Nile Montior won't eat

[zyxxyz]

I got a hatching nile on friday and it refuses to eat. I know it was given crickets before I got it but I offered it some but it did not eat them. I also tried to give it some dubias and 1/4 of a hopper but it hasn't eaten those ether. I am getting some mollies to try to feed it those on tuesday. I am trying to feed it in a separate container, should I try feeding it in its cage then feed out of the cage when it starts eating? Also if anyone had tips on "taming" them that would help/ Thanks

[JLC]

Hi there...

I'm not a monitor person, so not much help with actual advice...but I know the lizard peeps will need some specific questions answered in order to help you, so I'll help out by getting a head start on those.

How long have you had it?
Where/who did you get it from?
Describe its set up:
---type of cage
---type of substrate
---heating source and temperature ranges
---what hides/caves are available
What previous experience do you have with the giant lizard species?

....I think that's enough to at least give the monitor experts a place to start. Good luck with him!

[zyxxyz]

I got it from a petstore near my house two days ago. I know the guy that owns it knows about herps so it had good care when it was there. Right now it is in rubbermaid that is 30"x20"x15"(lxwxh). The basking spot it 94F and the substrate is newspaper but I am going to the store tomorrow to get a mercury vapor bulb and cypress. He has one hide and a tile that is tilted up so it can go under. I have had experience with larger lizard and some monitor species but have never had a nile before.

[Anatopism]

1. You haven't had him long, and he's likely to be very shy for a while. Make sure you are nowhere near him for a while to allow him to eat in privacy. You might try giving him more things to hide in, multiple hides/plants/etc so he feels more secure. It's nice being able to look in and see him, but from his perspective, a giant primate is staring down at him, and he has nowhere to escape from becoming lunch.

2. I'd suggest a larger enclosure, even for a hatchling. They need deep substrate to dig in, and 7 inches or so isn't nearly enough. You also need to allow for more space for proper temperature control, as they need a basking spot closer to 120*F - this is just the basking spot, not the ambient, so you can see how having more space will allow for proper heat distribution, and so you don't cook your lizard either.

3. As for taming down, it's possible with a nile, but they're very defensive and they get big FAST. Don't force him and try to build trust as careully as possible. Know that despite everything, you might end up with a very large lizard that cannot be tamed, and make sure you are prepared for either outcome. Do you have the space or the time to handle a 6 foot long lizard that hates your very being? Not saing this is inevitable, but it will require a lot of work, patience, and commitment.

[zyxxyz]

He has plenty of hiding places I didn't do a very good job of describing the set up. I can get a bigger rubbermaid tomorrow it is probably a 50ish gallon one I don't know the dimensions but its like the one I have but on a larger scale. I am getting the mercury vapor bulb tomorrow any idea how many watts i should get? I was thinking I would slowly start reaching my hand in with him after he settles so he gets used to it and maybe curiosity will get the better of it and it will come over to me. I also heard that I could put a piece of my clothes in with it so it will be use to my smell and to hand feed it treats like wax worms or something like that so it will associate me with treats but I think that it will make it bite more. What do you guys think? Also should I put it in a separate container for feeding or feed in the cage? Thanks

[Strange_Evil]

1. You haven't had him long, and he's likely to be very shy for a while. Make sure you are nowhere near him for a while to allow him to eat in privacy. You might try giving him more things to hide in, multiple hides/plants/etc so he feels more secure. It's nice being able to look in and see him, but from his perspective, a giant primate is staring down at him, and he has nowhere to escape from becoming lunch.

2. I'd suggest a larger enclosure, even for a hatchling. They need deep substrate to dig in, and 7 inches or so isn't nearly enough. You also need to allow for more space for proper temperature control, as they need a basking spot closer to 120*F - this is just the basking spot, not the ambient, so you can see how having more space will allow for proper heat distribution, and so you don't cook your lizard either.

3. As for taming down, it's possible with a nile, but they're very defensive and they get big FAST. Don't force him and try to build trust as careully as possible. Know that despite everything, you might end up with a very large lizard that cannot be tamed, and make sure you are prepared for either outcome. Do you have the space or the time to handle a 6 foot long lizard that hates your very being? Not saing this is inevitable, but it will require a lot of work, patience, and commitment.

x1!

Leave him be. Get a larger cage, higher basking temps and sand/soil mix about 75% top soil 25% sand.

Watch this video, should prove to be very helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsUqQ...el_video_title

Video Belongs to "MDFMONITOR "

[babyknees]

x1!

Leave him be. Get a larger cage, higher basking temps and sand/soil mix about 75% top soil 25% sand.

Watch this video, should prove to be very helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsUqQ...el_video_title

Video Belongs to "MDFMONITOR "

That video is great! Look at how fast he grows! And watching him hanging on to the mice that are hanging from the ceiling is really adorable. I want one so bad but right now can't have the proper enclosure (THAT ENCLOSURE WAS SO AWESOME). But some day!

[mumps]

1. You have jumped in over your head without proper preparation.
A monitor lizard CANNOT LIVE IN A RUBBERMAID - NO MATTER HOW "BIG". This also applies to aquariums, Visions, Sentecs or any other pre-made and purchased reptile enclosures. The problems are:
- Temperature control. You cannot properly provide the necessary temperatures and humidity levels in a plastic box. The plastic will melt. The top will let too much heat and humidity escape.
- Stress. With a top-opening enclosure, you are always approaching from above, like a predator would. Extremely difficult to establish trust in that type of setup.
- Size. I don't care how "big" a rubbermaid you get; it will be outgrown in a matter of months so why go through all the work for a temporary setup which will need to be changed so quickly; and they can go from a trusting lizard to a crazy psycho killer when placed in new surroundings.

Newspaper substrate? Did you do ANY research before you purchased this awesome little lizard??

I think I'll stop with my advice now as you're probably going to get all defensive and say how the guy in the pet shop knows more than me, blah blah blah.

But if you're really interested in having a tame, trusting 7 foot monitor lizard (like I have), send me a pm and we'll get the ball rolling.

Chris

[Simplex]

X2 pm chris. Ur in over ur head with what u have described

[zyxxyz]

1. You have jumped in over your head without proper preparation.
A monitor lizard CANNOT LIVE IN A RUBBERMAID - NO MATTER HOW "BIG". This also applies to aquariums, Visions, Sentecs or any other pre-made and purchased reptile enclosures. The problems are:
- Temperature control. You cannot properly provide the necessary temperatures and humidity levels in a plastic box. The plastic will melt. The top will let too much heat and humidity escape.
- Stress. With a top-opening enclosure, you are always approaching from above, like a predator would. Extremely difficult to establish trust in that type of setup.
- Size. I don't care how "big" a rubbermaid you get; it will be outgrown in a matter of months so why go through all the work for a temporary setup which will need to be changed so quickly; and they can go from a trusting lizard to a crazy psycho killer when placed in new surroundings.

Newspaper substrate? Did you do ANY research before you purchased this awesome little lizard??

I think I'll stop with my advice now as you're probably going to get all defensive and say how the guy in the pet shop knows more than me, blah blah blah.

But if you're really interested in having a tame, trusting 7 foot monitor lizard (like I have), send me a pm and we'll get the ball rolling.

Chris

I'm not going to get defensive at all. I have never had a Nile before so anyone how has properly cared for one has every right to criticize me. I can build as big of an enclosure as needed at the end of the month but what should I keep him in till then? What would be the best design? The newspaper was only for a few days until I could go to get a better substrate. I will pm you now.