Tom Crutchfield has some very good accounts on what croc monitors are capable of doing. I even think some of the posts came with photos if you can still pull them up.

I have worked with waters for many years and I am a very hard-headed guy. I have always wanted a croc monitor or two but that is the only reptile my wife has said no to. Normally that would not stop me. Tom's posts made me rethink it a bit.

Someday I will most likely get some but it will be a few years down the road when I have a bit less going on animal wise so I'm not so mentally distracted when working with them.

It is also obvious to me that crocs are not the type of monitor you want to impulse buy and throw in some makeshift cage (fishtank or other). You want to have your cages built and have things well thought out first. Something to consider if you have limited experience with monitors or large monitors.

If you are looking at larger monitors you might want to start with another species. I have always had good luck with waters myself.

If you are looking for something with some size that is arboreal rudicollis are great. They have plenty of attitude and average in the 3 1/2 to 5 foot range, and their aren't as big as the croc monitor's t-rex teeth. they are a bit more fragile and shy than some species though, although I suspect the same of crocs myself.

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