Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just started getting into monitors and i was wondering what a good begginer monitor would be that's less than 250$

would it be cheaper to build your own tank or buy one?

you can get a nice yellow ackie or even a red ackie for under $250 dollars. they're great begginer monitors! as far as tanks it depends. i bought a 20L and a screen li for about 40 bucks. if you use a screen lid you do need to cover most of the top to keep all the heat and humifity from escaping.
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-Marshall
1.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 red ackie

do u no her to get cheap monitors like akies

if you are looking for something that is 'cheap,' a monitor is
not for you. almost everything about them is pricey-including
ackies. if you want something low-budget, get a goldfish-that sounds more like your style.

now hold on, that was uncalled for. being informative is one thing but insulting is another. you dont know that he cant afford to take care of a monitor, maybe he has another reason for it to be $250. which, in my mind is a lot of money to be paying for a pet.
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-Marshall
1.1.0 ball pythons
0.0.1 red ackie

cheap for me is around 450$ i was looking around for something around 250 this time for a change nextime dont judge me b4 you no me JERK!

Wow, nice tower! Hey, is $250 for just the animal cheap to you? I don't think looking for a good price makes someone unfit to keep a monitor and I deffinately don't think hearing that he wants a good deal is enough for you to say he should get a goldfish. Why don't you take your ego elsewhere?

i should take my ego elsewhere? or him?

thanks matt_fl

matt

what is with you having to bash everybody whenever you post.
does this make you feel like a man, mabye you bash other peoples skills because yours aren't worth a dam , you probably cant even keep a "goldfish" alive..........

Maybe he was having a bad day. Or better yet, he was probably just fortunate enough to be born a prick.
This forum is about monitors, not goldfish. Perhaps he is lost?

Monitors..
They are expensive to keep, period, no such thing as an inexpensive monitor.
What this means, as anyone who has kept even a single monitor of any species properly for even 6 months can tell you, its expensive.
The buying price of a monitor is the lowest expense you will have, Anyone who in fact is worried about what a monitor cost should find lower maintance captives.
The cost of a proper cage for even a small species will run you from $50-$100 for the box alone, this doesnt account for lights, substrate, furniture, etc.
A medium sized monitor will cost you a few cages starting small and going up to something that cost you around $250-$400 for the box alone, not accounting other costs.
Large species will go through several cages until adult, this takes 1-2 years and I mean big cage, how about $1000 plus to build a cage for an adult.
Feeding this can be very expensive, personally I get crickets for my dwarfs, and raise roaches, the crickets are not too bad at $29 for 2000 delivered, every 2 weeks.
With medium and large species you need rodents, birds, etc, this can get expensive, but if you have a large freezer it is easier. I spend a few hundred dollars a year on frozen thawed feeders, now consider that all of my monitors are adults (except 2 ackies), they eat alot less than subadults, and younger.
Vet bills, these can range from $50 visits to $1000s in bills for something more complicated, and a vet that is qualified to do anything for a monitor is rare to find sometimes.
That initial buying cost will be completely overshadowed by one of the othewr categories in a few months, eclipsed by all in 1-2 months easily.
Something to consider, as mentioned by someone else, if your worried about buying cost, you may want to find a less expensive captive.
There is no such thing as a beginner monitor, but the closest to it will be ackies, at the tune of $150-$350 each. Most who try to tell you that monitors arent expensive, after all they are keeping 1 or so and havent spent much to get or keep them, arent going to be keeping them long, so their advice will reflect from their experience with these creatures, short.

I KNOW!!!!! gah i was just seeing if i could get a good deal on a cool monitor species i already have 4 50 gallon tanks 1 150gallon tank and one 4 foot by 8 foot tank. im willing to spend over 5,000 dollars to care for my monitor when i get one.

Monitors do not have to be "expensive". There are lots of things you can do to lessen the cost.

For instance, the only real hard cost is electricity. Most of the rest can be worked down, even purchasing of the monitor.

Cage costs can be zero. Ask around, there are hundreds upon thousands of old fish tanks that are not being used. If you ask your friends, you may find some. You may even be able to find used cattle tanks at feed stores, once they leak, they don't use them. Keep an open mind and be willing to work.

You can raise your own food. Then the cost is for the food for mice or crickets, which can be very cheap is looked into.

Then pick a small species that mostly feeds on insects and small mice(pinkies are very cheap) I breed all my own monitor food.

The actual cost of keeping small monitors is very low. IF YOU WORK AT IT. If you buy everything retail, then yes, monitors are very expensive. Cheers

thanks everyone (exept oronico) or however you spell it

matt

p.s. hey if your wondering oroncio theres a goldfish forum too!!

i think we scared him away