Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[dirtydozen210]

hi, just got a sub adult ornate Nile monitor and got a couple of questions. Firstly i have been told to give it fish as well as what i already give him just wondering what IE what kind and how do i give him it and how often should i give him it. And also i was wondering the best method of taming him up, at the mo he is more nervous than aggressive, IE whipping his tail at me rather than biting me, I haven't actually had hold of him yet apart from when i put him in his temp tank as the glass in this tank isn't that thick and i don't want him to smash it with his tail whips, but all he did was struggle and whip me
any advise will be much appreciated
here is a couple of crap pix

[crocdoc]

First of all, if it is tame you are after you've picked the wrong species. The best way to get a calm monitor (I hate the word 'tame' in application to monitors) is to leave them alone and let them get used to your presence gradually (as opposed to force handling it). Do the normal maintenance, such as spot cleaning, water changes etc, without touching it, so that it learns you aren't a threat, then start gradually interacting with it in the enclosure before you even think of picking it up. It takes an extraordinary amount of patience if done correctly. However, Niles and ornates are well known for being defensive and not easily calmed.

Secondly, neither of those enclosures is anywhere near large enough (the top one particularly ridiculous). Aside from lack of exercise, small enclosures mean the monitor is always going to feel cornered and will always be extremely defensive.

Thirdly, when you do build a suitably sized enclosure for it, make sure it has deep dirt and plenty of opportunities for hide spots (such as flat bits of wood on the dirt that it can dig under, hollow logs etc). Having no hide spots and being exposed all of the time would make even relatively calm monitors defensive.

Having said all of that, you may want to think about what you want out of your monitor. If 'tame' is important to you, you'd be better off giving that monitor away to someone that is more interested in monitors as monitors rather than monitors as pets. There are other species which calm down more easily.

[Scott W]

[dirtydozen210]

well the tank he is pictured in first is as i said a temp tank while iam waiting for the glass for his new to tank to be done, i have only had him a few days and he wont be in it long. As for it taking a long time for him to bask while I'm in the room or taking food out of my hands, i would consider him to be totally different as he is already getting very use to my presence and even comes to the glass to great me, he may threat a little but nothing compared to how he was, but like i said with the glass being thin i haven't pushed him to far IE going near him inside the tank. I got him from someone i know that is having to relocate and cant take him with him. The tank iam building for him is 6x2.5x4 and will have plenty of hiding places for him. Also no one answered me about the fish?
does anyone know of anyone that might be interested in a swap for something else. I basically got him because of the above reason and didn't want him to go to some idiot. I'm not a pro with reps but i do know how to look after them.

[Sean]

Yes I agree totally with Dave. In my opinion niles/ornates do not make make suitable captives. Easily stressed and diet is soo important to these species. Even your dimensions for your a new enclosure are way too small, if you are saying that 6ft is the length then think again. I have seen male ornates at 7ft in length it would be like putting you in a casket.

If you are going to persist with this species then I would also say that you need much more width as much as to clear the tail if it whips then this will hopefully stop the tail from being damaged, although from your pics I already see that the end of the tail is missing. It is such a sorry sight to see this in niles and other species and most of this can be prevented with a little thought from having a wider enclosure so they cannot hit the glass or dimensions of the viv. Of course I have seen wild varanus with missing tail ends but most if not all captives is caused through the above.

As for fish I would stick to fresh water fish i.e. brown trout or carp as an example.

[dirtydozen210]

i dont understand some people on this forum and many others like it. you ask for a bit of advise and all you get is slated by no it alls. As forthe tail missing this was already missing when i got him and as for making the tank larger i dont think you could really make a tank wide enough for it not to hit the sides, what if the lizard is by the side of the tank when it whips its tail? This lizard will be looked after just like the rest of my herps and i got it to make sure that it did and didnt go to someone who just thought it looked good, all i asked for was a little advise on how to tame him but all i basically got was abuse, so i will stick to the advise i got from people PM'in me, people that dont want to post on threads because of slaters such as yourselves, and when he is tame after the time and persitence i put in with him i will post a thread to let you no belivers know
ta jonny

[Thomas Shanta]

Jonny,no one was slating you,you admit yourself that your no expert so instead of getting teasy,shut up and listen to those who know what their talking about.Regards Thomas

[Budda]

Nile monitors are a sour subject in my eyes, they are great monitors and make great display animals. I looked after some in a 25'x25'x10' enclosure and they seemed happy in there. They were definatly not tame though! They would come and sit by you and eat but if there was a loud noise or you got up to quickly there would tail whip and run for cover.
I reason i say they are a sour subject is because people say they will tame one but as far as i know i have never seen a tame one or heard of one for that matter (i am all ears and eyes to be proven wrong though).

As for the people slating you issue, its not a case of slating, its more the fact that people may of got the impression that you had just barged in and started saying all these things about nile monitors and telling the monitor experts that they are slating you when all they are doing is giving you their long experienced advice, i know that Sean is the guy to ask when it comes to monitors so take some of his advice as it will help you alot mate.

We are all friends here matey.
_________________
Play Hard

[hogboy]

I reallly dont know why rep shops ever get Niles in stock, or Iggys for that matter.
They may look pretty cute as a recent hatchling, but all seem to end up the same way, one pissed off Big Lizard !!!!! that few individuals can house.

[mattie]