Toref/Torefet: Varanus Tristis Orientalis/Freckled Tree Monitor

[richardhind1972]

That's good he's moving around a lot more Dave

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[dakski]

That's good he's moving around a lot more Dave

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Agreed. Frankly, it can get dizzying watching him.

He runs down a branch, to the other side of the tank, up a branch, across the perch, around again, etc. Sometimes he breaks to look out the acrylic doors. Little guy has a lot of energy, as we know .

I am glad he likes the perch and seems to have found the hot spot, cool side, etc. I think he's doing really well now.

[dakski]

Toref didn't eat for the past 3 days. He's been pooping, but no food down the hatch.

I went in today to check on him. He wasn't in any hides.

I lifted the paper and he looked at me like, "Jerk, I was hiding here!"

I changed the paper and will hope he eats tomorrow. He's growing, I can see it. I wish he ate regularly and was taking advantage of his new big digs, but he's not there yet, "sigh."

[dakski]

Toref is still hiding a lot. However, I managed to get everything out of his tank today and get him out without incident. I cleaned his tank and he even "let" me pick him up out of his holding container and put him back in his tank. No pooping on me, which was good.

He is definitely growing, although I didn't weigh him today.

[Bogertophis]

I wonder if he has any idea what a handsome lizard he is...?

[dakski]

I wonder if he has any idea what a handsome lizard he is...?

He might. That might be why he's so difficult. He figures he's good to look at, so I can deal with his mishegas (that's yiddish for nuttiness, craziness, idiosyncrasies, etc).

[dakski]

Toref came out for cage cleaning today and with a little less drama. He did slightly pee on me, but that's okay.

Once out, I got him in his holding container where he spent a lot of time looking eye to eye with Katie.

After I cleaned the cage, I got a chance to hold him a for a minute or two and he did calm down quite a bit. He also smelled Katie and tried to climb on her hand, but I kept him in mine as I am used to his dramatics and speed.

I weighed him and he's 35G! He was about 25G about 5 weeks ago when he moved into the new digs. I think he really like his new home.

Once in his cage, I got a decent video of him being pretty calm.

[richardhind1972]

Looking really great dave, looks proper chilled in the video, glad he's putting on weight too

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[dakski]

Toref had his cage cleaned and was a little less dramatic coming out, but did pee on me.

He did not when I put him back, but was still very squirmy.

He is about 1/10th his adult size, in terms of weight. Do I keep handling him once a week, or make more of an effort to calm him down? I've heard both schools of thought and want to do the right thing by him.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[Bogertophis]

I've no experience with these, of course, but I've known tricky creatures like him where you can only walk that fine line & hope you guess right for his benefit.

You don't want him afraid, yet too much interaction can backfire into food refusal & stress that affects his health. I hope someone that has kept these can be
of more clarity, but it might also be they each have their own personalities & tolerances, & you'll just have to play your own hunches. I know one thing though,
none of us could do any better.