my little monitor

JayoH · 09-17-12, 02:43 PM

so im new member, posted my intro in the new members section and figured it was time to post my monitors intro here now. bought her when she was about 2 months old (as told by the breeder) so shes about 4-6 months now i believe. originally my plan was to fine the komaini, until i researched the monitor species and found out how hard it really is to buy a young black dragon. i was lucky enough to find someone selling a water monitor. he told me this was a nile monitor, but im pretty sure this is ornate water monitor so as me being a first time monitor owner, i figured this would also give me a good chance to get more experienced members input as well... im not entirely sure what the differences are, i do know that she is very skittish when i walk by the cage. she will burrow in the ground section, or run and leap into the water section. i do hold her daily because i feel that you have to make contact with them, and have to let them know your not there to hurt them. when holding she likes to try and get a little flighty, but it lasts 5 seconds then shes just chillin and climbing from hand to hand.
she does not eat from feeder tongs, i think shes still a little to shy, but as soon as i drop the food in and close cage shes in attack mode! Shes currently on crickets, which was another question of when i should start upgading to frozens? when i first got her, (im assuming due to stress in new home) she went 2 days without eating, but soon got over that and now eatin crickets non stop (sadly she made friends with the 2 feeder fish i put in for her)
basically i am a new monitor owner, i am still learning the breed. but am very determined to give her everything she needs, my only problem is finding right information from the numerous sites claiming to give the best info. so with that said if i forgot to mention anything lol i got some vids of her swimming, eating, and some pics of her so hopefully it helps with my assumtion of the sub species she is.
Ps - currently have no name for her as i dont know 100 if shes female/male

JayoH · 09-17-12, 02:51 PM

forgot a couple vids

swimming half of cage

Eating cricket and fiber substrate half of cage

infernalis · 09-17-12, 03:15 PM

Certainly looks like a baby Nile to me.

Breeder? I would bet you have been lied to, they are imported in huge numbers and wholesale for 10 dollars or less each to dealers.

simpleyork · 09-17-12, 03:16 PM

varanus ornatus looks like to me, is her tongue pink? if then, it is an ornate which is different then niles or water monitors.
what are you housing it in? these get big fast I have one that his 3 feet by the first year and I've heard they can get 4 feet in a year as well.
they are fun but need a lot of room good luck and lets see more pictures!!

Gatorhunter1231 · 09-17-12, 03:20 PM

It's not an ornate water monitor or a Nile monitor for that matter. It is an ornate monitor and has been classified as it's own species.
Setup is pretty much the same. I'll double check the pics later when I'm on a computer (on phone right now). There is no such thing as an ornate water monitor btw.

Gatorhunter1231 · 09-17-12, 03:22 PM

There appears to be 5 bands on my phone which is ornate. Niles have 7-9 Banda of spots if I remember correctly.

simpleyork · 09-17-12, 03:25 PM

yup five bands it looks to me as well
that last video showa a pink tongue to me Ithink
Ornate most definitly

Pirarucu · 09-17-12, 03:25 PM

Varanus ornatus, previously a subspecies of niloticus, hence the confusion. Not a water monitor though, these guys usually live in forests..

As far as care goes, you will need a 12'x6' cage at the minimum for an ornate, with a moist soil substrate to burrow in. The basking spot should be around 130+ degrees Fahrenheit, keep in mind that is surface temperature, not air temperature. Feed whole prey items such as bugs, worms, crayfish, shrimp, craps, mice, birds, etc.

Don't force handle it. Doing that will just make it hate your guts. the best way to go about it is to let it come to you on its own terms. Keep in mind, it may never do that, and it's quite possible it will be mean throughout it's life, so be prepared for that eventuality.

JayoH · 09-17-12, 03:41 PM

yeah after countless articles i had come to terms with it as ornate by the bands and the pink tongue... lol i noticed as well i said breeder, that was wrong lol he is a breeder but not of monitors. im currently working on his/her future home as i read they will get 6-7ft plus so i was thinking giving it its own room, im wanting to do everything possible so that when it becomes large and beastly it isnt mean... last thing i want is to have a baby godzilla running around beating up everyone who comes near it

simpleyork · 09-17-12, 03:46 PM

Go check out my post of Godzilla the ornate
love the bugger and he hates me lol

infernalis · 09-17-12, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simpleyork

Go check out my post of Godzilla the ornate
love the bugger and he hates me lol

That would be like my Cera..

Can't even get a hand close to that monster without bleeding.

JayoH · 09-17-12, 04:17 PM

so is there anything i can do to prevent this? i mean its baby now and has never made an attempt to snap, never even opens mouth at me. very calm when holding, very calm really all the time, only time its not calm is when i walk by cage monitor will try to burrow and hide from me lol

Rudiman · 09-17-12, 04:20 PM

If kept right, probably not. But you might get lucky.

Scott

infernalis · 09-17-12, 04:20 PM

I hate to say it, but generally "calm" means scared out of it's wits.

Most keepers prefer the building trust with time method.

Be it's friend, not it's master.

Rudiman · 09-17-12, 04:23 PM

I agree.....but keep your wits (and fingers) about you, they are extremely fast and powerful as adults.

Scott