Just wondering about bites?

[rebeccabecca]

Has anyone been bitten by a Sav? I mean as a hatchling- grown up. Not really afraid as I tend to read body language well with animals(from a heathy fear of what they are capible just enough to keep me on my feet but not enough fr me to take proper care of them I think the word is repect LOL). I heard it can crush bones yet I haven't seen any pics on the net .

[daniel1983]

While I have never been bitten by a sav, I have been latched onto by several small monitor species. I will never forget when I had the side of my hand snatched up by one of my Blackheads and had my hand pulled into a log. That was nasty.

Getting bitten by ANY monitor is not a fun experience. A monitor bite is painful, bleeds alot, and can easily get infected.

Although their teeth structure is not a bad as a lacie or croc, I would think that an 5' healthy adult sav could give you a bite all the way to the bone if it was acting on a feeding response and caught you on the hand.

I know people who have been subject to hospital stays and permanent physical problems due to large monitor bites. It is nothing to mess around with.

[wolfy-hound]

I've been bitten by the tegus on a rare occasion, and it hurt, but wasn't any serious injury. I ended up with bruising and scrapes.
HOWEVER... I don't know how close a Sav's tooth structure is to a blackthroat(they look very similar to me), but I surely would NOT ever want to get bitten by Moggie or Wilson. I'm certain it would be a rather bad injury, so I'd take all precautions if I were you, to prevent a feeding response or aggressive bite.

[mumps]

If you establish trust and let your monitor learn your smell, you will never get bitten.

Chris

[daniel1983]

If you establish trust and let your monitor learn your smell, you will never get bitten.

That is a pretty bold statement! You have less chances of getting bitten with a monitor that has been cared for properly....but to say someone will NEVER be fitten.....that statement is 100% false.

I don't care how much 'trust' a monitor has with you...you should never trust a monitor.

A feeding response is a feeding response.....And a healthy monitor has a feeding response like no other reptile. Hands and fingers look alot like rodents....and unless you are feeding with 4' long tongs, it does not take alot for a monitor to change course and bite a hand.

I have been bitten by my Blackheads during feeding. They are FAST....so fast that they can get 3-4 ft. across their enclosure (or outside of their enclosure) before I even have time to react. Most monitors are fast....some are very fast.

I have also known monitors also bite out of 'curiosity'. These bites are usually not as bad as they bite and let go. More or less....a "lets see if this is edible sort of bite" or 'what is this" sort of bite.

And the ever present claws on a monitor are often forgotten. Those can do as much damage as teeth in some instances. I remember hearing a story of a guy having a croc monitor using him as tree. Jumped from one tree to the guys back.......nasty stuff. And of course, the monitor just wanted to move...no harm intended.

Some of the world experts on monitors have been sent to the hosptial from large monitors under their care(i.e. Dr. Fry, Frank Retes, etc.). I believe Dr. Fry still has difficultly using one of his hands because of the damage he suffered from a lacie bite.

[Chefranelli04]

Well speak of the devil! i just got bit two nights ago and it hurt like a *****!

keep in mind my sav(fattie) is only about 7 inches now but he is MEAN and i am trying to tame him some.

any ideas?

He for some reason poops on me everytime i hold him. Make him stop!!!!!!

[daniel1983]

Well speak of the devil! i just got bit two nights ago and it hurt like a *****!

keep in mind my sav(fattie) is only about 7 inches now but he is MEAN and i am trying to tame him some.

any ideas?

He for some reason poops on me everytime i hold him. Make him stop!!!!!!

Don't hold him. If something 50x bigger than you grabbed ahold of you, you would probably poop on it too

Monitors have to 'trust' their keeper to not be as aggressive. You earn trust by getting the monitor used to your presence. Grabbing an animal that does not want to be held will not gain trust. Think of a monitor as a wild animal. You would not grab a wild animal of any sort and not get bit or crapped on. To gain the trust of an animal...you need to feed it, get it used to your presence....then when it realized you are no danger...it will POSSIBLY let you pick it up without issue. Some monitors never like being held. Forcing it to do anything will only make the situation worse. Does gaining a monitor's trust allow you to avoid all bites and 'feces flings'....NO! But it can make those events occur less frequently.

[CTReptileRescue]

Don't hold him. If something 50x bigger than you grabbed ahold of you, you would probably poop on it too

Monitors have to 'trust' their keeper to not be as aggressive. You earn trust by getting the monitor used to your presence. Grabbing an animal that does not want to be held will not gain trust. Think of a monitor as a wild animal. You would not grab a wild animal of any sort and not get bit or crapped on. To gain the trust of an animal...you need to feed it, get it used to your presence....then when it realized you are no danger...it will POSSIBLY let you pick it up without issue. Some monitors never like being held. Forcing it to do anything will only make the situation worse. Does gaining a monitor's trust allow you to avoid all bites and 'feces flings'....NO! But it can make those events occur less frequently.

I have dealt with quite a variety of monitor lizards, I completely agree with the above statement. These (even if CB) animals should still be dealt with in the same respect.
And yes, I have been bitten by quite a few monitor species, that is what happens when you rescue the poor things from horrid conditions.
But none the less. Give respect. Don't force handling. Also understand some Sav's may never "Tame Down". It's just a fact of life when you deal with herps.
Sincerely,
Rusty

[Chefranelli04]

i apoligize i DONT hold him only try to "pet" him to get him used to me! once maybe twice a week.
He FLINGS poo at me. I know better then to FORCE him into being held. When i was bit was when i was introducing food to the cage. so not his fault!

[mumps]

I said once you establish trust you will never get bitten. My bad.

Once I establish trust I never get bitten.

Here's a history of my monitor bites and the species involved.

Nile (V. niloticus): once. Stuck my white sock covered foot into his hide to try to get him to come out. Broke my big toenail in half with a lot of blood. Quick bite and release. Had him for 12 years, he lived to be over 16.

Water (V. salvator): once. The day I acquired him. He had gotten out of the box in the back of the pet store. About 18" TL. Nailed me on the thumb and did not let go for quite a while. I've never felt anything so painful. Lived with me for 8 years. Got to over 6 feet. Just the one bite.

Dumeril's (V. dumerilii): never. Those claws left quite a few marks, however.

Blue Tail (V. doreanus): never. Acquired as WC adult, never calmed down. Let me work around him, however.

Ackie (V. acanthurus acanthurus): once. Our female missed the bit of turkey and got me. Quick bite and release. Didn't hurt.

Ornate (V. ornatus): never. 9 months old at the moment. Acquired at one month old (Captive Bred). No bites yet. Knows my smell and that I am not a threat.

All bites (except for the Nile and the Ackie) occurred before trust was established. The Nile bite was a big idiotic mistake I made trying to get him to come out of his hide while an out of town visitor was over for a look at the collection. One of the reasons I now have "calls" for feeding time. They'll come out of anywhere for food!

Now I've been working with varanids since 1990, so perhaps I have more experience than some. I shouldn't come on here and say you'll never get bitten. But there are ways to minimalize the risk. Learn your animal. Let it learn you.

Chris