Quote Originally Posted by purplemuffin View Post
I think the biggest problem with 'tame' monitors is people confuse sick ones for tameness.. Sort of like sick iguanas.

I've seen so many youtube videos of people claiming their savannah monitor "sleeps" on them, when in actuality it is closing its eyes out of fear, trying to 'make it go away' sort of. It's a bad sign the monitor is very stressed! But we see it as a human thing, and confuse the stress for comfort. That means a lot of poorly kept monitors.

Another problem with monitors is there is a heck heck HECK of a lot of wrong information, even if every other caresheet is right, the monitor caresheet is often WAY wrong..like saying Savs should eat rodents as a staple.. Thank goodness that idea is finally going away, the things are complete insectivores in the wild. (I'm very against rodent feeding in savs..one day when I have one, he/she will eat 90% insects hopefully. I'm already getting ready to start a variety of roach and millipede colonies for my future friend!)

The unfortunate thing about monitors is that they are so hardy. They go through so much pain and live still for years and years. This makes keepers think they are right and it is okay for them to keep treating their animals this way.


This is why monitor keepers are so touchy.. They love their animals and they see a lot of people do a lot of bad things with their animals, so they get very defensive. I have known people with actually tame monitors, but usually true tameness doesn't come for years and years, they are too smart, they are unlike other reptiles. We have to earn their respect, and more often then not, we don't, so monitors remain mean despite being perfectly healthy! Right now the only thing you've shown is your monitor outside the enclosure, and it's a fairly new addition to the home, so some people are going to be wary of the animal's well being. They are very easily stressed, they just show it differently than other reptiles often times, and stress doesn't always mean hissing and tail whipping!

I'm sure you are taking very good care of your monitor, but I understand other monitor keeper's points.. It takes a lot of work to care for monitors and it is very different than other reptiles, and yet they are so often impulse buys(of course they are, they are all beautiful!)
I agree with you that the care sheets out there are SERIOUSLY lacking. Everyone one that I found on the internet for Thyssa continued to tell me that a yellow tree monitor and a Quince were the same. They also recommended rodents and other things that were not good for her. I also agree that there are many out there that will never really be tame. From what I read Quince are more docile than most. She was a breeders pet for 4-5 years prior to coming to me. As far as impulse....I can agree with that as well. This was NOT something I was thinking about getting but we fell in love with her and I am anal about how I take care of my animals. There is no doubt in my mind that she will not be healthy and happy.

Do I want ppl to help me and teach me more about her and what is in her best interest....of course. However I will not tolerate being approached such as I was. I go out of my way to help ppl that have less knowledge than I do. I also go out of my way to be nice and understanding to ppl. And lastly I go out of my way to give ppl the benefit of the doubt. I totally expect the same treatment. I take great pride in how I keep all of my reptiles and the research I do.

Monitors are not the only reptiles out there that are NOT being taken care of properly. Its truly across the board, but why is it so abrasive to get a message across. Its a total turn off to having a monitor! Maybe the fact that some ppl that have monitors are so abrasive that it really truly is hard to learn how to properly take care of them. You know the saying....more bees with honey!

I know that once I get this down....and get her perm cage done that I will never treat someone like this.....and I hope that helps someone else that maybe wasn't "planning" on buying a monitor but just fell in love with them.