I don't have to wonder with my lace monitors as it's written all over their faces. To be anthropomorphic, this is what I imagine is going through their heads (at rapid-fire speed): "Quick, there's the primate again! Does he have food? Is that food? I saw his hand move, does he have food? What's that thing he's holding? It must be food? Look, I think it's food! Hey, is that food? I'm going to bite it, anyway, because it's been hours since my last meal and I think I'm starving! "
What is the criteria i have to meet?
Most annoying part of the whole thing. Means you have to own an animal you technically don't really want so you can get one that you doEG you can't apply for class 2 monitors if you haven't cared for class 1.
Numerous criteria, you have to show that you have cared for the group of animals you are applying for. EG you can't apply for class 2 monitors if you haven't cared for class 1.
You have to prove you can keep accurate paperwork and return it on time, and in some circumstances you need references.
As long as lace monitors aren't among the ones brought down. In my opinion (and this is coming from someone that has 'tame' lacies), in some ways they're worse than keeping a venomous snake. For starters, most people wouldn't get as complacent with a venomous snake as they would with a lace monitor. Secondly, with most of the really venomous snakes (in Australia) if you get medical help after a bite the chance of a full recovery is great (save a few kidney issues), whereas with a bad lacie bite you'll likely have permanent damage to something important like a hand. Not the sort of animal I'd want to see a newbie or most teens owning. I've talked some people out of buying hatchlings from me in the past because I got the impression they were after something they could cuddle and I've also refused to sell to a few people that I discovered were under 18.They just need to review some of the animals that are class 2 and bring them down.
However, would you not say something like a V. gouldii could inflict just as much damage?
As long as lace monitors aren't among the ones brought down. In my opinion (and this is coming from someone that has 'tame' lacies), in some ways they're worse than keeping a venomous snake. For starters, most people wouldn't get as complacent with a venomous snake as they would with a lace monitor. Secondly, with most of the really venomous snakes (in Australia) if you get medical help after a bite the chance of a full recovery is great (save a few kidney issues), whereas with a bad lacie bite you'll likely have permanent damage to something important like a hand. Not the sort of animal I'd want to see a newbie or most teens owning. I've talked some people out of buying hatchlings from me in the past because I got the impression they were after something they could cuddle and I've also refused to sell to a few people that I discovered were under 18.
a few lace monitor shots
male and female
They really are amazing. So cute when young and then like intelligent dinosaurs when they grow up. It's win/winabsolutely awesome lacies crocdoc, i love them.
It's win/win
Here's an interesting photo, but not of a monitor. This is a hole made by a 1.3m lacie. He actually tore through the wire mesh with his claws and forearms! Fortunately this only led him into a females enclosure! I had to board it up. It would've been a tight squeeze for him.
sd1981 - thanks! (just saw your post as it went up while I was still typing mine)
cadwallader - after keeping snakes, keeping monitors will change the way you view reptiles. Have fun, you're going to get a kick out of them!