I just got a nile monitor lizard: am I crazy?

Kintaro · Post by **Kintaro** » 2004-04-27 01:31am

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?

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-04-27 01:36am

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

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-04-27 01:45am

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

Kintaro · Post by **Kintaro** » 2004-04-27 01:50am

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.

Kintaro · Post by **Kintaro** » 2004-04-27 01:52am

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

Kintaro · Post by **Kintaro** » 2004-04-27 01:54am

This is how big water monitors can get

BWAHAHAHAHA!

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-04-27 02:08am

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

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2004-04-27 02:29am

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.

Kintaro · Post by **Kintaro** » 2004-04-27 02:34am

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.

Post by **Kuja** » 2004-04-27 02:48am

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...

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2004-04-27 02:52am

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

Kintaro · Post by **Kintaro** » 2004-04-27 03:06am

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.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2004-04-27 03:18am

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...

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2004-04-27 03:40am

oooohhh...
pretty!

If you can look after it, keep it.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2004-04-27 03:48am

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

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-04-27 04:36am

You should have gotten one of those komodo dragons.

generator_g1 · Post by **generator_g1** » 2004-04-27 04:36am

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

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2004-04-27 06:52am

Keep it! Keep it! Keep it!!

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-04-27 07:10am

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.

Shroom Man 777 · Post by **Shroom Man 777** » 2004-04-27 07:49am

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!

LapsedPacifist · Post by **LapsedPacifist** » 2004-04-27 09:42am

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

LP

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2004-04-27 11:26am

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

LP

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

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2004-04-27 11:38am

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

LP

I dunno that pic seems to say otherwise ^_^

Anarchist Bunny · Post by **Anarchist Bunny** » 2004-04-27 11:39am

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)

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2004-04-27 12:06pm

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...