Mangrove Monitor
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=== Handling === | === Handling === | ||
| - | + | Handling a mangrove monitor can be a difficult thing; caution is always advised whilst holding one for although rarely vicious, mangrove monitors bear long sharp claws, which can cut through both skin and clothing. Holding this lizard can prove very difficult for an inexperienced handler. Most owners will prefer to keep mangrove monitors as show reptiles because of their agitated nature. | |
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| + | Thick leather gloves are highly suggested when first handling a mangrove monitor as their highly active natures pushes them to seek escape by clawing their way out of hands. Although much less frequent, this lizard may bite (young mangrove monitors are more prone to biting) and its teeth are quite sharp; bites can be surprising as it has a long neck capable of twisting at various angle. | ||
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| + | Monitors remain on of the toughest reptiles to manipulate; of course, this varies from one to another and many people have been know to own very tame mangrove monitors, the general mangrove monitor can prove very hard to tame even after daily holding. One technique which has proved successful with mangrove monitors (as well as several other lizards) is to engulf the monitor’s body in a towel, holding its arms and legs against its body, leaving its head to stick out one end and the tail at the other; use care not to crush the monitor nor to hold it too tightly or loosely (too tight can prove harmful to the monitor and too loose may give it a chance to escape); hold it in this way while sitting down (i.e. whilst watching television), the monitor will be agitated at first but will eventually calm down; this technique will be very stressful for the monitor or any lizard though. | ||
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| + | Considering the mangrove monitor uses both its mouth and claws to tear through raw food and will bathe in the same water and burrow in the same substrate it defecates in, it may very well inflict salmonella or similar diseases; use of disinfectant on cuts and bites is strongly suggested as well as washing hands after handling. | ||
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| + | Some mangrove monitors have been known to defecate on their handler. Unlike iguanas, mangrove monitors do not have a fracture point on their tail. | ||
== Housing == | == Housing == | ||
=== Hydration === | === Hydration === | ||
| - | + | Make available a large enough water container for the lizard to completely submerge, and ideally to be able to swim. | |
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| + | Mangrove monitors will often defecate in their water and will also tend to spill substrate into the swimming area by burrowing near it as well as frequently entering and exiting the water; for the monitor's health, it is highly suggested to change its water daily. | ||
== Advanced == | == Advanced == | ||
== Conclusion == | == Conclusion == | ||
| - | + | Although beautiful and very active, mangrove monitors are suggested for experienced reptile owners because of its high care and maintenance level, sometimes elaborate diet and risk of injury whilst handling. Space, devotion and time should be readily available by anyone wishing to add a mangrove monitor to their reptile collection. | |
== References == | == References == | ||
