Hi,



I have a decent amount of experience with reptiles, mainly snakes, but I have had a few lizards a couple of which were monitors (Nile & Ridgetail).



I am interested in keeping just one lizard as a pet. I have plenty of room to build an adequate enclosure and I am very diligent with my husbandry practices.



I would like to avoid the larger lizards such as Niles, Crocs, White Throats, etc and I would like to have one that is handleable.



I understand that all animals are individuals and can behave in manners inconsistent with their species so we can put that topic to rest. What I am looking for is not an animal that can necessarily be tamed easily, but one that is trustworthy once tame.



I would never be completely comfortable with one because of the potential damage that they can inflict, but I would like to know that I can at least tell their mood and know when to back off. For example, I have had many different snakes and they say that boa constrictors make great pets, but I have been bitten most by them because they gave me no signs (heavy breathing, recoil, nothing) Almost every time they were already in my hands (clean I might add). On the other hand I have had Carpets that I felt more comfortable with because they wore their attitudes on their sleeves.



Sorry for the long post, but I would like some good suggestions that I can start further research on. Some, I already have in mind are



Black Roughneck

Peach Throat

Yellow

Timor



thanks in advance

Jeff

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