nile moniters really aggresive?

[reeefman]

Iwas thinking about purchasing a nile moniter and i was wondering dothey
have bad attitudes :?

[starwarsdad]

They can be dangerous. Many specimens are very tame, but generally those have been raised by very attentive owners that spend a lot of time with them. There are always those that just never beocome tame.

Niles do best in room size enclosures and require a lot of time and attention.

I am not trying to discourage you. I just think these are animals whose care and maintenace should be carefully and thoroughly thought out before coming home.

I will say that I have never had a nile, but I did have a water monitor years ago. Take my advice with a grain of salt :)

Best of luck!

[Dr Alan]

Large monitors are potentially engaging, intelligent pets, but they grow to a size that necessitates secure enclosures that are past the limits of what most hobbyist herpers are able to provide. They also can be aggressive and have teeth and claws that are potentially devastating. I have heard some owners of large monitors report that the lizards are so intelligent that they (the owners) have felt that they were being stalked. If you are willing to commit to and work with a potentially dangerous six-foot reptile whose life expectancy is 20 years or more and who will require large amounts of animal-based food, then by all means go for it. But have your eyes open. They are now shooting large monitors in Florida that are reproducing in the wild because they have been released when their care became problematic.

[Anonymous]

I agree with starwarsdad and Dr. Alan. It is the nile's nature to be hostile and paranoid, and you should accept that you might never be able to cuddle with it as and when purchasing one. It's nice to see you ask first, I've seen too many people on forums postings like "I bought a nile, how can I tame it?". I have purchased a savannah monitor one month ago, from my research they seemed a better candidate. He seemed quite tame at the pet shop, cold and infested with coccidia. Treating him and giving him the proper set-up and temperatures turned him into the monster he should be. He began hissing, defecating on my hands, whipping me with its tail and already bit me twice (and tried many times more); in short, he now acts like a monitor. A friend told me that you cannot tame a monitor, but that you can teach it to trusts you. I think this makes much sense. I've seen many recommending ackies as first monitors, you may want to give them a look. I hope this helps.

Mark

[bassett524]

I tend to agree with the last few posts. If you have no experience raising a monitor I strongly advise you to not buy a nile as your first. I have been around niles that are very friendly but still difficult to care for. I agree with whitehorse that if you are just beginning start off with a red ackie, but I would also say a Savannah. I bought my Savannah from alex about 3 months ago. It was completely healthy and I've had it vet checked twice so far and still going strong. It is a male and very friendly. It took a while at first, again along with what whitehorse said, It's bitten me once while handeling. three times while feeding but not because of temper, that was my fault, but I used to get many tail whips. I spend at least one hour a day with him in my hands and he has become very tame. He doesn't think twice when I reach in to grab him, and I can even rub his snout without worries. Good luck with your decision.
~Mike