Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I was just curious, im moving to a new location and I can finally have a pet that isnt ina cage(constantly). Now...I read an article in Reptile magazine about a guy whos water monitor?(cant recall)was too big for him to handle anymore, but it was a huge monitor who was dog tame and would actually crawl on his lap for comfort i suppose just as a dog/cat would do.

Now i know there are some vegetarian monitors and i was wondering if there where any popular species in the herp world? I would really enjoy having a giant monitor running around on its own as it would in the wild etc.

So my next question is What would be the largest species of monitors/any lizard that is affordable and easy to care for. A list of a few species would be appreciated so i can research a bit more . Sorry, I'm more of a snake person, dont know much about lizards.

So if anyone has had experience in "pet monitors", all help will be greatly appreciated.

p.s. Wish i could get me a croc monitor

water monitors are not vegetarians. infact there are no vagetarian monitors. and there are no large species of monitor that are easy to care for. they require a lot of room a lot of food and are very distructive. not to mention with a large cage that they'll require, managing the heat and humidity can be a real challenge.
small to medium monitors are easier to manage and is a good place to start in my opinion.

cheers
shay

I really hate the expression 'dog tame.' No reptiles are 'dog tame.' My neighbor's golden retriever is 'dog tame.' Damn, one might even be able to argue that a cat is 'dog tame.' A montitor will never be that-and it should never free roam your house.

But if you really insist on being that delusional, why dont you buy that big croc monitor and buy a saddle for it. You will be the coolest skid in class.

thanks for your help shay...made me think twice

and as for you orinoco, I was just asking a few simple questions, like I said I'm more of a snake person as opposed to monitors...there is no reason for you to attack me as you did, I have read many stories about Water monitors being great household pets and I came to the forums for help and information.
There is no excuse for you to attack, redicule, and attempt to embarass me, I am not dumb... You should be ashamed of yourself for bashing someone who sought information on a topic that he/she knew little about.

Think about that before you reply to ANY message on these forums, there is no need to be an a**hole to ANYONE who goes to the forums for help and information...no one wants to be attacked when they need help. The way you acted was very immature and it saddens me that you are a part of this great site.

Next time I'll use the word "docile" in place of dog tame....i put the phrase in quotes because thats what was said in countless comments on the topic in place...

The lesson here is "Don't redicule someone who seeks help"

I am not a mindless child and I should not be treated as one.

Some people are just born angry.

this forum seems to be a mean one, i dont really post here often, just lurk to laugh at the butt heads who think they are better and have the right to ridicule.

as for your ?, i have had one sav who had free roam of a screened patio, but thats the most id let him roam full time, he did come in some days w/ supervision. i did have a free roam iggy for quite a while she spent some time out with the sav, (but that was an odd situation, the sav had lived with 2 iggys for most of his life). if you want a large lizard who is a veg there are a TON of iggys who need homes, and are better suted for free raom life, but a home is never fully lizard proof, mine was in a room and shut a finger in the hinge side of a door, all i found was her, lots of blood and when i opened the door the squished finger in the crack. monitors are a lot of work, and with the nile i have now we have a ill feed you, you dont bite me relationship, my save was "dog tame" as in i could pet and hold him with no resistance, and if i was near him he would come to me for attention, was it desire for contact of did he just know i was the one who fed him, ill never know i sadly lost him early this year

as far as the term "dog tame", im a vet tech, and i love my lizards and snakes and would rather be around them then most dogs i see at work everyday, ive been scrached and bitten by far more cats and dogs in 3 years as a vet tech then in 11 years of handeling herps everyday!!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

Responses, I believe you need to reconsider what your goals for a monitor are before deciding on getting any.
As far as attitude I could show you a broad range from a monitor that seems to really seek my presence to monitors the same species that cant stand the sight of any human. Notice I said that 1 seems to enjoy my presence, other people she does not seem to like near as much, but some she accepts them being around. A monitor is not to be expected to be tame, or dog tame, or friendly, but to be comfortable in ITS own environment, it is you that has to accept the lizard for what it is no matter what.
Never allow a monitor free roam, it needs its own environment or it will not live long. Anyone who keeps them roaming in a house, a room, or our environment is risking a short lived monitor, but then again most monitors dont live to see 3 months to a year in most keepers care.
I hope this helps you.

your totally right orinoco you told him straight and i couldnt have put it better myself. these are wild animals and should be treated that way not as household pets. there no less wild than a tiger or lion. whether your a snake man or not you should understand this.

Word to that, man. I love how he is inquiring into large monitors but doesn't even know that ALL VARANIDS ARE CARNIVOROUS. Only a few tree monitors will accept occasional berries in their diet.

Theres a difference between READING a few tidbits of information. Like a few tree monitors will eat plants. And Reality. I have kept and bred thru many generations(to show experience) many many species, and nearly all have consumed plant matter(on purpose) at one time or another. But that does not make them vegaterians. Monitors will eat fruit and leafy greens on rare occasion. I guess they are a tiny bit like cats and dogs, eating plants for a specific need. Or just for the heck of it.

You are right sorta, no known monitor is a vegeterian. But then, I do not consider iggies vegetarians either. I know from personal experience that wild iggies eat lizards and birds. And eat them whenever they have the oppertunity. Yea, they mostly eat plants, that is, until an oppertunity to consume meat occurs. I do not think these or any reptile goes by our terms. I get the feeling these terms should be held so tightly. Cheers

Good morning,

I would advise against purchasing or seeking a large monitor that you would give free roam. I currently own, among other things, a large adult male black roughneck monitor who was given free roam in his first owner's home. The monitor lived on wood floors its early life and has some gnarled claws on its front feet. The monitor was not given natural objects to climb upon and could not dig or otherwise engage in natural behavior. Instead it roamed the floors of a home, causing permanent damage. It rarely climbs in the large enclosure I now keep it in and cannot very well. It is really a shame to see such a great lizard unable to do the things it would naturally do in its natural environment. For the health of the animal, keep it in an enclosure. An enclosure with cypress mulch, dirt, branches, and other natural objects will help the animal more effectively display natural behavior and thrive.