StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Well, today I decided to get a lizard companion for my water monitor lizard. The place where I got him said that they would have more waters coming in later in the week, so I thought I would just wait until then to get one, and check out one of their niles. In case you guys do not know this, niles are known to be, well, difficult (water monitors, like mine, can be as friendly as dogs; I shit you not). Anyway, I'm holding the nile monitor, and he accually clams down enough to relax in my hand. I decided to get him, thinking I could tame him. But because about 90% of all nile monitors never become tame, should I just take him back and get another water monitor?

Is the lizard dangerous ? If so it would be good idea to take it back to where it came from.

Out of curiosity, how big is the water monitor lizard?

Well, he's just a baby, so he can bite me all day and I don't care. The thing is, when they grow up, they can cause major lacerations if you're not carefull (I can catch poisonous without too much trouble; I'm not afraid of dangerous reptiles except crocodilians). I suppose I want a nile that can become friendly, like this one.

Shinova wrote:Out of curiosity, how big is the water monitor lizard?

He's a hatchling. When I fix my camera, or get a new one, I'm going to post a bunch of pics

This is how big water monitors can get

BWAHAHAHAHA!

Thats huge. It is almost as big as a small crocodile.

If you don't spend adequate time with it ("humanizing" it), it can be very dangerous. It's a carnivorous reptile that is not unlike a Komodo dragon or even an alligator. Nile monitors are even harder to tame.

Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that it will ever tame down.

Superman wrote:If you don't spend adequate time with it ("humanizing" it), it can be very dangerous. It's a carnivorous reptile that is not unlike a Komodo dragon or even an alligator. Nile monitors are even harder to tame.

Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that it will ever tame down.

That's why I am thinking about taking back the nile and getting another water. Spending time with him (my water) is not a problem; as long as it is warm out, we pretty much go everywhere together. My girlfriend was afriad of him at first, but now she loves him because he is so sweet.

Kintaro wrote:That's why I am thinking about taking back the nile and getting another water. Spending time with him (my water) is not a problem; as long as it is warm out, we pretty much go everywhere together. My girlfriend was afriad of him at first, but now she loves him because he is so sweet.

I'm thinking that's your best bet. Just make sure that moniters aren't territorial or anything, or you could end up with a bit of a problem...

Get a Water Dragon. They're much nicer and seem to warm to people better than monitors do. Beared dragons are also nice.

Superman wrote:Get a Water Dragon. They're much nicer and seem to warm to people better than monitors do. Beared dragons are also nice.

Yep, I've got those too. They're awsome, but I just love monitors!

Kuja, monitors are actually kind of social, especially if they are raised together. They will lay on top of each other (even if they are males) basking in the heat lamp. Different story when they eat however, as they often bite the hell out of each other. When they are done, they just lay on top of each other again as if nothing happened.

Right. Watching them eat is really like watching "Jurassic Park" or something. Hopefully, you won't have any small children around when it reaches maturity...

oooohhh...
pretty!

If you can look after it, keep it.

Get the more docile critter. And keep the cats away from it.

You should have gotten one of those komodo dragons.

If it does something to piss you off, remember, monitor meat tastes like chicken....

Keep it! Keep it! Keep it!!

Sharp-kun wrote:Keep it! Keep it! Keep it!!

So that when the neighbor's cat keeps sneaking into your yard and pooping on stuff, you can have it "disappear" one day.

I had a monitor but kept it in a cage in the backyard and it wasn't fed so often. I don't know what happened to it.



Monitors are cool, but I can't be a decent pet owner with school and all that shit.

But they're still damn cool!

One vote to return it. Big nasty lizards are no fun.

LP

LapsedPacifist wrote:One vote to return it. Big nasty lizards are no fun.

LP

But you could have a pit, with a secret trapdoor....

LapsedPacifist wrote:One vote to return it. Big nasty lizards are no fun.

LP

I dunno that pic seems to say otherwise ^_^

Yes you are. But the two events are unrelated.

Don't know about keeping it, I'm a bird guy and my experiences with large reptiles are limited to killing a trapped rattle snake and some other snake that was eating chicks from under their mother.

Edit, on another note, about how much do those water monitors run money wise and what do you need to keep them(for example I'd love to own an ostrich but you need a heated barn to keep them in, even here in south Texas)

Sure, keep it. Just make sure it's well fed and has plenty of exercise and activity-- make sure it's accustomed to your presence and handling. I actually have experience with monitors-- generally they're kinda lethargic (sp?) during the day, it's at night they're most active. Make sure it has a large pen, and can't dig out (they can burrow like you wouldn't believe).

As long as it's happy and used to you, it should be safe enough-- just be careful with kids, as you would with any potentially dangerous pet.

Enjoy it safely, I say...