I know and have talked to several people who have experience with both water monitors and komodos. They are very closely related and have very similar personalities. I've seen this first hand several times.
Komodo Dragons
- Thread starter twyeiohdc
- Start date
- Status
jbean7916 said:I have a nile monitor. He has a much more pointed nose than a komodo but after dealing with him, I wouldn't ever think about actually owning komodo!! He's only about 5 ft long but holy cow is he powerful!!! And moody as well!! He can be a sweetheart, don't get me wrong, but when he is in a bad mood he is impossible to control.
He refused to let anyone get him off my back after he climbed onto my shoulders... I had to lay like this until he decided to move.
I had a Ornate Nile Monitor from the time it was 3 days old until it was around 3' (2-1/2" years, approximately)...handled it (w/ elk-hide gloves) daily, but it never got tame enought o handle like that...if we ever cross pths, remind me to show you some nasty scars on my legs, arms and shoulder...it was a nasty-tempered little dude!
When you guys say nasty tempers with the niles...do they bite? or just scratching?
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2011
- Messages
- 136
Tom said:
he was poorly cared for though, you are exactly right. Too small of an enclosure, no room to burrow, not enough humidity and not enough water. Like you said, surviving vs thriving!!!
I can't wait to get him in his giant enclosure we're building him... he might never let us in again!!!
jeffbens0n said:
Mine was a VERY enthusiastic biter...when I'd open his cage, he'd run right over and lunge at me, w/ jaws right open! The shoulder scars is when he leaped onto my chest and grabbed a mouthfull of me!
Sold him shortly afterwards.
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2011
- Messages
- 136
jeffbens0n said:
I can only speak for Superman, he's never once attempted to bite, he would much rather whip you with his tail and flee. It is very much a defensive move and not an aggressive one. You really have to do things on their terms, when they want to. It's a trust thing. They are very smart and remember alot.
For example, Superman figured out how to slide open the glass door on his old cage. It was just enough room for him to get his foot in and get his claws around the glass and with enough working, he managed to get it open about 4 inches, that was enough for him. My bf found him burrowed in our leather couch!! He was not a happy camper to leave his new hidey hole and took off down the stairs and holed up behind the water heater. He was angry and fast and hissing and whipping like no tomorrow. They finally wrangled him back into his enclosure and he charged the glass multiple times. He finally calmed down but was not a fan of my boyfriend for 3 weeks after that incident, whipping the glass anytime my bf was within eyesight.
jbean7916 said:
They ARE very smart, w/ excellent memories.
A privately held Komodo just seems like a bad idea to me. Alpha predator with a nasty bite. I'm talking just mechanical damage, I will leave the venom to the taxonomists and specialists. I did read that paper though and must admit it was pretty cool. Add in a tail whip and claws? No thanks.
I certainly don't know the laws well enough, but that would seem to be one of those things dubiously legal to own.
Of course I think there's a lot of critters out there that are bad ideas (big cats, chimps, the huge constrictors, venomous snakes) but people still keep them and only occasionally get killed or maimed; and are legal....sometimes.
On top of all that, that feeding bill would be outrageous!
I certainly don't know the laws well enough, but that would seem to be one of those things dubiously legal to own.
Of course I think there's a lot of critters out there that are bad ideas (big cats, chimps, the huge constrictors, venomous snakes) but people still keep them and only occasionally get killed or maimed; and are legal....sometimes.
On top of all that, that feeding bill would be outrageous!
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but unfounded ones like Tiger Cowboy's bother me. "SEEMS" like a bad idea? Do you have ANY experience with ANY Varanid to base that on? Its fine if you think its a bad idea for you, but its not cool to suggest that its a bad idea for everyone just because you don't like it. I have the facilities, money, training and experience to handle any monitor species just fine. I get tremendous enjoyment from keeping and maintaining my monitors. Much the same way many tortoise keepers do. I also have plenty of food on hand.
The laws are not dubious. It is clear what they are and are not. This is a MONITOR LIZARD. Nothing more, nothing less. It is not a mythical, magical monster and it is NOT an "alpha predator". It is an opportunist and a scavenger.
I believe that people should be able to own whatever they want, as long as they care for it properly and take FULL responsibility for it. I've got no problem with someone wanting to own any of the animals mentioned, as long as they do it correctly and responsibly. Why do people think that its fine for Zoos to have certain animals, but not okay for trained professionals with proper facilities to have those same species? Makes no sense.
The laws are not dubious. It is clear what they are and are not. This is a MONITOR LIZARD. Nothing more, nothing less. It is not a mythical, magical monster and it is NOT an "alpha predator". It is an opportunist and a scavenger.
I believe that people should be able to own whatever they want, as long as they care for it properly and take FULL responsibility for it. I've got no problem with someone wanting to own any of the animals mentioned, as long as they do it correctly and responsibly. Why do people think that its fine for Zoos to have certain animals, but not okay for trained professionals with proper facilities to have those same species? Makes no sense.
Does anyone remember the story of a Komodo dragon attacking Sharon Stones husbands foot?
http://articles.sfgate.com/2001-06-10/news/17602232_1_komodo-dragon-los-angeles-zoo-komodo-island
Story of a Komodo attacking the feet of a shoeless Phil Bronstein. The zoo keeper told him to remove his shoes, because his white tennis shoes might resemble white rats. Seems pretty stupid in hindsight, mostly because even if the Komodo was safe, what could he have picked up from just the floor of the enclosure.
No judgement, just am intersting story.
http://articles.sfgate.com/2001-06-10/news/17602232_1_komodo-dragon-los-angeles-zoo-komodo-island
Story of a Komodo attacking the feet of a shoeless Phil Bronstein. The zoo keeper told him to remove his shoes, because his white tennis shoes might resemble white rats. Seems pretty stupid in hindsight, mostly because even if the Komodo was safe, what could he have picked up from just the floor of the enclosure.
No judgement, just am intersting story.
Great share fb...they are an awesome creature for sure....
Komodos are really cool. I wish I could have one lol
I know lots of keepers at the LA Zoo. That was a pretty big error in judgement in many ways and they all admit it. Sometimes otherwise good people just get a little goofy around celebrities. Seen it many times.
Tom, I didn't mean to imply that a particular person couldn't do it. Just that for 99.9% of the population it would be a very bad idea. Just like the other animals I listed are. If you have the facilities, money, experience, and willingness to do it, best of luck to you and please post pics!
I say dubiously legal because I have never heard of one being sold and there are not that many in the wild and less in captivity. I think cites was mentioned earlier. I would suspect that zoos that hatch them would want to sell to other institutions, but its happened before the public has gotten something so I guess its possible there are legal ones out there.
I have experience with ackies and maintaining them is enough for me to be satisfied right now. I love the blackthroats though. Someday....
Just because it's an opportunistic scavenger doesn't rule out alpha predator. If it hunts prey and is the biggest meanest thing around that would fit my description of alpha predator. Bears will eat plants, carrion, and hunt prey and it's considered an alpha predator.
I say dubiously legal because I have never heard of one being sold and there are not that many in the wild and less in captivity. I think cites was mentioned earlier. I would suspect that zoos that hatch them would want to sell to other institutions, but its happened before the public has gotten something so I guess its possible there are legal ones out there.
I have experience with ackies and maintaining them is enough for me to be satisfied right now. I love the blackthroats though. Someday....
Just because it's an opportunistic scavenger doesn't rule out alpha predator. If it hunts prey and is the biggest meanest thing around that would fit my description of alpha predator. Bears will eat plants, carrion, and hunt prey and it's considered an alpha predator.
This may sound stupid but some tortoises are opportunistic scavengers and killers are they alpha predators or are you going to advise people not to get one of them.. this is my opinion!
Roger that Cowboy. Fair enough.
tyler0912 said:
They don't qualify
Generally you're looking for critters whose only adult predators are their own kind (i.e. alligators are cannibalistic), another top level predator (crocs are known to kill tigers and vice versa), and humans.
Im known to kill humans too......
If i was found to be a murderer......
If i was found to be a murderer......
tyler0912 said:
Put simply YES, someone has to be ready for the responsibly of owning a large animal. Some people are not physically, intellectually or financially equipped to handle a certain animal and it is your responsibly to explain it to them and advise them against owning such an animal.
tyler0912 said:Im known to kill humans too......
If i was found to be a murderer......
What I meant in that one is that humans are considered THE alpha predator. When a human walks into the woods it is almost certainly the most dangerous thing there. Think about the criteria I listed. Now tell me an extant critter we haven't killed that we are aware of.
I didn't kill any humans last year (I was shot three times though, and I probably should have shot that hunter). I can give you estimates on numbers of "prey" I took while I was a hunting guide though. For brevity let's just say.... lots.
- Status
Similar threads
