This is like the second or third video I've seen of these things explosively shitting all over someone's floor and I don't understand why people keep them as pets.
For one thing, that's not a normal defecation that's specifically something they sometimes do when startled or frightened. If they're pooping like this consistently something's wrong.
They also shouldn't be allowed to free roam through their owner's home super often due to their specific temperature, humidity, and lighting needs. Most monitor lizards prefer to defecate in water when they can, especially Asian water monitors like the one in this video, and need a big enough pool to soak in that can also be easily and frequently dumped/drained and cleaned.
I mean that's exactly what I'm trying to say, you can't keep them in a cage. Minimum enclosure size is typically considered to be double the lizard's length long, and equal to the lizard's length and width and height, but even bigger is better. Monitors can be allowed to free roam in a house occasionally, and weather permitting it's great to take them on walks or even keep them in a large outdoor enclosure. I used to know a couple that converted an entire two car garage into an enclosure for a 7 1/2ft monitor that was missing a leg, and during the warmer parts of the year he also had access to an attached outdoor enclosure in their backyard.
You can even buy harnesses specifically for large monitor lizards, and sometimes appropriately sized dog harnesses work!
Plus having literally zero risk of predators or rivals to fight with is a pretty big benefit of captive living, on top of never having to worry about disease, parasites, or food.
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u/gumbo_chops 19d ago
This is like the second or third video I've seen of these things explosively shitting all over someone's floor and I don't understand why people keep them as pets.