The problem recomending a monitor is there are so many reasons keep monitors. Each person seems to have a unquie idea of what a captive monitor is suppose to be.



Often, like possibly your case, people ask about a "Pet" monitor. There are not many species that qualify for that. In fact, none. There are individuals that will turn out as pets. Those individuals can come from many species.



Consider, there maybe more "pet" savs then other species, but then consider, they are imported by the tens of thousands. So by percentage, they do not fair very well.



How they become pets is sometimes because of the keeper and sometimes the monitors individual mentality(brain dead)



Most monitors can be good captives, which is not to be confused with a good pet. That is, most are great to watch and study and to enjoy them being monitors. Some species are not good pets and are not good captives. But that does not stop some people from liking them.



In the end, its more about you the individual keeper then it is about species. Thats why do not get recomendations that you would like. Only you can decide, afterall, only you will be keeping a monitor.



In my opinion, Savs do not make good starter pet monitors. But thats my opinion. The reason I say this is. Monitors handle stress differently, and sometimes by species and individuals. Melinus, rudis, indicus, and to a lesser degree Savs, internalize stress. That is, they do not express it outwardly. This causes them harm and makes them prone to all sorts of maladies.



In my opinion, the gouldi complex is the best for a midsized monitor. The reason is, they are not prone to biting, and they externalize stress. That is, if you scare one, it will react outwardly. If you do not feed it enough, it will eat your hand the next time you feed. They will beg like a dog. And chase you all over for food. You can train them to do flips(ask Rsg) And they are as entertaining as any species out there. And entertainment is what keeps you interested. If you are bored with an animal, it does not recieve your full attention. So, I like the gouldi complex, Goulds, Desert sands, argus, and all the crosses between them. The only problem with this complex is, they are faster runners like the indicus and Rudis. Cheers

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