Handling a Baby Monitor

[M|L]

OK, so I should start by saying that I've kept reptiles before, iguanas, geckos, skinks, turtles, and a blue-tail monitor.

I've always simply reached in and grabbed them if I wanted to "tame" these guys. But I've learned that this method will back fire because the animal will always associate me with threat and danger.

With that say, I've just got myself a baby nile monitor, less than 12". I let him to settle down for the first few days without any contact. I just tried to handle him but he's damn quick! I don't want to grab him because I don't want him to see me as a threat.

But he's so quick to flee that it seems like there's no way to approach him without him feeling threatened.

What can I do? I think I should just wait until he gets a little bigger when his fleeing instincts dissipate a little bit and will more likely to just sit down and enjoy being fed with a feeding tong. What do you think?

 

[Bsixxx]

keep your hand in the cage/enclosure for a certain period of time, untill he starts to get used to you, untill he starts to feel comfortable around you, then try to get ahold of him. but if he hisses,or whips his tail or runs, let him cool down before trying. But gradually he will start to get used to you and then you can start to try and "tame" him..thats what i have done, and usually work with good results..

 

[frogman5]

if u can get him out ive seen alot of people try to tame them by sitting in a bath tub...my friends was begginning to get a little nicer when he sat with it in the tub but didnt do it for awhile and went to its old ways of hissing and whipping his tail at us

 

[M|L]

I don't have a bath tub lol, I have a shower and he can easily run away. I usually have a lot of chemical residue in the bathroom anyway and I don't feel very comfortable with the monitor running through it.

I guess I can try to feed him early from a tong and start from there. But he's so shy when I reach into the enclosure that he has yet to eat from the tong.

 

[rmorse]

I don't have a bath tub lol, I have a shower and he can easily run away. I usually have a lot of chemical residue in the bathroom anyway and I don't feel very comfortable with the monitor running through it.

I guess I can try to feed him early from a tong and start from there. But he's so shy when I reach into the enclosure that he has yet to eat from the tong.

From your other "hobby"?


Anyway, I would definitely try to get him in an enclosed room, where you can work with him with food...I personally would keep trying, instead of waiting until he gets bigger.

 

[BSMM]

monitors are not for handling them and cant be tamed but they can get use to you but very very unlikely with Niles. Hope your ready for a 6ft+ nile that isnt going to be the friendliest thing and its going to need a huge cage by next year. If you wanted something you could hold possibly you should of went for a arg. b/w tegu
This pic of my female Argus lasted 10 secs and shes only 3ft and is a handful to move from her cage to living room, thank god they dont bite.

Watch your fingers Not the best monitors to be trying to pick up or even move.


Bryan

 

[M|L]

I know I shouldn't use the word "tame" with a monitor. The only level of contact I wish to achieve with this nile is being able to move about (doing my everyday chores) in the same room and occasional contact when necessary (moving him) without the animal go into fight or flight mode. I'm not looking to cuddle with him or anything. I also want him to come to me during feeding time (from a tong, not my fingers).

I tried to handle this thing twice now and even though he huffs and puffs and runs away, it's not a biter. At least for now, it's yet to discover the power of it's jaws.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

Get an enclosure that opens from the side as opposed from the top so that you're not some huge looming mammal coming at it from above.

Also, while it may seem cruel to go after it, the best way is to hold it and keep holding it throughout its struggles, until it realized that you're not going to eat it. Eventually it'll get comfy with you.

 

[M|L]

It's housed in a custom cage that opens from the from the front panel, not the top.

The cage is 48"x30"x17", so it'll suffice for the next year or so. I plan to upgrade to a 10'x5'x4' cage as it's final home.

I don't like the idea of holding it until it stops struggling, it goes back to the idea that the animal will forever associate you as a threat and will always fear you. It's what I've done in the past, as I've already mentioned earlier, and it's certainly not working for me.

I guess instead of asking for advice, why don't you tell me how you handle your lizards and how well your method works for you?

 

[Mike D]

some reps just arent ment to be handled.

my large iguana doesnt mind being handled at all. he will come over to me if he wants attention.

my rhino igg will put up a fight while he is in his cage. after he is in my hand he calms down nicely.

my peacock monitors. just dont like to be handled. so they are a look but do not touch rep.


no matter what you do there is a real good chance that your nile will NOT calm down. i hate to say it but it just works that way. try giving hi some time to get used to the enclosure. how long have you had him for? i try to give my reps a month or so before i handle regularly. and even then if they arent likeing the idea of being handled i will back off. i dont even try to handle until i can walk in the room and be around the cage and the rep not freak out.
also if you are trying to handle him and he keeps running away from you while in the enclosure dont just give up because he is running away be persistant. if you give up then he won and he knows if he runs you wont hold him. same this work when holding him. if he trys to get away keep holding him and put him down when you are ready to.

also you might have to go a bit bigger with its enclosure when full grown.