wild caught crocodile monitors?
- Thread starter Bsixxx
- Start date
As a Croc keeper, I'll give insight the best I can.
The size enclosures you're thinking about building should be double by probably half...length and width wise anyway. You're going to need expansive enclosures, for each specimen. Keeping them together 100% of the time is not an option and you'll end up with a dead Croc.
I know the few people, in the US, that have pairs and are able to breed their pairs, to introduce CBB babies. But, due to ethical issues, most don't do it. There are to many people out there that would buy them, not knowing anything about them. This particular species cannot just hurt you...they can kill you. The St Louis Zoo shut down their Croc display, after one of their keepers was almost killed.
They are not a "handable" species...trust me. When I first got mine, I thought he was manageable. After having him for some time, now, I know he is not handable.
I'm not normally one of those guys that grills members, when they say they want something, but out of safety for not only you/friends/family but also the future pairing, but what experiance do you have, in keeping large Varanus?
The absolute best advice you're gonna be given, is to join this site...
http://www.varanus.nl/
Fair warning, tho. This site is filled with scientists, biologists, zoologists, very long time keepers, etc. It is a no nonsense forum, so be respectful, know that whatever advice/info you get, etc. is for your benefit and the benefit of any animal you may be purchasing.
Jump on there, join up and post this topic. You won't find better information, anywhere.
The size enclosures you're thinking about building should be double by probably half...length and width wise anyway. You're going to need expansive enclosures, for each specimen. Keeping them together 100% of the time is not an option and you'll end up with a dead Croc.
I know the few people, in the US, that have pairs and are able to breed their pairs, to introduce CBB babies. But, due to ethical issues, most don't do it. There are to many people out there that would buy them, not knowing anything about them. This particular species cannot just hurt you...they can kill you. The St Louis Zoo shut down their Croc display, after one of their keepers was almost killed.
They are not a "handable" species...trust me. When I first got mine, I thought he was manageable. After having him for some time, now, I know he is not handable.
I'm not normally one of those guys that grills members, when they say they want something, but out of safety for not only you/friends/family but also the future pairing, but what experiance do you have, in keeping large Varanus?
The absolute best advice you're gonna be given, is to join this site...
http://www.varanus.nl/
Fair warning, tho. This site is filled with scientists, biologists, zoologists, very long time keepers, etc. It is a no nonsense forum, so be respectful, know that whatever advice/info you get, etc. is for your benefit and the benefit of any animal you may be purchasing.
Jump on there, join up and post this topic. You won't find better information, anywhere.
AW2EOD;3068857; said:
All i can say for my experiance, is that I have helped sometime in and around reptile stores for over 8 years, I have personally been around and cared for crocs, for almost 4 years now, I have had a 3-4 foot black throat monitor before, raised from around 22 total inches.
I know all about the power and capabilities of crocs. I will not be handling these by myself if I have to at all, especially the female. I will hit up that website and join when I better know my situation with the pair of crocs.
I know this is a huge step from keeping black throat monitors but, I am hopefully able to take this step succesfully.
All I can do is try, because no amount of skill or knowlege can prepair you to know everything about a monitor or even know when it wants to attack you, that being said I am glad the hospital is only 4 mins away from my house
But seriously I am doing all I can in my power to provide the best for these monitors, and hopefully get them to produce offspring. But if they don't breed atleast i will have an awsome pair of the coolest monitors around..
Well, we can't ask for more than that. As you well know, people are gonna do what they want, regardless. Please, keep us informed with your progress...I'd love to learn what you're doing.
The only thing I want to stress, again, is the size of enclosure(s). You're gonna need larger, for individuals and with a male/female pair, you're going to have to have separate enclosures. A good thing to do is create a common space, with each separate enclosure on each side. Then, give closable doors, from each separate to the common area.
The only thing I want to stress, again, is the size of enclosure(s). You're gonna need larger, for individuals and with a male/female pair, you're going to have to have separate enclosures. A good thing to do is create a common space, with each separate enclosure on each side. Then, give closable doors, from each separate to the common area.
AW2EOD;3071883; said:
different enclosures, even with the size of 8' tall, 22' wide, and about 36' long?
Ok then, I have more than enough room to expand, so I will change up the demensions a little, I was going to make it 10' tall anyway, as I thought the height was a little low for an adult pair of (V. salvadorii)
I think the biggest I can go is 10 feet in height, 30 feet wide and about 42 feet in length.
Also I would like to know some things..
Like what sort of wood is good to use that is huge and non toxic for them to climb on and whatever else, Also any real plants that I can put in the enclosure for looks and that are sturdy enough to be beat on a little?
And lastly, I said that I was planning on putting a pond inside the enclosure, I was wondering if they like to swim? I have heard this before that they indeed like to swim, but I didn't think they would considering they spend most their lives in trees... Maybe a little better explanation on this?
We were just having a conversation about this, on Varanus.
Everyone that has Crocs has agreed that they mainly do not soak, let alone swim. Most don't even like water. There have been a few of us (me included) that have warmed up soaking water and have noticed our Crocs using it a bit more, but not much.
For climbind structures, I live close to the Mississippi River. I went down and collected tree trucks from back water areas. Some people also use large diameter PVC pipe, with holes drilled into it. Some also use the black, corrugated pipe. Real plants, I wouldn't even bother with. They're not gonna live long, once the Crocs walk over them, etc.
The height of the enclosure doesn't have to be much...just enough for them to be over your head and they'll feel comfortable. I think your sizes, quoted above, would be just fine for a pair. But, keep in mind that you're gonna have to section that off, as they can't be kept together, 100% of the time.
Not too long ago, a guy on Varanus posted about his pair. They'd been separate for a while and he thought he'd put them back together, for a while. They were together for less than one day before the female attacked the male, causing great damage. The owner (who has extensive knowledge of such) had to sew up the male, in several places. He described some of the wounds as 1" wide x 2" to 3" deep. And, the wounds were numerous.
Everyone that has Crocs has agreed that they mainly do not soak, let alone swim. Most don't even like water. There have been a few of us (me included) that have warmed up soaking water and have noticed our Crocs using it a bit more, but not much.
For climbind structures, I live close to the Mississippi River. I went down and collected tree trucks from back water areas. Some people also use large diameter PVC pipe, with holes drilled into it. Some also use the black, corrugated pipe. Real plants, I wouldn't even bother with. They're not gonna live long, once the Crocs walk over them, etc.
The height of the enclosure doesn't have to be much...just enough for them to be over your head and they'll feel comfortable. I think your sizes, quoted above, would be just fine for a pair. But, keep in mind that you're gonna have to section that off, as they can't be kept together, 100% of the time.
Not too long ago, a guy on Varanus posted about his pair. They'd been separate for a while and he thought he'd put them back together, for a while. They were together for less than one day before the female attacked the male, causing great damage. The owner (who has extensive knowledge of such) had to sew up the male, in several places. He described some of the wounds as 1" wide x 2" to 3" deep. And, the wounds were numerous.
No need for the pond really, other than to soak... they arent swimming varanids. Being that your in Cali, you should look into installing a sprinkler system to simulate rainfall since its rather dry. I used to live in Ca, a better suggestion would be to make some sort of green house over the screen/mesh enclosure. The last thing you want is stuck shed on large monitors.
Youll definatley have to separate them as I stated before there is no exception when going indoors.
Good luck and take pics as you go along.
Youll definatley have to separate them as I stated before there is no exception when going indoors.
Good luck and take pics as you go along.
I just re-read your original post and for some reason, I wasn't seeing that the dimensions of your cage was in FEET. I was thinking you were meaning inches. lol
The size you're talking about would be amazing, for a pair...hell, you could house two pair in something that size.
The size you're talking about would be amazing, for a pair...hell, you could house two pair in something that size.
AW2EOD;3072375; said:
Oh awsome< i was like really, that's big enough for a nile crocodile.. LOL
So the pond is basically a waste for their setup? Well i might just add a little one just incase, they feel the rare occasion of taking a quick dip or soak.
As for logs/ cut down trees around here.. I don't have a bayou or river around me, just some creeks and man made lakes. that I myself wouldn't even want to be around if I didn't have to be... I will keep looking though.
This weekend I should be able to start getting some more supplies and start to do the building, I picked up a nice size pond liner off some guy yesterday, should make a nice 1500 gallon+ pond/ soak tub.. lol
But anyway, I am still unsure of how I am going to make the enclosure? I enitially thought I was going to do a part of it out of plywood/lumber of some sort with the top/cover being wood also, for good shade and to keep out rain and whatever else. Then the other part be some metal caging/ wire fence of some kind, with the top being metal also, this was supposed to be where they get some sun and enjoy some breez.
but I will keep you all updated a little more on my plans and whatever, and keep thinking more if I want to make the crazy decision of keeping an adult pair of crocodile monitors in my backyard...
ooooh also I almost forgot, what do you think about this as an indoor/ hybernating enclosure for winter and colder months.
A rack stand that hold an 8-10' FOOT long by 4-6' FOOT wide by like 3-4' FOOT enclosures on top of eachother, one for the male and the other for the female(s)?
And another question, I havn't found too much on information about captive breeding V salvadorii in captivity, but I was wondering would it be better to get a 1.1 ratio or a 1.2 group going for the breeding program? like I said I havn't found too much about it.. I have more than enough space to house a 1.2 just incase you were wondering..
I wouldn't waste the money, nor the time to put in a 1500gal pond. My pond is a prefab koi pond 7' x 4' x 18" and mine barely uses it, other than to drink.
As for the breeding questions, I'm gonna have to say again...go to varnus.nl and ask there. There are two guys that have breeding pairs and when they get eggs, they immediately sell them, as they won't sell this species.
The "indoor hibernating racks" that you've described would work for junenilves, but not for adults, IMO.
If you're planning on building an enclosure of this size, I'd look into block foundation/walls. Once you price that and then lumber and wire mesh, you're gonna see that it's more cost efficient. I'd lay down block maybe 4' tall and then continue with wire mesh. For the roof, I'd try the corrugated fiberglass...it's cheap, light and allows some light to pass thru.
As for the breeding questions, I'm gonna have to say again...go to varnus.nl and ask there. There are two guys that have breeding pairs and when they get eggs, they immediately sell them, as they won't sell this species.
The "indoor hibernating racks" that you've described would work for junenilves, but not for adults, IMO.
If you're planning on building an enclosure of this size, I'd look into block foundation/walls. Once you price that and then lumber and wire mesh, you're gonna see that it's more cost efficient. I'd lay down block maybe 4' tall and then continue with wire mesh. For the roof, I'd try the corrugated fiberglass...it's cheap, light and allows some light to pass thru.
