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RE: Komodo Dragons

Auballagh — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:28:13 GMT

For some reason people don't associate the more 'modern' reptiles, (snakes) with mammalian traits, like they do with the older, walking-around lizard types. There's usually some hesitation, a little pause before physical interaction or handling with snakes, that lizard types don't always get from people....
Maybe that crawly, non-walking thing puts just enough of a visual difference out there in reptile appearance I guess, that many people just seem to sort of automatically/instinctively behave differently around snake reptiles, than than they often do with lizards.
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I DO know that if given a personal choice - I would much prefer getting tagged with a Stupid Feeding Error (SFE) bite from a 12 foot long Rock Python (ouch!), than a 4 foot long Crocodile Monitor!

RE: Komodo Dragons

crazyguitarman — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:23:28 GMT

true

RE: Komodo Dragons

Varanisblack — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:59:44 GMT

Even though monitor lisards show more inteligence than most other lisards I have ever dealt with there is still a chance to recive a nasty bite.

A freind of mine has been breeding Savanahs and while I was visiting his favorite "Pet" wich roamed freely thrue the house latched onto his thumb. It took 2 of us to open its jaws and it was not an agressive bite, It looked like it was just saying "I am grumpy and dont want to be messed with" He never was bit again and we are all gretefull it was not a feeding bite or he could have lost his thumb. If it was a feeding response it would have been thrashing its head and could have done irreprable damage.

I do belive if his Savanah did not recognise him it would have been alot worse. I know alot of people put mamilian traits to their herp pets but we must allways remember these are not social animals and do not form loving family groups. It is up to responsible owners to be vigilent.

Monitor lisards are fantastic pets aslong as you understand and respect them 8)

RE: Komodo Dragons

zooherper — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:40:56 GMT

Anguimorpha--a suborder of the Squamata that includes Helodermids, Varanids, Anguids and Mosasaurs. BTW in reference to that Animal Planet scare tactic show--cause of death was undetermined--the show spun their own version for ratings' sake. Chances are the guy died of a heart attack, brain hemorrhage, etc and then the lizards foraged on him--after all, many Varanids are carrion eaters in the wild.

RE: Komodo Dragons

leolizard — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:01:08 GMT

monitor lizard (4/24/2010)

anguimorph lizard? I though it was varanid? And people think they can be trusted , look at that guy that kept 7 monitors in his house and they ended up killing him.

I thought he died of a heart attack, then they started eating his body, which is natural monitor behavior.

RE: Komodo Dragons

monitor lizard — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:24:06 GMT

anguimorph lizard? I though it was varanid? And people think they can be trusted , look at that guy that kept 7 monitors in his house and they ended up killing him.

RE: Komodo Dragons

leolizard — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:52:53 GMT

Since they routinely polish things a whole lot tougher than us, like water buffalo, killing and eating a human being, which has been documented on numerous occasions, would be small potatoes. I would NOT trust them very much.

RE: Komodo Dragons

zooherper — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:23:05 GMT

I've worked with several komodos, and yes, this is VERY true. They are eerily intelligent, even getting pissy (pacing, etc.) if for whatever reason the diet is cut back on them (ie 3 rats instead of five)--they will pace until they get the "missing" food. They will come when called, step on scale, present a foot to have claws trimmed, sit for a blood draw, station at a particular spot and can figure out simple puzzles. They will recognze the one that feeds/trains them and ignore anyone else. They will remember if someone did something to offend them. Would they bite the hand that feeds them? I bet they would, but never gave one the chance (venom/infection/massive trauma not a good mix ya know?) Although I do trust them more than croc monitors--a komodos behavior is slightly more predictable, and they give more warning when they don't want to be messed with.

RE: Komodo Dragons

the herptile master — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:24:30 GMT

Komodo dragons are extremly intelelgent animals. I would not be suprised if they were capibal of being trained. They surely reconize the zoo keeper. But every herp is diffrent. Some are just stuborn.

RE: Komodo Dragons

The Reptile Dude — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:01:30 GMT

Well, monitor lizards are extremely intelligent. And those that are raised in captivity, along with alot of herps/other pets, get really attached to their handlers. It wouldn't surprise me if captive Dragons would become attached to the handlers that they interact with alot.

RE: Komodo Dragons

nick — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:39:30 GMT

well noing when its going to be fed is different then being trained. my cats know when thier gonna be fed, so does my leopard gecko. its not knowin when hes gonna be fed but more like a feeding response. before i take my snakes out to feed them they get excited and strike at everything thing that moves. same thing with my lizards.

RE: Komodo Dragons

Maximum — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:06:22 GMT

I'm sure they would, in fact I think every animal would. Dogs, who have been domesticated for thousands of years, will still attack their owner. So I think its safe to say that a wild animal living in captivity with its strong instincts would attack a keeper under certain circumstances.

RE: Komodo Dragons

llipinsk — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:31:40 GMT

Once trained would they ever attack their keeper?

RE: Komodo Dragons

Crested Man — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:12:01 GMT

Well, like all anguimorph lizards they are hard to train but it is possible.

RE: Komodo Dragons

jsinhardcore — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:03:53 GMT

100% true.

Komodo Dragons

llipinsk — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:48:26 GMT

I just saw the PBS Nature episode about monitor lizards and it said that the Komodos in captivity knew the zookeepers that kept them and were trained to eat at specific times. I thought that the Komodos were more aggressive than that. Does anyone know if most Komodos in captivity can be trained like this, or if this was unusual?