? I know young ones can be tamed but I don't know about adults. If anyone has succeded at this or attempted it or if you have any horror stories please let me know.
Thank You.

ive had many crocs, some just dont dont seem to get use to you. The ones that i spend time on seem to calm down though.
What i do with the ones i want to hold, but i never let them sit on my solder or back or anywhere near my face, even the most tame ones, NEVER NEVER trust them, they are a very differnt kind of monitor as far as being able to damage you, i know some people think there not one of the more damage inflicting monitor, but i think they are the most vicious biting monitor available:

I feed them by hand, wear a glove though, i feed them everything by hand.

I spray them 3-4 times a day and they like to drink from the bottle too after months of doing that.

I take them out every couple days and put them in a filled bathtub.

I let them walk around the house with me following them,never alone though and i have tile floors, they cant go very fast, if i had carpet i dont think i would let them do it, careful though, as you know they scare easy and can run into things and smash there faces very easy.

I will put my hand in the cage slowly and pet their backs while watching them close they dont turn on me, everyday i do this.

Rats work the best to get them to feed from your hand to get them to trust you(the point isnt to get them to feed from your hand, its to get them confortable to come to you without feeling your going to eat them and you mean no harm) , mice work too but the scent of the rat is WAY more appealing to crocs(dont know why really). If your croc is stubborn and afraid still feed him one rat live, this usualy gets the frenzy thing going and they usualy want more, use a pre killed one and let him see it and move it closer to him by holding by the tail, he should take it right away, but somtimes it takes a few feedings for them to feel confident. Some people believe feeding by hand makes monitors want to bite your hand, that may be but what better way to a monitors heart if not through food

As you already know by having him a year and you would not have bought a croc if you were unexperienced but just a reminder monitors that size can do some damage and if you get bit and they dont want to let go your in serious trouble.

They are also fairly smart for a monitor, this makes them harder to tame/moody i think, but with repitition they are somewhat tame-able or handle-able, but i dont think they will ever be like a savannah. Id say one 1 out of 3 are manageable, i can go into the enclosures of the ones i spend time with and just pick them up and they dont bite, but once in a while when they are on the floor in the house they open their mouths at me.

Im sure others have better ways to calm down monitors, but the above works for me fairly well, but really i dont think the croc is a good handle-able pet, they are for all us diehards who like the beast. Ive never had a cb croc, but had many imported small babies. I didnt see to much difference between the smaller ones as far as attitude.

if i can borrow my partners camera in a few days ill post some pics of feeding time from my hand.

Thank you for the information. I plan on trying to start handling him more and i'm gonna try feeding him by hand.

Feeding a croc by hand even with a glove can be dangerous. I have had them puncture my skin even with gloves on.

Feeding them from a tong does the same as from a glove. But they will look to the food to be at the end of the tong and not your hand. The food itself will still come from you and help gain their trust.

Once you gain trust it is easier to work with them. I still would not advise hugging or kissing them. Keep your wits about you.