eneyone kept croc monitors!

[LRM]

Just be responsible about it. Much like keeping hots, its not a matter of if you get bitten, its when. Keep a croc monitor long enough and its going to nail you. That's the truth of it, you will get bitten, clawed, whipped etc., its just a matter of how bad the injury is. Now given what these animals are capable of, think of what a story it would make if you died from massive hemorrhaging after a severe bite. Even worse, if someone else was injured in your home because of a stupid mistake. The media gets a hold of a story like that and it doesn't just affect you, it affects the entire herp community.

Tahts awl I hahve two sey.

 

[aidenb]

I agree, if you do end up getting one please be responsible with it. Where I live because of irresponsible keepers all hots, boas, pythons, scorpions, and the majority of tarantulas are all banned.

 

[AndyG.]

I expected at least one other person, on here, to have personal experiance with keeping them...but I guess not.

As someone else said...they're NOT for 99.9% of reptile keepers. Doesn't matter if you "like a challenge", think you're up to it and want one, for the hell of it.

They are not the mean, vicious, aggressive monitors that people make them out to be. Have there been instances where they've ambushed and attacked keepers?...sure. But, the majority of those instances were in zoo habitats, where the specimens were rarely interacted with and were wild caught ADULTS.

There are people out there, who have hatched CB Crocs and I wouldn't hesitate to get another one and will...when I have the space I used to have. If interacted with, from a young age, they become quite tolerable and managable. They are NEVER tame, by any means and if you mistake tolerable for tame, you're going to lose some fingers (if not worse).

They are very tempermental and if you do not know the limits of your individual animals and know when to back off, you're gonna be screwed.

My advice...do some more research and spend at least 6 months, studying them however you can. This is not an animal where they're as available as Beardies. These are very limited and the more people buy, the more are taken from the wild. There's no point in aquiring one if you simply THINK you can maintain it...you'll fail. Not a personal jab, at you...but if you think this something you can just get on a whim and think it'll be smooth sailing, you're badly mistaken.

They learn, the adapt and they're INCREDIBLY smart. My 8' male Croc escaped from his enclosure one time. Made his way to the main level of my house and found a bedroom window, that had a fan in it. He pushed the fan out of the window and was less than 4' from escape (into my neighbors yard) before I wrestled him under a blanket and carried him back to his 15' x 12' x 9' basement enclosure. 4 months later, I let him out of his enclosure and he wandered upstairs. 4 months without being out of his enclosure, without being on the main level of the house, etc...and he went STRAIGHT back to that same window, knowing he'd almost gotten out there.

If you're anything like the majority of people on forums, you're not going to listen to a single bit of the message, but I really hope you do. These aren't Ackies or Dumerils or Iguanas. They require an insane amount of care and make no mistake...they are potentially deadly. Please take your time, use caution and common sense.

Here are some pics of my guy:

 

[JONNY CICHLA]

Thanks for the in depth replie my friend! Nice to hear from someone who really knows about this stunning lizard! So they are not the out and out man eaters people say they are!! Thats not suprising buddy!
So young captive bread Salvadori"" if handled on a regular basis become just about manageable to handle!! but dont totally trust them mate as they are temperamental at the best of times!!
Love your big lad mate!! do you still pick him up buddy at eney point! and would you ever be able to add a female with him at this point as he"s bean on his own from a young age!! Also my friend"" is the female of this spiecies more aggressive than the male!! as iv bean told!!

Thanks again my friend!! awsome varanidae these croc monitors really are!

 

[kevinfleming21]

that close up of the eye shows a really scary potential for danger and intelligence, very much looking like a Raptor lol

 

[AndyG.]

Thanks for the in depth replie my friend! Nice to hear from someone who really knows about this stunning lizard! So they are not the out and out man eaters people say they are!! Thats not suprising buddy!
So young captive bread Salvadori"" if handled on a regular basis become just about manageable to handle!! but dont totally trust them mate as they are temperamental at the best of times!!
Love your big lad mate!! do you still pick him up buddy at eney point! and would you ever be able to add a female with him at this point as he"s bean on his own from a young age!! Also my friend"" is the female of this spiecies more aggressive than the male!! as iv bean told!!

Thanks again my friend!! awsome varanidae these croc monitors really are!

I think you're taking my whole post out of context.

I didn't mean that young, CB Salvadorii will always be managable and tolerable. I said they CAN BE...huge difference.

Mine was the only Croc that I know of, that was this managable. Mine was a rescue and came from very deplorable conditions. When I recieved him, he'd been living in a carpeted bedroom, with a space heater and was fed over 1lb of raw chicken every day. He was overweight, had respitory issues, neurological issues...and those were some of the least of his concerns. I jumped into getting him, thinking that no one could tell me what I could/couln't do, I could handle it and it wasn't that big of a deal. It was some of the most taxing, yet enjoyable experiances I've ever had. Looking back on it, if I knew what I know now, I'd have never have gotten him.

THIS IS NOT a monitor that you should ever comtemplate carrying around, interacting with, holding, petting, playing with, etc. I cannot stress this enough. I had mine long enough that I knew his boundaries and thank God, I was lucky enough to have never gotten into a situation where I missed a tell tale, of his boundaries. Consequences of one mistake are irrepairable. This is not like keeping hots or large constrictors (both of which I've kept and still keep). I'd rather go toe to toe with an adult King Cobra than go up against an irritated Croc Monitor.

Just like with anything else, telling someone they shouldn't get one because of this or that isn't going to stop said person from getting what they want. It's the natural way of things and people getting what they want sometimes works out in the best. What would've happened if someone told Bob Clark he couldn't get a Retic, etc...you get the point.

The only thing I can ask of you...coming from someone who has kept the particular species we're talking about...don't jump into this lightly. I can put you in contact with people who own numerous Crocs. Find any and all info you can. Find a zoo where you live, that keeps a Croc and pick the keepers brain. ANYTHING you can do, to learn more...and even then, you'll still be moderately prepared for what you're getting in to.

I do not have my boy anymore. When I realized that I wasn't providing 100% for him, due to the size of my house, I sent him to a friend. I traded numerous Retics for him. My friend still has him, still contacts me for advice and owns a few other Crocs. When something goes wrong with him, my friend calls. When a behavior appears, that my friend doesn't know how to deal with, he calls me. I still call and check on him periodically. My friend is breeding him for the first time, this season and if all goes as planned, I'll have first dibs on a hatchling. I still have not decided on whether or not I'll take one though.

 

[JONNY CICHLA]

Thanks again for your vast info on this stunning monitor!! But im glad you think you would rather play with a king cobra than this stunning monitor lizard!! I know whot id rather be bitten by buddy!! And its defo got legs buddy! Thanks for advice my friend and you can bet i will not take it lightly when getting my croc buddy!!

 

[Blue Crab of PAIN!!!!]

The same list we'd order croc monitors from, had komodo dragons for sale too.

...uhhh, just out of curiosity, how much was he asking for those?

Also; one thing I don't quite understand. Are Komodo Dragons illegal to own as pets FEDERALLY (never mind legality of import) or is it state by state?

 

[Mishy]

...uhhh, just out of curiosity, how much was he asking for those?

Also; one thing I don't quite understand. Are Komodo Dragons illegal to own as pets FEDERALLY (never mind legality of import) or is it state by state?

Just because it's illegal does'nt mean you cant order them over $40B is spent every year on the black market for exotic animals around the world.

Also, Johnny what A. Gigas is trying to say is please dont go out and waste your money on something thats not going to end well. Because what are you going to do when you have a 8ft monitor with razorsharp teeth biting you?

 

[A. gigas]

Just because it's illegal does'nt mean you cant order them over $40B is spent every year on the black market for exotic animals around the world.

Also, Johnny what A. Gigas is trying to say is please dont go out and waste your money on something thats not going to end well. Because what are you going to do when you have a 8ft monitor with razorsharp teeth biting you?

my best guess:
1) freak out, and do whatever he can to make it let go
2) run to the car, blood gushing from the bite, and race to the hospital, possibly without taking the time to close the cage
3) pass out from blood loss halfway there, possibly causing a collision, and die

bottom line: a dead guy in a car on the side of the road, possibly more due to a car accident, and possibly an escaped 8 foot lizard..

just my .02