Monitor help

[Scorpendra]

i have been considering getting a monitor lizard that only reaches about 2.5 to 3 feet. also, there is only one good pet store that sells any monitors, so the variety is limited. because i am a beginner, i was hoping someone could tell me is a species like a blue tree monitor (varanus macraei) would be good.

 

[Lasiodora]

If these will be the first monitors you will be keeping then I would stay away from any tree monitors species. Most are wildcaught and delicate. They stress easily and don't take to handleling very well. The few that are captive bred are very expensive ($600 and up). If you want a small species then Varanus acanthurus is the way to go. They're tame, active, and very hardy. You can also keep them in a group. Couldn't recommend a better species. I've kept and worked with a lot of different Varanus sp. and I think these are the ideal beginner species. If you can't find them near you, you can always order them from a reputable dealer or go to a reptile show. There is one in White Plains on April 24. I'm also selling mine
Mike

 

[The Juice]

If these will be the first monitors you will be keeping then I would stay away from any tree monitors species. Most are wildcaught and delicate. They stress easily and don't take to handleling very well. The few that are captive bred are very expensive ($600 and up). If you want a small species then Varanus acanthurus is the way to go. They're tame, active, and very hardy. You can also keep them in a group. Couldn't recommend a better species. I've kept and worked with a lot of different Varanus sp. and I think these are the ideal beginner species. If you can't find them near you, you can always order them from a reputable dealer or go to a reptile show. There is one in White Plains on April 24. I'm also selling mine
Mike

Are the Monitors your talking about called ackies? The Local petstore has a Pair female is full grown and the male is a Juvie. I think theyare yellow ackies, I wanted to buy them but the petstore is selling them for $300 a piece. Is that to high for them? I haven't found a website that sells them to compare prices. If I can find one for atleast $150 I would buy it.

 

[Lasiodora]

If they are accurately sexed then I'd say the price is within the right range (although I'd try to talk them down). They are very hard to sex. I'd ask the shop what leads them to believe they have a pair. I wouldn't house different sized individuals together though. You can definitely get a juvie or hatchling at or below $150. You have to search around. They are floating around. Your best bet is checking classifieds and reptile shows. Do you want to avoid shipping?
Mike

 

[Beardo]

Ditto what Lasiodora said...go with an Ackie. Another option would be a Timor Monitor, but they are typically more skittish and nervous lizards compared to Ackies. Plus all Ackies are CBB since they come from Australia.

 

[Scorpendra]

problem is, i don't live on the New York mainland, my parents don't trust online deals, and there are no stores carrying ackies or timors nearby. also, my parents are not very enthusiastic (or logical). it took me over a month to just convince them that it wasn't going to break loose and tear everyone limb from limb if i got one.

the petstore has mainly tree monitors, water monitors and crocodile monitors. are there any other easy/not expert level options, besides one that exceeds 1 meter?

 

[Scorpendra]

actually, there is one place with a timor, but it is a POS. the store, i mean. i'd much rather trust the place i already said, since it is a reptile store, and not just a pet store.

 

[Bigboy]

oh boy

if you get a tree monitor as your first monitor I can personally promise you that no matter who you are you will kill that thing and lose the few thousand bucks you spent on it. A water monitor is much easier to take care of but you'r looking at a 6foot beast when its all grown up. Croc monitor... Ok they're the second largest species of Lizard on the planet and most crocs will never tame up, something you really are going to want with a 12foot arboreal with a tail like a bullwhip and jaws and claws powerful enough to open you up to the bone. None of these as you can understand are beginner Monitors. If your parents really don't trust online deals I suggest you guys head on over to www.regalreptiles.com contact them about an order on Ackies and go for it. If I still worked there I could personally hook you up but well can't do that anymore. but good choice getting into monitors. And if you think about it 300dollars for a pair of little fellas is nothing considering you will spend 120 on a watermonitor baby, another few hundred upgrading tank sizes and a few hundred a year just on food.

 

[Scorpendra]

i wasn't saying that i wanted any of those, i just said what the majority of the monitors there were. in fact, since there are practically no nametags, i am led to believe that all of them are. and i re-interrate: I DO NOT WANT ANY MONITOR THAT EXCEEDS A METER! if i said that, do you really think i need to be talked out of a salvadorii?

 

[Scorpendra]

now that i have that out of my system, i know there are more choices than those two. and why would it matter who you are if your statement says "as your first monitor"?

 

[Lasiodora]

Molitor,
Your best bet is an online breeder. There are reputable breeders who sell online that are not scammers. Rare earth sells ackies and so does pro exotics. A timor is not the best choice. Most if not all are skittish, nervous, wc lizards. I suggested cb because they are less likely to give a beginner problems (healthwise). Tree monitors are less forgiving than ackies husbandry wise. As always do your research on the dealer no matter who they are. You can always get another type of lizard. Bearded dragons are a great beginner species and are usually available everywhere.
Mike

 

[Lasiodora]

If you have the money there's Varanus glauerti. They get close to three feet (mostly tail). Pretty expensive though. Everything else either gets over 3' or is not an ideal beginner species.
Mike

 

[Scorpendra]

okay, i am convinced. if i cannot find any glauertis (which are my favorite species), i will get an ackie. but one, day, i will get that macaei. and i mean that almost litterally.

 

[Bigboy]

no no you misunderstand

I wasn't trying to be rude dude. I was just trying to sway you from those bigger guys and towards Ackies. Sorry if I came off as a jerk.

 

[Lasiodora]

okay, i am convinced. if i cannot find any glauertis (which are my favorite species), i will get an ackie. but one, day, i will get that macaei. and i mean that almost litterally.

Good luck on your search Molitor.
I still say prasinus is prettier than macs.

Mike

 

[Scorpendra]

thanks. unfortuantely, now i have to talk to my parents again because my mom likes the macraei because it's blue.. >.<

now, to find a glauerti...

 

[Lasiodora]

If she likes blue so much, talk her into getting you a P.metallica
Mike

 

[Bigboy]

Why must tree monitor hatchlings be so damn adorable?

 

[fatbloke]

what about a savannah monitor cheap compared to other species and very hardy growing to around 3ft

have a look at http://www.varanus.nl loads of info on most monitor specie

john

 

[Scorpendra]

when i last checked, exanthematicus grew roughly 4-5 feet. also, i'd assume many nearby ones are sick and/or unhealthy because the tanks they are in are barely large enough for them, let alone any other varanus (except D&J's, but they don't have any savannahs).