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 #2091945


Begogan
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 Sick Nile Monitor? Or is he just shy? Yahoo Question

I recently purchased a Nile Monitor around a week and a half ago. When we first got him he was super active, hunting crickets, and sunning himself. We tried to handle him for the first time about a week ago, and he freaked out. Now all he does is stay in his hide all day long. He never comes out, we put crickets in cage and he just ignores them until they drown themselves. He comes out during the day when were not at home, but once the front door opens, he runs to his hide. I’m really concerned for my monitor, is he acting like this because hes just getting acclimated to his cage, or is there something seriously wrong with him? Ive kept geckos and iguanas before but this is my first monitor? Any tips or pointers would be greatly appreciated.
11/04/09  03:18pm

 #2091949


CLee
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   Message To: Begogan   In reference to Message Id: 2091945


 Sick Nile Monitor? Or is he just shy? Yahoo Question

Glad to see you here! I’m CLee from Yahoo. He isn’t sick, that is normal behavior for a new Monitor. But don’t handle him right now as he’s not ready. Oh well, I have to go right now but I’ll check back later. :-)

Cody
11/04/09  03:23pm

 #2091963


Norf
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   Message To: CLee   In reference to Message Id: 2091949


 Sick Nile Monitor? Or is he just shy? Yahoo Question

Quote:

He comes out during the day when were not at home, but once the front door opens, he runs to his hide.


Yes, that is completely normal. As you said yourself, he is just acclimating to the new environment. You should expect this to happen for the first few weeks.
And if you keep trying to handle him, chances are he’ll never stop doing that. So try to refrain from any physical interaction with him. Unless, of course, it is under his own terms.

Stick around and I promise you’ll learn a lot of good information. Just know that some people can get a bit rough. Fight hard and don’t let them get you down. You’re still learning.

Good luck.
11/04/09  03:44pm

 #2092001


Mdf
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   Message To: Begogan   In reference to Message Id: 2091945


 Sick Nile Monitor? Or is he just shy? Yahoo Question


As everyone is telling you just leave him he’ll come round, you need to gain his trust that your not a predator that’s about to eat him, remember a 12" upset monitor is a lot different to 6/7 foot upset monitor.
11/04/09  05:10pm

 #2092024


Jay h
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   Message To: Begogan   In reference to Message Id: 2091945


 Sick Nile Monitor? Or is he just shy? Yahoo Question

Good to see you followed the link I gave you Begogan .
These links to other threads on this forum should start you off in the right direction.

Link (Housing Monitors)
Link(Feeding Monitors)
Link(Tameing Monitors and Squirrels. lol )

And like Norf said

Quote:

Stick around and I promise you’ll learn a lot of good information. Just know that some people can get a bit rough. Fight hard and don’t let them get you down. You’re still learning.


Again, Im glad you came here. Your nile will thank you.



11/04/09  05:56pm

 #2092037


Betarev3
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   Message To: Begogan   In reference to Message Id: 2091945


 Sick Nile Monitor? Or is he just shy? Yahoo Question

As a nile owner, I’ll give you a short story of my past 2 1/2 years with mine.
When I got my nile, it was only 7-8 inches.
Crickets were its main course and it eat several everyday. I built a small cage, the first of four, and provided it with a good basking area and a few inchs of dirt and leaves.
I DID NOT handle. I wanted it to get use to me on its terms.
Niles have an attitude, they are not the best monitors to own.
Make sure it has places to hide.
Provide a good basking area, you need an infrared therometer to tell if the surface is warm enough.
My basking area varies from about 125 to 140 degrees F.
After a few weeks my nile stayed out more and more, but it always watched me. But I never threatened it in any way. Slowly the trust was building.
At about 12 inches, I built a second cage.
Larger basking area, larger hide.
Same for third enclosure. Now Im on the fourth.
At bout 14-15 inches I started feeding pinkies and hoppers for a few weeks
18 iches of so , hoppers or bigger.
After that, mice and chicks. Had to buy a freezer to store a large supply in. Niles eat a lot and can cost quite a bit.
My closure now is 10 feet by 5 feet by 5 feet. Too small for my Nile, but all I can provide.
4 lights in the basking area, large tub for water, several hides. Only a few inches of dirt and several inches of leaves. Most experienced owners recommend 2 feet of dirt or more. Niles dig. My floor cant stand that much weight so I make up with leaves. More leaves and dirt, the better the humidity. You NEED a humid cage for a healthy monitor. A solid top on the cage and all cracks sealed.
The first year, mine grew to over 4 feet. Now at almost 2 1/2 years old, little over 6 feet. Growth really slowed down this past summer.
You really have to watch their weight if the cage is small and no exercise much for them.
I burn my basking lights 24 hr. Electric bill increased a little per month.
Always keep fresh water, deep enough to them to submerge.
Its a good idea to tong feed or place it in the cage somewhere. Handfeeding can be dangerous, especially when the nile is larger. Teeth are like razors.
Just keep a WARM, HUMID enclosure, SOLID TOP, good watering area, HOT BASKING AREA, several hides and have a lot of PATIENCE, and when I say patience, I mean leave the nile alone and let it get used to you on ITS TERMS.

These are my experiences and my opinions.
So far Ive been successful.
Take advice from others, I did.

Any questions, just ask.
11/04/09  06:14pm

 #2092293


Manchild
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   Message To: Betarev3   In reference to Message Id: 2092037


 Sick Nile Monitor? Or is he just shy? Yahoo Question

I’m going to agree with what everyone else has said,leave him alone and give him time to settle in.Do not force yourself on him.Just by picking him up that one time could have set him back months.I am going to ask.one thing,if you can pleases post some pictures of your set up or give us the details on your temperatures and humidity levels,and what are you keeping him in.

greg
11/05/09  12:31pm

 #2092296


Mxracer
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   Message To: Manchild   In reference to Message Id: 2092293


 Sick Nile Monitor? Or is he just shy? Yahoo Question

What little trust he had in you is probably gone like said above. Now, let him be and don’t touch him. Now you have to build the trust back.
11/05/09  12:56pm


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