Dino the Dinosaur

I bought Dino from my good friends at Special Care Pet Center back in February of 2001, when he was only a few months old. I have been raising reptiles my entire life, actually; Dino here is in fact my second Nile Monitor. I have cared for several different species of snake, turtle, lizard, and alligator throughout the past fifteen years or so. Below you can see a picture of Peter, my last Spectacled Caiman.

Dino here will grow to approximately six feet in length, and may weigh as much as thirty-five pounds. His diet is closely monitored, however, to control his rate of growth and his body fat. He eats frozen fish, pork, chicken, and beef, as well as live fish and mice. Monitor lizards are among the more intelligent of reptiles, and often find ways to open latches and move obstacles to escape from their confines. They also have excellent memories, and can even develope a sense of loyalty to their owners. Dino is still a violent little monster right now, but in time he should be tame enough to safely let run loose in the house.