Friday 12-02-10
“Imbulu” is back to a normal level of activity after a four weeks period of dormancy and is hungry!!!…has been eating a lot of mice today !!!
Sunday 31-01-10
“Imbulu” the Alpha Male Blackthroat is entering his third week of dormancy…the Albigs level of activity has slowed down despite a daily room temperature around the 27 degrees…this state of semi-dormancy is not unusual at that time of the year…in contrast, the Asian Water Monitors (Varanus Salvator) are remaining active all year long.
Sunday 17-01-10
This morning “Umngane” has been released into the “Monitor’s room” , this afternoon she was basking together with “Ora”the Asian water monitor (laying on Ora’s back !!!) and tonight was sleeping together with “Umhambi” (the other Whitethroat..) sharing the same burrow !!!
Sunday 10-01-10
The female Whitethroat is in da house…she will be named “Umngane” (means friend in Zulu language). “Umngane” will be temporarily housed separately for observation purposes , before being released into the “Monitor’s room”.
Friday 01-01-10
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!! 2010 will start with the adoption of another White-Throated Monitor Lizard and this time it’s a female !!! will pick-up the “girl” next week…
Tuesday 15-12-09
“Umhambi” the male whitethroat(Varanus Albigularis Albigularis) has been released in the Monitor’s room…introduction to the other Monitor Lizards ( Varanus Albigularis Microsticus & Varanus Salvator Bivittatus) has been succesfull…it’s like they always been housed together !!!
Sunday 13-12-09
The new Monitor lizard is in da house !!! it’s a gorgeous and gentle adult male Whitethroat (Varanus Albigularis Albigularis) and will be named “Umhambi” meaning “Traveller” in Zulu language… being originally Farmbred in Africa “Umhambi” was previously kept in captivity in France , Belgium to finally find his “Home” in the Netherlands . “Umhambi” will be kept few days in a spacious cage for observation , separate but within sight of the other Monitor Lizards…before being released in the Monitor’s room.
Saturday 05-12-09
Countdown started ! nine days to my next Monitor Lizard : an adult male Whitethroat (Varanus Albigularis Albigularis) !!!! will pick him up next sunday ! can’t wait !!!!
Friday 27-11-09
It has been, since their release , fun to watch the “juveniles” Albigs together with the “Big Ones”(Varanus Salvator & adults Varanus Albigularis) !!! great interaction !!! their ability to tolerate each other is fascinating !!!
Saturday 05-09-09
Courtship is over…
Friday 04-09-09
“Imbulu” and “Imbedle” are still together , sleep together in one burrow… i have not witnessed any copulation , i must have missed somethin’ !!!
Thursday 03-09-09
No copulation yet…
Wednesday 02-09-09
“Imbulu” is still busy courting “Imbedle” , so far no copulation has been observed…
Tuesday 01-09-09
Today , after a long period of sexual inactivity ( one year !!!) “Imbulu” the Alpha Male Albig. showed some courting behaviour , has been busy the allday chasing “Imbedle” one of the Albigs female…Last year “Imbulu” started courtship on the 28-08-08 and is for this year again right on schedule !!!
Sunday 16-08-2009
Saturday 18-07-2009
Back from the Gambia !!! had a great time , saw a lot of “Niles” ( Varanus Niloticus) but no “Ninki-Nanka”…will soon update with new photos…
Thursday 02-07-2009
One day to the Gambia !!! it’s gonna be busy today checking everything in da house before leaving tomorrow !!! a friend of mine will take care of the monitors during my trip…i hope they will not give him a hard time !!! (lol).
Sunday 14-06-2009
“Klaki” & “Dogo” two females albigs from clutch of eggs 2007 were removed this morning from their enclosure and joined the “family” in the “Monitor Room”, and again introduction went “smooth & easy”…one last litt’l guy (Tanbulu) is still kept separate…next move will happen in the next couple of months.
Sunday 07-06-2009
The morning after : What a satisfaction to look at the “freshly” introduced Monitors basking together and sharing the same burrow together with the rest of the “Family” !!!!
Saturday 06-06-2009
Today is a special day as i removed from their “temporary” enclosure 3 Albigs from the clutch of 2006 : two females ( Imbedle & Uxamu) and one male ( Imbutan)…they’ve been introduced to the other Albigs & Water Monitors in the “Monitor’s Room”. Introduction has been “smooth & easy” with a lot of mutual curiosity , no sign of agressivity has been observed…it’s a succes !!!!
The next move will be for two females from clutch of 2007 ( Klaki & Dogo) !!!
Tuesday 28-04-2009
60 days to the “Ninki-Nanka” mythical(not) reptilian beast of the Gambia !!!!!(lol) , today i booked our summer holidays trip to the Gambia (West Africa)…and found a keeper to watch over my Monitors during my stay !!! that’s a good feeling…i’m already dreaming about those reptilian encounters…a lot of Nile’s for sure…
Sunday 12-04-2009
Great weather !!! Great news !!! everybody in da house is enjoying this long & sunny Easter weekend and i received a phone call from my buddy Arnaud Collin President of the G.E.V ( French Study Group of Varanids) : his female Argus Monitor ( Varanus Panoptes) laid a clutch of eggs two days ago !!! Congrats Arnaud !!!
Wednesday 04-03-2009
“Imbulu” the Alpha Male Albig. is comin’out of his state of semi-dormancy…and is starting to eat again, today he readily accepted a “huge” mouse !!!
Friday 13-02-2009
“Mopany” the other female Albig & “Imbulu” the Alpha Male are still in a “sleepy mood” , “Mopany” is basking only in the morning for about an hour & then return to her respective resting area…from now on she will readily accept food when provided.
My three other adults Albigs : two males ( Masaï & Shaka Zulu) & one female ( their mother Tanza) are still remaining active trough the day , the same for the juveniles…
Friday 06-02-2009
“Zembla” is now back to her old mood !!! eating & interacting with the other Monitors…
Wednesday 04-02-2009
“Zembla” one of the female Albigs (Varanus Albigularis) has emerged from her sleep and is pretty “Grumpy” !!! Slashin’tail and a lot of hissing !!! she will need to reconnect with her environment , it always take a day or two before she get herself together…based on my own observations females Albigs tend to be more affected by such “post-brumation” behaviour than males…
Tuesday 03-02-2009
It’s resting time for three of my “Albigs” : one male (Imbulu) & two females ( Zembla & Mopany)…they are semi-dormant for the last couple of weeks…this is a normal behaviour that occur each year, mostly during the winter months , and even in a captive environnement when food is providing regulary (based on my observations)… Despite an overall daily ambient indoor temperature round the 27 degrees…the Albigs are still feeling the need to slow down their metabolism and when needed they will choose the coldest areas of their room sized indoor enclosure and will not be feeding during this period , when an attempt to feed them is made they will simply refuse food…
Thursday 08-01-2009
A new year !!! a new “Monitor” !!! a juvenile Albig. has been brought to my house…and it’s a “Boy” with a lot of “attitude” !!! i gived him the name “TanBulu” in memory of “Tanoz” and “Buluzi”…
“HAPPY NEW YEAR” to all “Monitor’s Lovers”…the other too…PEACE to the World !!!
Wednesday 10-12-2008
I found “Buluzi” dead at 5am this morning….it “sucks”…i was hoping this time for an happy ending but the 36th day proved to be fatal…losing two of my albigs females in less than two month’s time is a huge blow…”Buluzi” was 8 years old and in good health…she was one of the hatchling females from the clutch of year 2000…Buluzi’s sudden death raised the question about the safety of calcium injection prior to oviposition…was it the right thing to do??? “Buluzi” died within the 48 hours following the calcium injection…
Tuesday 09-12-2008
This morning “Buluzi” has been refusing food !!! is she now ready for oviposition ??? the coming days will tell…35 days now…
Monday 08-12-2008
“Buluzi” is still feeding but is not digging anymore…much less active than the previous days , resting in a warm area next the heating device…34 days now…
Sunday 07-12-2008
According to my vet there is nothing to be worried about , the eggs are still positionned in the upper part of “Buluzi” abdomen… it could take few more days before she lays…this evening two injections were given to “Buluzi” : Vitamines A/D and extra Calcium in order to support the all process…”Buluzi” keeps on feeding… it’s 33 days now…
Saturday 06-12-2008
X-rays has been performed on “Buluzi” showing about 9 eggs (or more) inside her body(coelomic cavity)..radiography has been send to my reptiles specialized vet…i’m waiting for feedback…32 days now…
Friday 05-12-2008
Another day of intense digging…i will go tomorrow to the vet to perform x-rays…i will then know more about the actual situation…it’s now 31 days from last observed copulation.
Thursday 04-12-2008
Today i found one more “bad” egg (infertile) on the substrate , bringing the number of indertile eggs to 5…”Buluzi” stopped with digging and started to feed again…i am confuse now and i will saturday ask my vet for an x-ray to check for any retained eggs…it’s been now exactly 30 days since last observed copulation.
Wednesday 03-12-2008
Early this morning “Buluzi” dropped one more “bad” egg while defecating raising the number of “bad” eggs to 4…all “bad” eggs were half the size of a normal Albig egg… it’s now 29 days from last observed copulation…i’m goin’ mad…nerves breakin’.
Tuesday 02-12-2008
Digging…digging…digging…and more diggin’…28 days now…
Monday 01-12-2008
“Buluzi” is still frenetically searching for the right spot to lay…it’s today 27 days since last copulation…
Sunday 30-11-2008
“Buluzi” is restless and is digging like crazy…should not be long before she lays (according to the 30 days gestation)…hopefully…it’s today 26 days since last copulation…
Saturday 29-11-2008
I changed my mind…”Buluzi” will stay in the “Monitor Room” with the other “Albigs” as she began to show interest in the “nestboxes”…today i saw her diggin’ on several occasion…
Friday 28-11-2008
This morning “Buluzi” dropped (while defecating) another “bad” egg…she also now refusing food…it’s been today 24 days since last copulation…”Buluzi” is showing no interest for the “nestboxes” and is still hyperactive…i will today seperate her from the other Monitors in order to induce the egglaying process, she will spend the coming weekend in a special room (4 by 2 meters) furnished for that occasion with nestboxes and basking devices.
Man, i’m gettin’ nervous !!!
Wednesday 26-11-2008
It has been 22 days since the last copulation event was observed between “Imbulu” & “Buluzi” and today i found two “bad” eggs (half the size of a normal egg) dropped on the floor by “Buluzi”, “Buluzi” has been the last couple of days Hyperactive and feeding in abondance…but showed so far no interest for the available nestboxes…i will monitor closely her behaviour during the next days.
Wednesday 05-11-2008
Courtship is over…
Tuesday 04-11-2008
Courtship is still going on between “Imbulu” and “Buluzi”…
Monday 03-11-2008
Necropsy has been performed…egg binding resulted in “Tanoz”death…more than 20 eggs were found in her body cavity together with few old mummified eggs (4) from a previous clutch , these 4 mummified eggs certainly have played a role in her death . Despite proper calcium/vitamines supplementation , daily exposure to UV lights and nestbox availability “Tanoz” third attempt to lay her entire clutch of eggs did not succeed and death was the outcome . “Tanoz” laid two previous clutches respectively in 2006 & 2007 , both clutches hatched successfully.
Breeding in captivity will always remains a challenge…
(Last update : “Imbulu” just started to mate with “Buluzi” one of the other females Albigs…life goes on…)
Sunday 02-11-2008
Today is a very sad day…”Imbulu” lost his favorite female :”Tanoz” the female Varanus Albigularis passed away, she was just 8 years old (was one of the hatchlings of year 2000)…her death came as unexpected as she was feeding and behaving normally since her last egg-laying from the 08-10…but her food regurgitation from last week worried me and i asked my vet for a check up…first diagnostic was egg binding (Dystocia) and came as devastating news…despite adequate treatment given saturday( Oxytocine injection , antibiotica , calcium , vit.A/D) “Tanoz” died sunday in the early morning…a necropsy will be perform tomorrow to determine the exact cause of death…
Adieu “Tanoz”…
Tuesday 21-10-2008
The one and only egg that “Tanoz” laid wednesday is foul-smelling and i can see fungus on his shell…i will have to discard it…
Tuesday 14-10-2008
So far no more eggs…
Saturday 11-10-2008
It’s been 3 days now since “Tanoz” laid her first egg…she is now accepting food…was it her one and only egg ??? the coming days will tell !!!
Friday 10-10-2008
Nothing yet…today “Tanoz” readily accepted a mouse as dinner and is still restless…
Thursday 09-10-2008
It has been a quite night…”Tanoz”did not lay any more eggs but is still restless…wait and see !!!
Wednesday 08-10-2008
It’s starting !!!! it was 3 o’clock in the afternoon when “Tanoz” laid her first egg and it’s a big one !!!! about 8 cm long and 4 cm wide !!!! has been placed in the incubator. It’s now 22.00 in the evening and ’till now no new eggs has been laid…maybe this night…
Tuesday 07-10-2008
“Tanoz” the female Blackthroat is refusing food and is restless , saw her diggin’today…i will not be surprised if she lays eggs the coming days…have a good feeling about it…
Sunday 07-09-2008
Today i had the pleasure to received the visit of two friends : Paula from Argentina & Shannon my buddy from Tennessee…and guess what ??? they could not escape the mandatory “meet and greet” with the Monitors !!!
Tuesday 02-09-2008
“Imbulu” is back to his ol’female “Tanoz”…copulation has been observed the all day and is still goin’on at night…right now…
Saturday 30-08-2008
Temperature is rising outside and “Imbulu” keeps goin’on…this time he’s been caught in the act…was copulating with “Tanza”!!! i wonder if “Imbulu” will go back to his favorite female “Tanoz”… the next days will tell us…
Friday 29-08-2008
Today is a beautiful warm & sunny day…one of the last of our dutch summer !!! “Imbulu” the Alpha Male Varanus Albigularis is starting his mating ritual, has been chasin’ Gran’ma “Tanza” all over the room… but no copulation has been observed…like i said it looks it’s gettin’started !!!!
Sunday 03-08-2008
My buddy Shannon from Tennessee , his wife and kid came to visit us and of course were introduced to the Monitors…had fun !!!
Thursday 28-07-2008
Have been away a couple of weeks…went to South of France and met Arnaud Collin president of the G.E.V. (Groupement d’Etude des Varanidés)http://www.varanide.com/. Arnaud purchased 4 juveniles albigs from the last clutch of 2007 , the Monitors are in good hands and will be housed outdoor during summertime..Arnaud will further work with them on his breeding project…good luck Arnaud !!!
Photos will be added soon…
Thursday 12-06-2008
May has been a quiet month , my expectations did not come true as “Imbulu” is still in a sleepy mood…
Tuesday 10-06-2008
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Tuesday 22-04-2008
Everything’s quiet in the “Dragon’s lair”…”Imbulu” is resting for now on… i wonder what the next month will bring as the sunny days are coming to Holland and May is his “Let’s go Party !!!” month…
Thursday 20-03-2008
The last two bad eggs dropped on the substrate , bringing the final number to 10…next time better…
Tuesday 18-03-2008
Two more bad eggs laid on the substrate bringing the number to 8…
Monday 17-03-2008
I found since a couple of days bad eggs(6 so far) dropped by “Tanoz” all over the room…i do not expect viable eggs this time…
Saturday 16-02-2008
“Tanoz” the female Blackthroat is refusing food , it should not be long now…maybe a new clutch of eggs for this weekend !!!!
Saturday 05-01-2008
“Imbulu” is still mating…so far 4 females have been involved…”Imbulu” is also chasing the 2 others males , it doesn’t make any difference to him…funny to see…
Friday 28-12-2007
It has been a couple of weeks now and today “Imbulu” start all over again !!!! but this time it’s with his favorite female “Tanoz”…and it’s lookin’ good !!!! maybe a new clutch of eggs in january 2008…wait and see…
Tuesday 11-12-2007
A quiet day today…Mating is over…for now on…”Imbulu” and the “girls” are takin’ a break but for how long ???
Monday 10-12-2007
“Imbulu” is still mating with the “girls” chasing them all over the room!!!
Sunday 09-12-2007
What a day!!! “Imbulu” has been chasing the “girls” and managed to catch four of them:”mopany”,”zembla”, Gran’ma”Tanza”, even “Ora” the female Water monitor and finaly his ol’lady “Tanoz”…
Sunday 04-11-2007
Number 6 and Number 7 are hatching !!!…bringing the final number of hatchlings to 7 like the previous clutches from 2000 and 2006 isn’t something Weird !!! seven is definitly my lucky number… Lucky Seven !!!
Saterday 03-11-2007
What a surprise !!!! i did not expected any eggs to hatch from the “Brinsea” incubator…they were lookin’ so bad…but then i was wrong… when one little tiny lizard(never saw such a tiny hatchling of Varanus Albigularis before!!!) was making his way out of his egg bringing the number of hatchling to 5.
Thursday 01-11-2007
When i came home this evening i saw “Number four” laying next to his egg , tonight he will join the others in the terrarium.
Checked the incubator this morning and yes!!!one more egg is in the hatching process…i can see the littl’ snout poppin’ out the egg , this is number four… The third little monitor has been placed in the terrarium with the others…from the four remaining eggs in the self made incubator three are lookin’ good and should hatch soon but nothin’ is certain with the fourth egg…he is caving too much and has a suspicious grayish colour.Regarding the 18 others from the Brinsea “Hatchmaster” i am losing hope to see them hatch…they look too bad…but i will not remove them from the incubator. The two hatchlings are already eating crickets…they will soon be joined by an other little monitor as the third egg is opening… A new evening , a new hatchling…second egg is open on top…i will welcome the littl’ lizard tomorrow morning !!! I came home this evening , checked the incubator as usual…what a surprise !!!the first hatchling from clutch may 2007 is laying next to his egg!!! did not expect this little guy so early…6 good looking eggs are still incubated in the self-made “aquarium” type of incubator…but i have some concerns about the 18 others incubated in the Brinsea “Hatchmaster”: they look really bad this time…wait and see. A sad day…this afternoon ”OZZY” my first and oldest male albigularis passed away , he was 15 years. I wasn’t surprise by his his death as he was the last couple of months slowly debilitating , he died from a natural death…he will be remembered as a very gentle monitor…a part of the family. Farewell OZZY… This morning I had this feeling …. Went upstair to the attic to check “Tanoz” & saw her laying next to her eggs , 25 in total !!!! the eggs have been removed directly to avoid be eaten by the other Monitors…the eggs have been placed in two differents incubators . “Imbulu” did it again !!! he is now having some well deserved rest !!!! Since a couple of days “Tanoz” the female Varanus Albigularis is refusing food & is busy searching for a place to lay …should not be long anymore. It’s been a month now and “Imbulu” is still mating with the “girls” (Tanoz, Buluzi, Mopany and even gran’ma Tanza !!!)on several occasions copulation has been observed , so May could be a busy month !!! The spring is coming strong , “Imbulu” too…there has been two days of intense copulation with his ol’lady “Tanoz”… i mean he finally did it with “tanoz” after having almost raped “Ora” the Water monitor (Varanus Salvator)& the others males Albigs …Man!!! it was a pretty funny to watch!!!”Imbulu” rules !!!!so for now on wait & see… Finally he came to visit me.. and he act like he was always used to Varanids !! the little monitor lizards eat like crazy!!!! it’s like they double their size in two weeks time… the last egg is hatching !!!!the head is out…it’s been a full 6 month incubation…i’m happy that everything went fine & of course one more time ” Never judge an egg by his appearance !!! ” this can surely be true for the last two eggs… i had this feeling about the last two eggs…they were looking bad…i was wrong : the sixth little monitor is coming out !!!man!!!i still have to find a name…. There is a new one !!! the Fifth !!! alive & kicking!!!! , just hatched a couple hours ago…it’s now 21.00 PM he will spend the night in the incubator & will join the others in the terrarium tomorrow…still have to find a name for this little guy!!!!two more eggs now , but i have some reserve…there caved too much…maybe a surprise for the next days… the fourth little albigularis is out !!! he is until now the biggest !!! i gived him the name “Indodomosi” (monitor lizard in “Shauna”language from Zimbabwe…).There are still three eggs in the incubator, they cave pretty much but at that time of incubation(180 days)could be normal, just before hatching…wait & see… It’s been 3 days since the third egg hatched BUT tonight it happen again : the fourth egg is in the hatching process !!! & it is the biggest egg of all…i wonder what’s gonna comes out !!!!!the other 3 little monitors are now hunting for food & are catching their first crickets … one of the little guys is a real killer machine eating all the crickets…i will have to double the load next time!!! 22.00 pm, the third little monitor is out !!!! i moved him in the terrarium where he is busy discovering the surrondings under the red light…he will tomorrow meet his brother??? & sister??? and now waiting for the next one !!!! I came home this evening & checked the incubator : two things i saw , the first was the hatched monitor hanging on the wall of the incubator !!!then the third egg was starting to open !!!! i gived the newly hatched monitor the name of “UXAMU” (monitor lizard in “ZULU”language) & moved him in the terrarium…this new little monitor is much more active than the previous hatched lizard & also a bit bigger, they met each other under the basking lite…funny to see… I checked the incubator this morning & i saw that an second egg begin to hatch (thin opening on top…)this little fella should come out tomorrow for my birthday!!!!it keeps goin’on… 06.30 AM in the morning : the BIG DAY !!!!i checked the I came home at 20.00 this evening & checked as usual the incubator & WHAT did i see !!!! one of the eggs is in the hatching process !!! there’s a thin little opening on the surface YES it’s starting!!!!!! if everything is goin’ ok i should expect tomorrow morning to see the head of the lizard poppin’out the egg…the others eggs should follow pretty soon ….it’s been 180 days , ending in november like the previous time…i will update you about the outcome… that’s make my evening!!!!! One of the female albigularis (Tanoz is her name) layed 16 eggs, welcome to the third generation!!!! Following 3 days of intense copulation with “Ozzy” the male blackthroat
Wednesday 31-10-2007
Friday 26-10-2007
Thursday 25-10-2007
Wednesday 24-10-2007
Monday 22-10-2007
Saturday 18-08-2007
Thursday 24 May 2007
Monday 21 May 2007
Wednesday 25 April 2007
27 March 2007
20 December 2006.. WeBMasteR in da House !!!
Webmaster Lauro in the attic holding Gran’Pa “Ozzy” my 14 years old “Blackthroat” !!
Lauro do not want to let him go…so cute!
Lauro & myself hands full of monitors !
Lauro & “Ozzy” :Mutual appreciation…
18 December 2006
03 December 2006
02 December 2006
01 December 2006
29 November 2006
27 November 2006
25 November 2006
23 November 2006
21 November 2006
20 November 2006
incubator & i saw the little monitor laying on the vermiculite next to the egg , i gived him the name of ” INBUTAN ” , INBU from his father : ” IMBULU ” & TAN from his mother : ” TANOZ ” , i placed him into the glass terrarium where he will spend the next first months of his life…the remaining eggs in the incubator should hatched soon now…19 November 2006
02 June 2006
20 November 2000
(Varanus Albigularis) & a lenght of gestation of one month
“Tanza” the female black throated monitor (varanus albigularis) laid during
the night of saturday to sunday 18/06/00 a clutch of 24 eggs.I was lucky to
assist to the entire process & was able to record the all thing on
tape.After more than 4 months of incubation seven little lizards
hatched…magical moment !!! see the photos in da house !!!
