Monitor pictures-Thread

[crocdoc]

Certainly is. There's no evidence yet of wild ones having any more than one clutch a year.

 

[Karly]

Thanks crocdoc very interesting... Is it because the wild monitors are more prone to climatic influences or because they are not constantly paired up with a mate? Or a combination of both?

 

[crocdoc]

It all comes down to food availability and climate.

 

[crocdoc]

Went for a bit of a bushwalk today and saw a few lace monitors. This one quietly went up the nearest tree when it saw me stop and get out my camera.

It then continued walking up the tree when I paid it too much attention by photographing it. I say "walked" up the tree because the tree was too wide for it to wrap its arms around it, so it looked very much like it was casually walking up.

Eventually it reached a height it was comfortable with, dug its claws in and relaxed, indicating that it wasn't going anywhere as long as I was standing there with my camera, so I kept on walking.

 

[serpenttongue]

Few taken today (ignore the reflection of the baldy in the background )

 

[mysnakesau]

That first picture there is gorgeous. They are such lazy, sleepy looking beasts. Crocdoc you always take beautiful photos. He certainly kept a watchful eye on you.

 

[crocdoc]

Crocdoc how many clutches would you usually get in a year?

Two a year, with a third every now and then.

And here comes number two for this season! It started with the female doing a bit of digging. They do that a lot at the start of a cycle, then again later when they are gravid. Caught her with this 'do' the other night.

I thought it was so cute I ran to grab a different lens. Luckily she hadn't moved.

She has been a bit off her food lately, too, so I thought I'd better do the hormone test. I separate her from the male when she's about to lay eggs and then wait to put them back together until she's finished her 'nest defence' period (during which she'll attack the male). The test consists of me picking up the male and waving him back and forth in front of her side of the enclosure partition. If she attacks the glass I know she's still in nest defence mode. If she runs away she's past that, but still not ready. If she comes up gently with a 'hello sailor' look, I let her out with the male and watch their behaviour. This was the result:

I've removed the partition from the enclosure and they've been at it since.

 

[herptrader]

There is that famous Fecundity Rug again!

And here comes number two for this season! It started with the female doing a bit of digging. They do that a lot at the start of a cycle, then again later when they are gravid. Caught her with this 'do' the other night.

I thought it was so cute I ran to grab a different lens. Luckily she hadn't moved.

She has been a bit off her food lately, too, so I thought I'd better do the hormone test. I separate her from the male when she's about to lay eggs and then wait to put them back together until she's finished her 'nest defence' period (during which she'll attack the male). The test consists of me picking up the male and waving him back and forth in front of her side of the enclosure partition. If she attacks the glass I know she's still in nest defence mode. If she runs away she's past that, but still not ready. If she comes up gently with a 'hello sailor' look, I let her out with the male and watch their behaviour. This was the result:

I've removed the partition from the enclosure and they've been at it since.

 

[pythrulz]

Great photo of the two big lacies asleep and having a cuddle serpentounge
very cute pic of the little lacie with mulch on his head David

 

[serpenttongue]

...

 

[saximus]

Hehe so awesome. I still think your male looks like the velociraptors from Jurassic park David. I want one so bad!

 

[Karly]

Caught her with this 'do' the other night.

Great photo! Reminds me of one I got of my "sandy" sand monitor years ago :lol:

 

[timmy82]

heres a few pics of my little one

 

[crocdoc]

Nice looking baby lacie, where's it from?

 

[KaotikJezta]

I can't believe how small they are when they are babies. I will hopefully be getting a mangrove monitor in the new year, can't wait!

 

[Varanus1]

heres a few pics of my little one

That one has a gorgeous face, great stuff - I too am wondering where/who it may've come from!

 

[Karly]

This big tough lizard loves his soft toy :lol:

 

[jordanmulder]

Hey karly How handleable is your V.Gouldii?

 

[Karly]

S/He is incredibly tame. He free ranges in the house with us most of the time and we handle him all the time. He's better with us than with strangers but even then he's pretty good. We had to take him to the vet a few weeks ago cos he had a sore on his foot and the vet was poking and prodding at him and he just sat there and didn't seem to mind too much. The only time he bit me was when he went to grab a mouse but missed and got my finger instead!

 

[jordanmulder]

S/He is incredibly tame. He free ranges in the house with us most of the time and we handle him all the time. He's better with us than with strangers but even then he's pretty good. We had to take him to the vet a few weeks ago cos he had a sore on his foot and the vet was poking and prodding at him and he just sat there and didn't seem to mind too much. The only time he bit me was when he went to grab a mouse but missed and got my finger instead!

So did you achieve this by gaining his trust or by constantly handling him and letting him get used to you