Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When you all take your monitors outside do you carry them everywhere or put one of those ferret/reptile leashes on them and how do they react to them? I've seen a lot of pics lately of monitors outside and none of them seem to be wearing any leashes...

However, people insist on treating monitors like everything they are not. Monitors are not social animals, they certainly do not like leashes (or should i say understand them). Secondly, if monitors understood leashes, they would not allow you to use them because they have no desire to obey you and in no way feel submissive as into let you cart them around.

Monitors likewise do not like handling, they do not come by the name spike, and many other things a monitor does not like.

I think for the most part, even though this is a beginner's forum, people understand that monitors are less pets and more like we are there personal servants. we treat our monitors like fine art, where we gaze at them rather than manipulate them.

if you want a monitor to show off and put on a spiked collar and tell your friends about, you do not need a monitor but a dog.

cheers, andrew
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Varanus Creations

Man Andrew, a bit nippy today?! haha, i understand it comes from being an oldbie !(joking)

rgrds,
Michelle

np

What I'm about to say in no way means that any other monitor on this planet will act this way.

Gator, my 37" male Savannah acts nothing like a "normal" Savannah. He does come when I call him, he seems to enjoy being handled to the point that he sleeps on my lap. No it's not a heat thing either. I have put that to the test a few times. He is proctive over me to point of biting, hissing and tail whipping the men I've dated. He has even everted on me in what seemed to be a non fear based action or defense. He has even scent marked me. I have pics of that too. I know that sounds gross but his behaviors at that moment were really interesting to me so I kept watching to see what he'd do next. Basically he was in an empty room (an 12'x14' room) in my house and he was cruising around. He was next to me in the middle of the room when he saw himself in the mirrored closet doors. He puffed up and charged head on into the mirror. Ouch! He then proceeded to puff up hiss and try to fight and kill the male monitor in the mirror. When he felt he had taken care of this rogue male he proceeded to walk the entire room and scent mark everything with his face and vent. This behavior was interesting to watch until he looked at me then the mirror back at me then he walked right over to me and he began the scent marking again.
Gator's behaviors are really unusual for any monitor. These behaviors are done whether he's hot, cold, wet, dry, anytime. If anyone can explain them I would love to hear it. It's been told to me that he pairbonded with me. Oh and he has also tried to kill two females that he was placed with even on neautral ground.
Thanks
Sorry so Long
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Christine :>~

Gator is in love with you and knows you make the wrong choices with men Actually I agree with some of that stuff.People think "monitors are just monitors" and don't give them credit for their intelligence.Monitors bond (to some degree)with owners that take the time to do so.People that just breed them or just watch them and don't interact with them on a daily basis wouldn't(and don't)understand them as much as they think they do.My Blackthroat "Sweetpea" thrives on interaction and will follow me around the house just to climb up and sit on my shoulder.Heat has NOTHING to do with it.

built4spd13 Thats funn ive never heard that before.

I remember trying all of Gator's tactics of 'pairbonding' with my wife before we were married - it resulted in physical aggression every time. I'm just thankful human females don't share the same behaviors as praying mantids.

My worthless 2 cents? There are 2 camps, bonders and non-bonders. Those who observe, provide, and care for their charges while relating to them as a pet. And those who observe, provide, and care for their animals in a less interactive manner - akin to aquarium husbandry.(For my part, more specifically, marine reef aquaria)My anemone still won't come when I call it. It's about providing the correct environment moreso than the pet/owner relationship.

The important point: neither camp is better than the other. Both camps enjoy and admire varanids.

Christine, I have heard somewhat similar stories regarding green iguanas and their female keepers/girlfriends. Just make sure Gator minds his manners and offers to buy dinner once in a while.

No apologies for long post

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I most definitely restrain my animals via harness when outside. Accidents happen, but I also believe that it is very importaint that when people see me with a reptile, that they can feel safe in knowing that its not going to escape. As herp owners, we need to show the rest of the world that we are responsible, and competent enough to make sure "accidents" dont occur. Lets put our best faces foward

Rgrds,
-Michelle

I think the whole point of a leash on a monitor, is to prevent it from running off, not to make it walk anywhere.

I used one for years with my ig, so she could get the sunshine she needed. She would never walk on it with me, and would run to the end and barrel roll if I were holding an end. But tied to a tree, she would bask, and dig in the dirt, and eat dandelions.
I would not hesitate to harness a monitor, should I ever take them somewhere where escape outside is possible. It does not mean I am trying to turn it into another animal.
D.

I usually wait until the monitor is calm enough to take out without a leash.Sometimes I will put a leash on for safety purposes but not hold onto it,just to make sure they are completely calm with their environment.I take them to a local lake and let them free roam in the grass for hours.When people approach to see what it is,I hold them.Then I answer the same question over and over,"Is that an Iguana"?I think I've been asked that question thousands of times over the past 15 years

I have been asked that question many times too. A lot people think that any big lizard is an iguana. I don’t know why but they do. But I can top that question. One day while I was outside with one of my dumerils. He was calmly basking on the porch railing. My landscaping guy came up to me and said "WOW!!, cool animal, is it an alligator??" After I stopped laughing I explained to him what it was. Now each time he is at my house he always asks how the "alligator" is doing as a joke between him and me.

all in good fun.
Mike

Not just big lizards... people think that geckos are iguanas too. It must just mean 'lizard' to them, kind of sad.

When did I say that I agreed in leashes or taking lizards outside??? if you want to respond with condesending attitude next time at least read the post correctly

My blackthroat "Gilbert" definitely showed a preference for me over other people...without a doubt. I took him for walks

Tim

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umm....err...the monitor...yeah

All you guys that have monitors that perfer you over other people to the point that they are protective, how were these lizards as babbies. I have a savannah that I bought about a year and a half ago and he still isn't real tame. I've been handling him, taking him out to sun and feeding him by hand (with tongs) and he still throws a fit every time that I try to pick him up (tail whipping, hissing, mouth gaping) do you think he will ever tame down to the point of your all's monitors?
Thanks!
-Mike