Toref/Torefet: Varanus Tristis Orientalis/Freckled Tree Monitor

We had another good handling session today. Toref is doing well. He even let me take him out of the tank and put him in his storage box. There was some hissing and mouth opening and posturing in the beginning. However, once picked up, he did great. He was calm and even let me rub his body and chin a bit.

I weighed him today for the first time and he is 20G!

He's been eating big meals and then not eating for a few days. He's still growing, but I want to offer less food more often from now on. See how that goes.

Here are some pictures of him as well as a (long - sorry) video of me holding him. Feel free to fast forward if you want to watch.

https://vimeo.com/334293682

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Glad you had another handling session dave, looking great

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he is really cute!!

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

Glad you had another handling session dave, looking great

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Me too. He's really settling down. I am very pleased.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

he is really cute!!

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He really is! I cannot wait until he's bigger and I can handle him more and hand feed/tong feed him. He's getting braver, but he's not quite there yet.

He is such a cutie! So glad he’s improving with handling, and great news that he’s gained weight. I can only imagine that weigh ins are challenging. :D

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Originally Posted by Dianne

He is such a cutie! So glad he’s improving with handling, and great news that he’s gained weight. I can only imagine that weigh ins are challenging. :D

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He is really cute. He likes to hiss and me, and before I put the camera in, he was open mouth hissing and glaring. He's all bluff though. So, that's cute too!

Weigh ins are only a challenge for an "average" reptile keeper, not Super Dave!

I put him in his holding container, with the lid on, and weigh the whole thing - container and Toref. Then I take Toref out, put him back, and weigh the empty container. Then I subtract Container without Toref from container with Toref. BINGO!

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Tore is doing great. He and I have been bonding a little more and although hit and miss, it's overall going well. When he's jumpy and I have to mildly restrain him to move him to his holding container, for example, he calms down a lot and quickly once he realizes I am not going to hurt him. He's learning my scent (I think) and only freaking out 1/3 times I go in there. The rest of the time, it's just mild spazzing :). Once in my hand though, 1/3 times he just chills there.

I am working with him 2-3 times a week and also showing my hand and then the food, when I can see him anyway. I think he's becoming less afraid and is eating better too. Lately he's pounding food almost daily. Before he was eating every 2-3 days, but a lot. I have been offering a little less and daily, but overall, he's eating much more.

I am optimistic that as he gains size and confidence, he will be handleable, but probably not by everyone. He will probably still be a sneaky and jumpy guy.

Overall, I am very happy with him, especially since he is calming down. He's a great and unique lizard.

Toref was a great sport and met the family after Katie and my wedding yesterday. My sister Sarah, from LA, wanted to meet my little "velociraptor." She said he's part raptor and part Meerkat.

He still flips a little when I first go in the tank, especially with new people around. However, once I pick him up, and let him spaz for 15 seconds in my hands while gently restraining him, he calms down and it clicks that I am not going to hurt him.

He spent about 5 minutes in my hand, out of the tank, and even let a few people pet him while being gently restrained.

The pictures below are him in my hand. I was NOT restraining him. My fingers were gently touching his back in case he got spooked and tried to jet. Otherwise, he was just resting in my hand. No pooping on me, no hysterics, and was super calm for a while. Also, when I put him back, he kept watching me and didn't run and hide right away. All good progress.

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He really is so cute, love the speckles on him, glad he behaved for everyone, and didn't mess all over you

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

He really is so cute, love the speckles on him, glad he behaved for everyone, and didn't mess all over you

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Yeah, he rocks. I am glad he behaved too. He only "messed" on me that one time, and I was really restraining him. He's getting so much better with the handling.