The question we ask ourselves in this post implies a deceptive trap, since the writer's first reaction is to pronounce a resounding and categorical "no" as the definitive answer. But posing the question again from different perspectives, the harebrained columnist realizes that one can also answer: " depends".
If we consider the question as if it were a complex equation, we will realize that under certain circumstances the equation can have two valid results, which may even appear to contradict each other. After having rushed into an initial reckless denial, which I still maintain despite everything, I am also aware that depending on some very special personal circumstances it can be said that it is entirely possible to have a Komodo dragon as a pet.
If you continue reading our site, we will discuss the different circumstances for which it is possible to live with a Komodo dragon as a pet in your home. At the end of the article I will also show the various reasons against adopting a Komodo dragon as a pet.
Morphology and habits of the Komodo dragon
The monitor lizard or Komodo dragon - Varanus Komodoensis -, is the largest lizard in the world, and lives on various islands of the Indonesian archipelago. Adults weigh between 70 and 140 kg , and can reach up to 3.5 meters in length. The tail is as long as the body. Despite its massive and heavy appearance, it is capable of running at 20 km/h when chasing prey. It is an excellent swimmer and climbs trees very well, especially during its youth, since it takes refuge in them to escape from the larger monitor lizards that live on the ground. Cannibalism is common in this species exclusively carnivorous, although carrion is its main food.
The Komodo dragon does not chew its food, it breaks it up and swallows the pieces, or uses another technique when it wants to swallow its prey whole, for example a goat. Once part of its prey has been inserted into its throat, it attacks a tree head-on in order to cram the corpse inside it, continuing to do so until its purpose is achieved. Once it manages to assimilate the entire prey inside it, it retreats to a sunny spot to speed up digestion. When this digestion ends, it regurgitates a ball of hair, teeth, horns and hooves, whose remains it cannot digest.
It also has other methods of hunting and feeding: Its saliva is highly poisonous and contains pathogenic bacteria that cause serious infections. The Komodo dragon is capable of biting, thus poisoning its prey, and following it slowly and carefully for days until the animal dies.
Finally we warn that the Komodo dragon reaches adulthood between 3 and 5 years of age. Can live up to 50 years.
Favorable circumstances to have a Komodo dragon as a pet
As promised at the beginning of the article, below I explain the different cases that can make it possible to have a Komodo dragon as a pet:
Case 1
The first circumstance that makes it possible for one to have a Komodo dragon as a domestic beast is simple, although unusual: not being human.
If you are an Orc, or something similar, lover of fearsome beasts and you think that a Komodo dragon would be an ideal pet to give a more homely feel to the dark grotto where you live, you could consider adoption of the Komodo monitor.
It is up to you to convince your spouse to accept the presence of a Komodo dragon in the cave. You must make him see that the little ones would have a blast playing with the bug.
Case 2
This second premise is the majority, since there are many people who are faithful "collaborators" of the protectors of animals Specifically, I speak from individuals who doggedly and continually bring their rare and not so rare pets to animal shelters, shelters and sanctuaries.
Pythons, boa constrictors, alligators, adult iguanas, Tasmanian devils, piranhas, along with a legion of dogs, cats and other little beasts are happily "unadopted" by these characters who change their pet as who change your shirt.
After obtaining this protected species on the fraudulent animal market, it can be kept at home until it grows large enough to eat the cat or dog. This would be a good time to dump him at the animal shelter and go get another "cool" critter.
Case 3
The third circumstance that makes it advisable to have a Komodo dragon as a pet is that it is simply a very, very special person. Some would describe them as people with unusual tastes and very peculiar hobbies And I am nobody to deny the reason to most people who think like that, but this circumstance does not it is an obstacle for some individuals to want to stand out in something, however unusual and disastrous their desire may be.
Have you heard of individuals who posed as willing victims to online appeals by cannibalistic killers? Well, for these peculiar individuals, having a Komodo dragon as a pet at home would go hand in hand. They would have a lot of fun (liters of adrenaline), barely surviving each day, until the happy day that the Komodo dragon managed to bite them.
The poisonous saliva of the great saurian would take two days to have its deadly effect, but with a bit of luck it would eat the willful fellow sooner, under his attentive, expectant and pleased gaze.
Unfavorable circumstances for keeping a Komodo dragon as a pet
After showing the various reasons why having a beautiful Komodo dragon as a pet is not such a far-fetched idea (there are no colors about taste), it's time to talk about us: the sensibly boring individuals we consider absurd to adopt a powerful ferocious and relentless animal, which with its length of up to three and a half meters and 140 kg of weight could cause us some problems at home.
Apart from the fact that it can poison us, crush us, bite us, lacerate us with its enormous claws, burst us with its tail blows and tear us apart alive, although If we give it plenty of food and enough water, there are three additional reasons to discourage the Komodo dragon as a pet:
- The first is that they smell really bad and they smear all the furniture.
- The second is that there is no humane way for them to relieve themselves in the sandbox (even if we enabled the bathtub for this purpose), and they make the house run down.
- A third reason against keeping a Komodo dragon at home is that it is a vulnerable species that is protected. Therefore your trade is illegal.
