Hi there!
If you don't have any lizard experience a bearded dragon might be best for you to begin with. There are small monitors that don't require huge cages, but before I touched base on them let me clarify something.

There is a big difference between bearded dragons & monitors. Most bearded dragons are handleable, making for more of a "pet." Most monitors are not handleable as in it being a tame "pet." Some are, some aren't. Most aren't. And it varies from one individual to another, within the same species. One red ackie may be somewhat handleable while another red ackie may not.

I personally feel that it's OK to want a tame monitor, one that you can hold frequently, as in a traditional "pet." However, you have to be prepared to accept it as the wild beast that it might very well be, never tame.

Ackies (varanus acanthurus) grow to about 24 inches.
Gilleni (varanus gilleni) grow to about 24 inches.
Caudolini (varaus caudolineatus) grow to about 12 inches.

Ackies are the most common. I haven't kept any of these species but they say that especially the gilleni & caudolinis are loaded with personality and are a blast to observe kept in groups.

Just make sure you do a lot research on monitors. You still won't be well prepared because monitors are a world apart from other reptiles.

Incidentally, komodo dragons ARE monitors. And yes, they are the king of kings. They are the reason I'm a monitor keeper.

Take care!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

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