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 #1828754


KsTaR
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 New to niles....

hey ppl i jus got my 1st nile monitor and was wondering does any 1 know whats the best food to be feeding him...hes about 30 inches head to tail...and i also wanna know some taming methods if anyone could help me...ill have some pics soon...thank u
08/12/08  06:48pm

 #1828789


Reptictale92
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   Message To: KsTaR   In reference to Message Id: 1828754


 New to niles....

1. You can;t tame a monitor at all they will only get tolerant of you. If he is a bay feed him insects and roaches, and a pinkie mice. I hope you know you are going to need a room size cage for him. Here is a Link.

Link
08/12/08  07:20pm

 #1828809


Betarev3
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   Message To: KsTaR   In reference to Message Id: 1828754


 New to niles....

yur in touble
08/12/08  07:33pm

 #1828850


Sidbarvin
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   Message To: Reptictale92   In reference to Message Id: 1828789


 New to niles....

Perhaps It would have been a good idea to research such things before acquiring such an animal.

At the size mentioned you can feed all manner of whole prey items. I have two young niles that are a bit over 24" eating small mice as a staple with some day old quail and crickets thrown in a couple times a week.

Personally, my monitors training extends only as far as teaching them that I am not a threat to them. As far as taming, well, that seems to be a relative term, open to individual definition. If your goal is to have a healthy, vibrant captive nile, you may be dissapointed if you expect a lap lizard as well. If you manage to get it to the point of loosing it’s fear of you, you will realize that even then, things happen on their terms, not yours.

Teaching them not to fear you can be a long slow process considering the nature of young monitors. In the wild, these animals are prey to various larger predators. So, it only stands to reason that they avoid creatures that are larger than themselves. In captivity, that would be you. Handling it against it’s will will only reinforce it’s fear of you. The nile instinctively fears you will avoid you at all costs. In a good setup with deep dirt for burrowing, and plenty of logs and branches for climbing, it’s pretty likely, you will not see it much for some time. You will have to teach it that you are key to it’s survival. Let it settle in and begin eating on it’s own regularly. After it has settled in to it’s new home. Begin offering food while it’s out. It will avoid you at first, but be sure it sees that you are where the food is coming from. Do this daily. When it’s to the point where it will stay put with your hand in the cage, leave the food near it. Sooner or later, hopefully, it will begin taking food from you. At some point it may even climb on you and allow you to hold it.

Do you realize what a costly endeavor you have just embarked on. Niles are a lot of work. I noticed you mentioned in your last thread that you planned on giving it a room to it’s self. Setting up a room that can contain the proper environment for a monitor is a huge expense. Good luck.



08/12/08  08:15pm

 #1828858


AlbigsRule
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   Message To: Sidbarvin   In reference to Message Id: 1828850


 New to niles....

Hmm Rodger, it’s ridiculous how many times you have had to explain this exact same subject, you should save a copy of and when someone asks this same stupid question just paste it on. Irritating question...


Brandon
08/12/08  08:21pm

 #1828879


Zuko
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   Message To: AlbigsRule   In reference to Message Id: 1828858


 New to niles....

Ditto

In my experience, when the monitor loses fear of you it starts to look at you in a different light........ food!

Today I had a 10inch sav hanging off my nose! he/she has just started to stay at the front of the viv when the glass is open. lol

3 days ago my 1year old 34inch male who has never bitten, decided to have a taste of ’finger’ - not only did it hurt, my finger was raw and (trying to be polite) the next day my bowels were rather off!!!

(OT - but anyone else bitten experienced similar, envenomation/ bacteria???)

Not even getting into the enclosure size, what would a 6ft+ nile do to your finger (and the rest of your hand)

Research is the key and respect is paramount, trust will ensue.

Zuko
08/12/08  08:43pm

 #1828960


Sidbarvin
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   Message To: AlbigsRule   In reference to Message Id: 1828858


 New to niles....

Yes Brandon, it does become quite tiresome, especially when you get the feeling that the person with the new monitor is a minor, still living with their parents and won’t even keep the monitor for more than a year or two.

Zuko, I think Chad, (AlbigCrazy) had some sort of strange, lingering, ill effect from the bite of an albig.
08/12/08  09:53pm

 #1828973


AlbigsRule
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   Message To: Sidbarvin   In reference to Message Id: 1828960


 New to niles....

Yes, it’s almost not even worth posting anymore. It seems that every month more and more kids are getting these magnificent beasts and killing them off. What really gets me is the ones that actually do kill them and then go out and buy another one, and then ask what to do. I am glad we now have reeds forum for the less ignorant keepers... lol

Zuko, do you think it could just be coincidence?


Brandon
08/12/08  09:58pm

 #1828999


Zacha
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   Message To: AlbigsRule   In reference to Message Id: 1828973


 New to niles....

hey not all kids are irresponsible monitor lizard owners. I am 15 and i have successfully raised my dumerils monitor from a 3 week old baby (i think that’s how old he was) and now he is super healthy and doing great. he is around a foot and a half or two feet long. although i did do my fare share of research, almost 2 years deciding what would be the best choice as a monitor lizard as a pet. i new he would never be like a lap pet or some little puppy dog tame lizard. he does know i am not a threat because i am person that feeds him every day. its like we have created a circle of trust almost. the morale of this post is that kids can have the right to keep them as long as they know what they are doing. ill try and get a pic my lizard for all of you guys if you would like.
08/12/08  10:19pm

 #1829004


Mikelodi
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   Message To: AlbigsRule   In reference to Message Id: 1828973


 New to Niles....

I work at a local reptile shop and about 3 years ago i got bit by a fresh import black throat it was about 2 foot.With in 2 hours i had to go home my whole body hurt and felt sore i head a very bad head ache and was very sensitive to light then i woke up the next day feeling normal it was very strange iv been bit alot more than just that and have never had this happen again.
Mike Harris
08/12/08  10:23pm

 #1829017


AlbigsRule
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   Message To: Mikelodi   In reference to Message Id: 1829004


 New to Niles....

Zacha, kids have no business with an animal like a monitor. Just because you have "successfully" raised this monitor now doesn’t mean you are going to keep him for the remainder of his life. What are you going to do when you go to college, or worse, if you decide to just go straight into the workforce? How many jobs do you know of that are gonna start you off with no experience on a salary that is going to support you, posiibly a family, and an animal that is going to cost a few hundred if not thousand bucks a year? You gotta think of whats going to happen in the long run. Some people get lucky (like myself) and can pull it off (not saying that my luck wont change), but we are so young, life changing things are going to happen everyday. It’s 100% better to wait till you have a steady life before entering this hobby!


Brandon



08/12/08  10:35pm

 #1829025


Sidbarvin
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   Message To: AlbigsRule   In reference to Message Id: 1828973


 New to niles....

Well Brandon, it does seem that way sometimes but you have to think about the people lurking that may post only here or there or not at all that benefit from reading through these threads. I can think of quite a few relatively new members, yourself included that seem to be doing quite well with their monitors, most likely from reading the same $hit over and over here. This stuff must be gone over and over since there are always poeple coming here who are new to this hobby. Even if only one in ten or even one in twenty actually put the information to use it’s worth it. Heck, when I first joined this site, I lurked untill I figured out who had actual experience, payed close attention to what they were saying and copied their setups. Heck, I did’nt even post untill I had my cages set up in accord with what I was reading here and my animals were doing well.
08/12/08  10:46pm

 #1829376


Cinderellawkids
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   Message To: Sidbarvin   In reference to Message Id: 1829025


 New to niles....

In my experience, when the monitor loses fear of you it starts to look at you in a different light........ food!


haha sooo true
08/13/08  10:11am

 #1829400


BansheeRacer25
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   Message To: AlbigsRule   In reference to Message Id: 1829017


 New to Niles....

Brandon, I am 18 years old live at home just graduated highschool. Are you saying i can not support a monitor. You may have jumped the gun a tad bit. I think you are correct with the cost and about college. But it is very capable, it just takes dedication. I could not tell you how many times i came home from work and got b1tched at from my girlfriend because i had to clean lizard cages,feeder cages and not hang out with her.

Bill
08/13/08  10:29am

 #1829422


Zuko
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   Message To: AlbigsRule   In reference to Message Id: 1828973


 New to niles....

AlbigsRule -

TBH I dont think its coincidence, without talking about the research into varanus and venom.

Im pretty healthy and nothing is out of the norm, no funny foods, weather change or bugs going about.........

Being captives they obviously will have less bacteria in the mouth but who knows.


Sidbarvin -

I dont know how you do it sometimes, posting over and over telling the same sort of people the same thing. You must have alot of patience!

But still, good on you

Carl



08/13/08  10:53am

 #1829760


Reptictale92
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   Message To: Zuko   In reference to Message Id: 1829422


 New to niles....

Quote:

What are you going to do when you go to college



AlbigRule are you going to college yourself. I just got done selling all my snakes, and 1 monitor and 1 tegu to make room for my Ornate monitor and my black throat. I pay for there food. I don’t think a kid has anything to do with it, cause I seen some adults on here that are lacking knowledge about the monitor as well as some kids. Just my 2 cents.
08/13/08  03:09pm

 #1829818


Sold82
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   Message To: Reptictale92   In reference to Message Id: 1829760


 New to niles....

The problem with young kids getting monitors isn’t always the keeper lacking knowledge, but rather the fact that the lizard can live decades. Can you honestly say you are exactly where you thought you’d be when you were 15? At 15 I didn’t think I would EVER join the Army let alone spend years there, even 4 years ago at 22, I had no idea that I would end up a friggin correctional officer! The point being the future is uncertain for adults, let alone a child with a job paying $10 an hour tops. Job stability is an issue too especially in todays economy. There is just so much that changes over the years it is ridiculous for a 15 year old to own a monitor and KNOW they will be stable enough to care for and keep it for its full life.

And to Roger, yours and Crocdocs post are practically committed to memory I have seen them so much. But thats not a bad thing, screw these incompetent, immature, tards that don’t listen to you. you are helping out others even if some don’t listen.
08/13/08  04:02pm

 #1829838


Reedie
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   Message To: Sold82   In reference to Message Id: 1829818


 New to niles....

Zuko, have you seen the research paper by Dr. Fry?

-Reed
08/13/08  04:18pm

 #1830142


Zuko
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   Message To: Reedie   In reference to Message Id: 1829838


 New to niles....

Hi there Reed,

Yes i have seen reports from Bryan Fry, alot of people havnt though so just wanted to hear peoples accounts of bites etc.
Thats why I mentioned bacteria aswell, to gauge the replies of people who follow the research more closely.

Is there any particular points that you want to mention?, Ive long been a believer of what the reports say but not been on the forums long enough for people to take much notice of me. If I mentioned about beardies people who are not as enthusiastic as you or I would just laugh!. lol

Thanks

Carl



08/13/08  08:45pm

 #1830152


Reedie
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   Message To: Zuko   In reference to Message Id: 1830142


 New to niles....

I was just asking, thought you may have found it interesting.

Personally, you and my friend Chad(albigcrazy) are the only reports I have ever heard about, having reactions to a varanus bite.

I’ll PM you later.

Take care,
-Reed
08/13/08  08:52pm

 #1830167


Zuko
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   Message To: Reedie   In reference to Message Id: 1830152


 New to niles....

Anything to do with Varanids is interesting to me!

From quick snippets on the T.V to full biology reports that I might not understand. The varanus species is my addiction. lol

I Look forward to the PM.

Cheers

Carl



08/13/08  09:00pm

 #1875805


Sidbarvin
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   Message To: Zuko   In reference to Message Id: 1830167


 New to niles....

Um.... where’s the nile from this thread?
10/06/08  12:00am


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