help me choose on monitors

[Longbord1]

hey guys at the petland by me there are some lizards id really like to get my hands on but i need some info on them.so here goes.
they have wut i think was a water monitor a baby btw it was black and yellow.there was also a savanah monitor baby the water reminded me or a little raptor and it was soo cool i hear they are really smart can u give some info on these to me.ive had an iguana and i have a big cage for either one.

mike

 

[Joe]

If you've never had a monitor before, I'd suggest a smaller species, like red or yellow ackies. Definitely not a Nile, though. They get really big, and usually turn out pretty mean, too. The amount of space, plus the time and money needed to care for a lizard that size is pretty prohibitive.

 

[Longbord1]

yeah my bad i ment water monitor.

 

[Longbord1]

the ackies aren't really that sleek i want an almost bird like monitor.what about a Glauerti

 

[Longbord1]

the Blackhead Monitors look very cool 2 but i want something sleek and not too big as i said before.like 2 feet big is my max size but idk if im gonna get that cuz they all get to like 3 feet. the water monitor is a juvinile so its just like the perfect size.

mike

 

[Lasiodora]

First, I'd advice you not to buy any monitors or reptiles for that matter from petland. They don't carry the best stock and are usually not very knowledgable in that department. Second if you want a monitor that stays small then the water monitor is not for you. They can get up to at least six feet long. This means they require a fairly large enclosure. The only water monitor that is within the 3-4' range is the merten's and they cost big bucks (something like $600 a piece). Kimberly Rock Monitors Varanus glaeurti are just as expensive as the Mertens. I'd suggest a ackie Varanus acanthurus. They stay small and babies are relatively inexpensive. They are also very active and very much like raptors.
Click here for pics

 

[defour]

i have a big cage for either one.

I have to say that I doubt you've got a cage sufficient to house an adult salvator. There's a huge difference in size between an iguana and a water monitor, despite the "about 6 feet" estimation. An adult water will weigh the same as three adult iguanas at the very least, and probably more like six. The ackie suggestion is a good one. A savanna could be a good choice, too, but the typical meat-heavy diet most people use isn't what they're built for. No matter what monitor you get (and I'd really recommend an ackie or some other lizard) feeding it a healthy diet will be a lot easier if you have a big hisser colony.

Steve

 

[mouse]

don't know about monitors...but a nice lizard that doesn't get huge would be a bearded dragon...they have "german giants" wich might be a little bigger than regular beardies. plus bearded dragons don't get as agressiv.
just a thought
dianne

 

[BoomerSub]

Varanus timorensis, the Timor monitor would be another good choice if you don't want ackies. More information is available here. I've never worked with them but they're supposed to be interesting and fairly simple.

-PK

 

[Punisher]

i agree with the timor. it stays small, and there are some variants in pattern available at the shows, and affordable. stay away from the big species unless you are in it for the long hall, as they get huge fast and need lots of room. I have a 3 year old croc monitor that free romes my room. luckily its very tame, but its already like 5 feet+ long. The sav. monitors get bigger than you might think, they just grow slowly. Most dwarf species are pricey. Make an effort to get captive bred, as most are wild caught and will have to be taken to a vet right away to be treated for parasites. Keep in mind, water monitors grow quick and get around 200 pounds!

 

[whoami?]

hey guys at the petland by me there are some lizards id really like to get my hands on but i need some info on them.so here goes.
they have wut i think was a water monitor a baby btw it was black and yellow.there was also a savanah monitor baby the water reminded me or a little raptor and it was soo cool i hear they are really smart can u give some info on these to me.ive had an iguana and i have a big cage for either one.

mike

Ugh....first of all, let me express my utter f***ing disgust for Petland. The one around here is just awful, with cannibalized rodents, mummified iguanas, and emaciated snakes.

Secondly, I'm STILL going to go to Petland tomorrow. I decided to get a savannah monitor, so I'm going to check em out and see if they are healthy or not.

Thirdly, keep in mind that monitors are expensive, time consuming lizards. You will need a big cage. For a savannah, I've been reading that you need a 6' long X 4' wide X 3' deep cage as a bare minimum. And since waters get biger, yopu'll of coursse need a significantly bigger encloser for one of them.

Fourthly, monitors also need to be fed frequently, so you could be talking about a LOT of mice and rats weekly for a large monitor. This can get quite expensive.

Fifthly, consider that a big vicious monitor isn't a helluva lot of fun. Getting bitten by a 6 foot long lizard would probably suck ass. So, if you're expecting to have personal contact with them, you'll have to be willing to spend the time to "tame" them, and keep them "tame".

Monitors are big lizards that require a lot of time, money, and time. While I will not say that you shouldn't get one, i strongly encourage you to not make an impulse buy just because the monitor is inexpensive and cool-looking. Before buying one, please read as much as you feel necessary. Look online or buy a book. Also, check out the monitor forum at kingsnake.com. There are a lot of experienced monitor keepers there, and they should be able to give excellent advice.

 

[whoami?]

the Blackhead Monitors look very cool 2 but i want something sleek and not too big as i said before.like 2 feet big is my max size but idk if im gonna get that cuz they all get to like 3 feet. the water monitor is a juvinile so its just like the perfect size.

mike

See, it might be the perfect size NOW, but they get big fast. This is my big problem with large reptiles being sold in pet stores. People see a cool looking inexpensive reptile and buy it. Without planning for the long term. This is how reptiles end up being killed or dying from neglect and/or just plain awful husbandry. I'm not saying that YOU are incapable of caring for a large monitor, but for god's sake, please at least do a little bit of research before making the purchase. Many people are more suited to care for an ackie than a savannah or a water monitor, sure, the initial purchase of an ackie might be several times more than what you'd pay for a savannah or water, but you'll save quite a bit when the lizard reaches adult size. Sure, the lizard in the store might be small, but for most species that's likely to change. Quickly.

Monitors are cool, but they aren't for everyone. Despite how much you want one, don't buy one based on your ability to care for the baby in the pet store. Buy one based on your ability to carefor the bigass monster it will be in a year or so.

 

[whoami?]

A bit off topic, but the Petland around here got a WHOLE lot better since the last time I've been there. The reptiles all looked healthy, they weren't sadly crowded in their cages or housed in totally inappropriate condition, and when I bought my savannah monitor, the employees even went out of their way to tell me about how monitors aren't for everyone. It's nice to know that some people working in even big chain pet stores actually care about the animals.

 

[eksong]

I think yellow or red spiny tailed monitors are very cool; they also stay small for a monitor.

 

[Brian S]

Try Varanusweb.com for info on different monitor species. You can also get some good books on keeping monitors. I have a Savannah Monitor and like it real well but they get 3-4 feet in length. Mine is a foot long now and is in a 55 gal aquarium. I will have to build another home for it before long since it is growing like a weed. I would have to say the Ackies are probably one of the better lizards that don't get huge but that is just my opinion.

 

[The Juice]

Varanus timorensis, the Timor monitor would be another good choice if you don't want ackies. More information is available here. I've never worked with them but they're supposed to be interesting and fairly simple.

-PK

How big do timors get? I'm considering getting one

 

[Kayv]

^^^Not big at all. I think Ackies get a little heavier because timors are more like tree dwellers so they stay pretty slim. I have a timor and they are pretty skittish. Not really a monitor to handle. Also they are EXTREMELY FAST. Other then that they're cool monitors and really cool if you have a group of them.

 

[Niloticus]

Black Throat Monitors, Savannah Monitors, or Water Monitors would probably be your best bet. Water Monitors get extremely large as adults, however. The Black Throat monitor would probably be my personal favorite of the three.

Niloticus