Pre monitor reptiles

[JPG]

I'm still quite new to vertebrate keeping as I've only kept leopard geckos for year and a half.

I'm currently preparing an enclosure for tokay gecko for the next step and broaden up my reptile experience.

I'd like to ask what would be other good species of reptiles (other than snake) to raise in order to work my way up to raising a monitor in the future? (Savanna monitor at most/largest)

I would appreciate any suggestions!

 

[Scorpiobsession]

I believe a dedicated keeper could easily keep a savanna monitor. If you have the space, understand the care, and are willing to take the risks I think you could easily get one. Savs are typically considered beginner species.

 

[JPG]

I'm not planning to keep the monitor any time soon but I definitely will have more than enough space by then.

The only reason I ask was from some readings that It would be a good idea to have more experience prior to keeping monitor species.

Wish I could relate it to experience of keeping 70+ tarantula specimen

 

[Scorpiobsession]

I'm not planning to keep the monitor any time soon but I definitely will have more than enough space by then.

The only reason I ask was from some readings that It would be a good idea to have more experience prior to keeping monitor species.

Wish I could relate it to experience of keeping 70+ tarantula specimen

I think you could easily keep one but if you wanted more experience I would try easier monitors. Reptile experience is different from tarantulas. As long as you care for them and check them often (much different from Ts, you should know that from leos) there isn't much different between species except for temperature and humidity requirements (not including snakes). If you can keep those stable (which monitors are usually forgiving) and don't rush keeping (to avoid mistakes) you should be fine.

 

[JPG]

I think you could easily keep one but if you wanted more experience I would try easier monitors. Reptile experience is different from tarantulas. As long as you care for them and check them often (much different from Ts, you should know that from leos) there isn't much different between species except for temperature and humidity requirements (not including snakes). If you can keep those stable (which monitors are usually forgiving) and don't rush keeping (to avoid mistakes) you should be fine.

Thank you for your tips. I do agree that keeping tarantula is far different from keeping reptiles or any vertebrates, I often compare it to growing plants as they are similar minus the feeding and spot cleaning.

I assumed that I'll have to be prepared more on the aggressive side of monitors compared to leopard geckos(in my experience leos were easy to tame) although I'm not planning to handle them all that much.

I'm hoping to learn bit of that aggressiveness from the future tokay gecko.

I may try the smaller monitors like Ackies beforehand. Hopefully price goes down by then..

 

[l4nsky]

I'd definently start with an ackie over a savannah, if for no other reason then they're all captive bred as opposed to wild caught or farmed like most savannahs are (plus they stay smaller).

 

[Lucky123]

I'm not planning to keep the monitor any time soon but I definitely will have more than enough space by then.

The only reason I ask was from some readings that It would be a good idea to have more experience prior to keeping monitor species.

Wish I could relate it to experience of keeping 70+ tarantula specimen

start with a blue tongued skink, it will test you to see if you can keep up with the cost that it takes to maintain a savanah monitor, except even less, savanahs are very expensive to care for, large cage, expensive huge diet, expensive hot lighting. Try a northern blue tongue skink because maintaining humidity in a tropical bts enclosure is something that i struggle with.

 

[Scorpiobsession]

I assumed that I'll have to be prepared more on the aggressive side of monitors compared to leopard geckos(in my experience leos were easy to tame) although I'm not planning to handle them all that much.

You should handle them and keep them socialized. If they aren't socialized they could become aggressive.

 

[viper69]

Just start with a Komodo Dragon

Sure Tokays are feisty!!

But I wouldn’t consider them a ladder species to monitors at all, they are too small. Just my opinion

 

[Matts inverts]

Just start with a non social bearded dragon on Craigslist or something. Or just get an ackie or a small species. Experience is good so try to get a friend or meet someone at a reptile shop to give advice for monitors.

 

[JPG]

Just start with a non social bearded dragon on Craigslist or something. Or just get an ackie or a small species. Experience is good so try to get a friend or meet someone at a reptile shop to give advice for monitors.

Bearded dragon is definitely on my list, I saw there's a rescue place for reptiles and saw few of them so definitely picking one of in the future.

start with a blue tongued skink, it will test you to see if you can keep up with the cost that it takes to maintain a savanah monitor, except even less, savanahs are very expensive to care for, large cage, expensive huge diet, expensive hot lighting. Try a northern blue tongue skink because maintaining humidity in a tropical bts enclosure is something that i struggle with.

This is also on my list if I decide to go with more expensive/advanced species.

I'd definently start with an ackie over a savannah, if for no other reason then they're all captive bred as opposed to wild caught or farmed like most savannahs are (plus they stay smaller).

I think I'll start with Ackies for a while, since I have the varieties of feeders already available.

Just start with a Komodo Dragon

When they succeed in reverse DNA engineering I will definately look into getting a T-rex.

Thank you all for your help!