I have had quite few monitors, (though admittedly breifly) and had hands on experience with a number of other species, the Argus is probably one of the more challenging ones,the first and only one to have ever succesfully nailed me, I personally wouldn't advise handling them to be honest, but there is no reason with time he couldn't come to tolerate you more. (food orientation) (routine) etc.

Ideally your right, they aren't a beginner monitor, but you sound like you have set your mind to it, and are doing something similar to what was planned with the one that nailed me.

As for the UV debate, I couldn't make any direct reference to if it is beneficial, (highly probably is) but the only one I have worked with was kept under UV, and he was seen out and about a lot, sitting under it all the same, that's all I can say about that, I haven't seen one not, not kept without it tbh it is definitely one monitor I would use UV with though.

And boy will they dig, making a big mess is what they love.

IF you are actually intending to handle this animal, it really wont be the typical large lizard handling, those necks are very long, and are capable of turning impressively well, so just a heads up on that from experience.

I haven't really kept one long enough to say anything else, but they are very movement orientated, this one would come out of it's enclosure, and begin ragging things like empty bottles (used for water replacement) even sponges, I have had many fights with that individual taking things out of his mouth! :lol2:

(don't leave anything lieing around he can get his mouth around during his free roam trips is my advice) :lol2:
This individual was very very active too!

Good luck though, and I would love to see the eventual result with the enclosure.

 

Well I am speaking with the pet shop this weekend will probs put a deposit on him and will be building the enclosure in jan straight after Christmas hopefully to have it all ready for him by the end of jan.

Thank you for the positive response and I know they are not a beginner monitor but I like to think that I am capable of overcoming hurdles like this
I will update with pics as soon as I have started building

 

I'd use UV, i use it with my Ackie. How tall is the viv?

 

Not built yet planning on a viv that's 6foot tall 8 foot wide and 4 or 5 foot deep

 

Thats a good size, as monitors can stand on their back legs, they use their tail like a tripod for balance, but UV is recommended, basically what they get in the wild is what we should provide them with. If you need any heating or lighting advice, contact acadia john as he's the subject matter expert.

 

Ta bud I will definitely get in touch with him because I want to know how to heat the substrate whether to use mats or tubes

 

For that sized enclosure I'd consider tubular heaters for the ambient heat, and mercury vapour bulbs for the basking spot to provide heat and UV. I don't see a scenario where a UV tube in a viv that size would be beneficial.

 

Hi did you mean arcadia John?

 

No vents for starters, the basking spots flood and heating and moisture will balance each other out, opening the door most days will change the air. Basking spot flood very important, use a flat piece of thick ply, the ply gives a good balanced basking spot flood, checked with a temp gun.

Always aim on feeding insects along side mice/rats/chicks etc, a healthy argus will always eat them, water bowl always a must, even when they don't use.

Basking spot floods need to be correct, biggest mistakes keepers make is not having enough heat to charge the monitors body up, they need a good heat source for their bodies to function right. Incorrect heating basking and it's not long before they run into problems, proper gut loading of insects and dusting a must.

tail tips and claws been lost due to incorrect humidity, a sealed viv with the right basking/heating will look after it's self. You should be able to leave cabbage leaf in for 4/5 days before it dries out.

If you feed rodents daily they'll back up, mix the diet up, before a rodent feeding or after add in oily fish, feed small meals they process faster, feed insects everyday and every other day chicks/rats/mice etc, this allows the monitor to digest the food easier.

Expand your lighting system as your monitor grows, so you need to think about a 24/30" body to heat properly, I would always put your basking platform up high, gives your monitor a workout each time it basks, but make sure it can get up & down easily, whilst young put something in front of the basking site so the monitor feels secure.

that one of mine tripods at 3 foot high, you might end up with that size argus! think about how you'll adapt your cage if that happens lol

much,much more to learn as your mon grows.

 

Handling your monitor, most CBB will of been well handled by humans from hatchlings, so its stands to reason that most will tolerate handling and show little stress. WC depends on the monitor species and its personality, is it natural shy, maybe female, is it very bold and likes exploring, maybe male, adjust your handling to suit the monitor in question.

But just keep in mind if you handle (force yourself upon your monitor) at different times before feeding and after feeding, the feeding response will reduce. I'm not going to eat a full meal and go out and play rugby. If you what to handle, let them explore you from an early age, and assuming they show no sign of reducing food intake, pick an exact time everyday and get them in a handling routine and feed after as a reward.

If you want to see natural behaviour displayed by your monitor let them be and watch them grow, handling is a form of dominance and once done they'll be waiting for the next time. Birds of prey pick them up in the wild and other predators, not to cuddle but to eat them, it takes time for them to realise that you won't eat them, this also depends on species and birth status (CBB/WC /CB) and previous environment.

If they live along side you and they don't worry about you playing cuddling games with them, they grow bigger and show more natural behaviour that isn't based on the keeper dominating them, but keep in mind if you have to move a 5 foot plus power house for medical reasons or home movin.
Good luck!:lol2:

 

Well I know he is captive bred but he has had very little handling upto now and he is around a year and a half old they tell me so I'm not sure how this will affect but I will try a routine and just play it by ear I think patience is the key and trying to keep a routine it's going to be a learning curve for sure. Really looking forward to it they fascinate me always have and I will relish watching him grow

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I'd suggest looking at Phillipniceguy for some techniques on handling. He has very interesting video's on handling: philipniceguy

I know it might be bit late, but I'd also suggest buying a youngster from him or a breeder like him. You won't be doing the animal or yourself any favors by buying from the pet shop, you will only do the pet shop a favor. They will likely buy another animal that will be housed in unsuitable conditions. Leave rescue work to people who have experience with this species and buy an youngster from an responsible breeder/shop. Your only enabling irresponsible keepers and taking on an animal that likely has issues that you won't be able to help with. This is exceptional risky to do so with an species that can hurt you pretty badly and you have no prior experience with. Support responsible keepers by buying from them. This advice might fall on deaf ears or is a bit late, but this is public forum so I feel it should be at least mentioned by someone. We'll only create more rescue animals if we continue to buy them.

And I'd highly suggest taking a look at this site: Startseite It contains loads of useful information on responsible husbandry, but also issues of Biawak (an English magazine about monitors).

 

Just to make emphasis on Creeds excellent point, (in case this thread ever ends up being looked up in the future), this was the photo of the bite I received from the argus, it wasn't as bad as many others I have seen though and really not as bad as the one I received from my male iguana, but it was a good bite nevertheless, he let go as soon as I pinned his head, but if he had ragged I guess it could have been much worse.

It isn't always just about the injury itself either, monitor mouths can harbor up some very nasty bacteria too, so just something else to be aware of.

In my case I never had it looked at by anyone, I just took very good care of it, and it healed nicely, but even now, some months after, if I run my finger up and down the scar area, I can feel little jolts of tingling (I assume it's body electricity) shooting up to the tips of 2 of my other fingers.

Actually pretty cool and weird at the same time.

Most normal people will go to the first aid kit, but we all ran for our phones.
We do this to help raise awareness where possible when things go wrong.
I won bite of the month award with this one at work.

It had began to swell up some days after.

And the culprit, hes awesome.

(before anyone comments on the viv depth) it was temporary

Surprisingly just browisng my Albums I have more photos of some of these great monitors than I relised, must make a thread and share them when I get five.

 

amazing thread full of good kind information. It's about time this forum got advice like this again. Them bites ouch, I'm bite free but a large part of that is simply because I don't force handle my own collection. The sad thing is I have to most of my stock for sale and at some point it will end badly.

Argus perhaps not a good monitor to start with due to there size, boldness and feeding response however they are hardly easy to read and awesome monitors. Be prepared, play smart and enjoy them for the crazy monitors they are

 

Thank you for the words of advice

I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised I very rarely ask for help on forums because half the time you just get people having a go and putting you down, but this time I have had nothing but helpful advice, and words of caution and I think if you are not going to take the advice of more experienced keepers then there is little point having animals of any sort.

Once again a huge thanks to all those who have provided me with help on this matter it is well received and listened to and much appreciated:notworthy::notworthy:

amazing thread full of good kind information. It's about time this forum got advice like this again. Them bites ouch, I'm bite free but a large part of that is simply because I don't force handle my own collection. The sad thing is I have to most of my stock for sale and at some point it will end badly.

Argus perhaps not a good monitor to start with due to there size, boldness and feeding response however they are hardly easy to read and awesome monitors. Be prepared, play smart and enjoy them for the crazy monitors they are

 

Bearwolf argus are fast and powerful, the male I have is over 6 foot and if he got my finger it would be gone, argus grab and ask questions later when fully heated.

smaller easier species can go like rockets as well you know, your call at end of the day and we'll help regadless :2thumb:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Z7h9_CfMo

 

Well I'm going to have to be very careful when handling him in any way.
I have looked at some of your vids on youtube and I saw one called target practice I think, and it gave me an idea to put 2 feed hatches in the viv, I was thinking on how routine helps to keep them happy, and thought if I had feeding hatches that are only ever opened for feeding and don't use the main opening of the viv for feeding at all. What do you think on that MDF? would he learn that the food hatches are where he gets fed?

 

Change of plans for the viv I am now going to be constructing something slightly bigger than originally planned looking at something around the size of 10foot in length 6 foot of depth and 6 foot height
I have decided to move him into my garage so I can give him the bigger viv.

I will be building his viv with a timber frame and double skin with 100mm insulation in the cavity, more if needed, I will also be using a heat recovery ducted ventilation system that will draw air directly from outside and use the heat from the exhaust air to heat the incoming air. I know MDF said no vents so that the moisture and heat would self balance but I am planning on controlling the lights heat and humidity directly, with a rain system.

I will post up the drawings when I have finalised the design and construction will be hopefully started during the Christmas holidays.

Already begun writing the program for the control system, which will control the lighting, heating, and rain system.

Thinking of adding in one of those preformed plastic ponds to give him somewhere to bathe and still having a separate waterfall in there as well.

My concern with building this is will it be too big for him at the moment as he is only around a foot stv maybe just under?

 

Feeding hatch can work but I tend to have two entrances and feed at either one, they tend to stay at the hatch you last fed them at.

can you see?

just to make it easier, a close up of the above pic and I think that answers the question on monitor to viv size, some species it would be a bad idea.

 

Yeah I can see what you mean, I will have a think about it and see what I can come up with.

In the meantime

I dropped by the shop today and got a pic of him

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Hi Guys ive just posted in equipment
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/foru...equipment-supplies/1088485-aerogel-anyone-know-anything-about.html#post12279645

Wondered if any of you guys had worked with or even heard of Aerogel thermal insulation?

 

I'll be watching this thread with interest. Hoping to do something similar when our house extension is done. Original plan was to look at caiman and go down the dwa route but the more I look the more I think large monitors are more fascinating to watch. They have a lot more interesting behaviour in my opinion.

 

I looked into a caiman once before, a couple of years ago, and the main problem with them is that they require a huge amount of water space as well as a large land space as well.

I definitely agree that Monitors are far more interesting, very intelligent animals, they have me a bit fascinated to be fair.

Anywho when i have the plans finalized and am ready to begin work i am going to document each step and do a full write up in the habitat section for those who are interested :2thumb:

 

Got a better pic of him when I went to see him yesterday thought I'd share

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Have finally got everything ready for the build now building a 12ftx8ftx6ft in my garage with insulation everything got put back a bit due to me needing a new boiler but now have the wood ordered and the glass will update or start a new thread detailing the build.

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