Question about tree monitor

[endrien]

I have been looking at green tree monitors and blue tree monitors and I find them absolutely beautiful, definitely on my list for when I get my own place. I have to ask how they are with handing, friendliness and stress. Do they tolerate handing as well as say a bearded dragon?

 

[reps4life]

I have been looking at green tree monitors and blue tree monitors and I find them absolutely beautiful, definitely on my list for when I get my own place. I have to ask how they are with handing, friendliness and stress. Do they tolerate handing as well as say a bearded dragon?

Just like any other reptile they will be skittish and try to flee at first. They are beautiful but very expensive to house. Minimum cage size is 6' tall x 4' wide. They are very active so they are not just going to sit in your hand, more like climb all over you.

 

[T-ReXx]

I wouldn't recommend handling tree monitors. For one, they're fairly sensitive to stress. For another, they will a) shred your arms without even meaning to via their needle sharp and strong claws and b) are likely to defecate and/or bite when stressed. They are more of a display species. If you want a varanid you can handle, look to ackies, or if you have the space, savannahs or black throats. Keeping monitors is a whole different level of reptile keeping, and the trees aren't very forgiving of newbie mistakes. I would highly recommend getting experience with more hardy monitor species before taking on these species.

 

[M_surinamensis]

I have to ask how they are with handing

Don't, except as necessary for maintenance.

friendliness

I usually consider it a good experience if they only try to bite and do not also expel feces when handled. I have kept a trio of blacks for almost seven years now, but the behaviors of blues and greens aren't significantly dissimilar. At least not when looking at a broad categorization compared to all other lizards.

and stress.

They're arboreal predators. While there are some (few) exceptions, arboreal species tend to have very finely honed fight or flight responses and are prone to stressing in captivity if subjected to improper conditions or excessive forced interaction. Everything tree monitors encounter in the wild is something to eat or something trying to eat them; the safest and most neutral encounters they have are breeding behaviors.

They need space. They need enclosure fixtures that are appropriately constructed for them to make full use of. They need exact standards for the environmental parameters. They need careful dietary maintenance. They need minimal stress factors.

Do they tolerate handing as well as say a bearded dragon?

Not even remotely.

Edit: in addition to the monitors Ted mentioned, I do kind of like well established and slightly older, ideally CB or LTC black roughnecks when it comes to a laid back attitude. Older argus monitors can sometimes be alright too, pricey and bigger though. If the behavior is really the thing someone's looking at, wanting interaction and willing to devote that much space, I'd set aside the varanids and just go with an Argentine tegu.

 

[Dimidiata]

Let me see, what do i remeber about my cousins GTM...hmmm. Oh thats right, my arm wraped in gause --_--

 

[endrien]

Don't, except as necessary for maintenance.



I usually consider it a good experience if they only try to bite and do not also expel feces when handled. I have kept a trio of blacks for almost seven years now, but the behaviors of blues and greens aren't significantly dissimilar. At least not when looking at a broad categorization compared to all other lizards.



They're arboreal predators. While there are some (few) exceptions, arboreal species tend to have very finely honed fight or flight responses and are prone to stressing in captivity if subjected to improper conditions or excessive forced interaction. Everything tree monitors encounter in the wild is something to eat or something trying to eat them; the safest and most neutral encounters they have are breeding behaviors.

They need space. They need enclosure fixtures that are appropriately constructed for them to make full use of. They need exact standards for the environmental parameters. They need careful dietary maintenance. They need minimal stress factors.



Not even remotely.

Edit: in addition to the monitors Ted mentioned, I do kind of like well established and slightly older, ideally CB or LTC black roughnecks when it comes to a laid back attitude. Older argus monitors can sometimes be alright too, pricey and bigger though. If the behavior is really the thing someone's looking at, wanting interaction and willing to devote that much space, I'd set aside the varanids and just go with an Argentine tegu.

Thanks for the replies, I don't intend on getting a more difficult reptile like these for another few years so I figure it is good to gather info now. I think a tegu would be a lot more fitting what I am looking for, as I have heard they are very intelligent and can get quite tame(Aside from 2 kinds, which names escape me?).

 

[T-ReXx]

Stay away from Goldens and Colombian B&Ws. Argentine B%Ws and reds are the species you want if you are looking for a "pet" lizard.

 

[gecko4245]

Let me see, what do i remeber about my cousins GTM...hmmm. Oh thats right, my arm wraped in gause --_--

I never had one but why they look so calm in all the videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKCdye9D23Q&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLFC3961FA6EF8113C

 

[Dimidiata]

heh. "temperments may vary" should be tatooed on the roof of their mouth, where everyone will read it.

 

[cook75]

I never had one but why they look so calm in all the videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKCdye9D23Q&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLFC3961FA6EF8113C

They are awesome!

 

[Johnantny]

I own and care for a pair of Macrae Blue trees... as well as breed an assortment of dwarf varanids. Before purchasing any monitor, try contacting monitor owners on monitor specific forums and read past posts written by expert keepers. Be ready to handle some seemingly difficult husbandry directions. Good luck,

John

 

[Dimidiata]

Also be sure theres a vet you can contact about the monitor

 

[Johnantny]

Exotics Vets are typically useless when dealing with husbandry issues. Often times their advice is detrimental to the animal, or overdosing, sterile conditions, or what have you.

If you keep them in set ups with 130F basking areas or higher with ambients no lower than 80F, and minimal ventilation, excessive cork tubes, hides and deep sandy soil / leaf litter substrate, you'll have far healthier and thriving (maybe breeding) tree monitors. Screen tops, shallow substrate, low temps will lead to dehydrated and or dead animals in no time. Same usually goes for other reptiles species but the beardie, gecko and uro folks take up arms over it.
Have fun,
John

 

[Dimidiata]

I was thinking along th lines of injury and illness. You want a vet that can take a x-ray/cat of your lizard, know how operate if needed. Husbandry, they are only slightly knowledgable. There are some that do know what their doing.