Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im eventually gonna get a new lizard. I owned a Savannah about 6 years ago. He didn't bite but wasn't very nice either but I loved him because he was such a savage. I currently own a 3 yr old Veiled and two 8 yr old Leopard geckos. My family owned 2 Iguanas in the early 90's and I really enjoyed them but theres just something about a monitor. Now for the opinion ques. What kind of monitor would make a better "Pet". Im open to all monitors except those exceding 5 and a half to 6 feet. Ackies though small at 2 feet are still a possibility. Also, I would like an explanation for your choice. Thanks.

No monitor is going to "tame." Some may tolerate you better than others, but they will never "tame" like a dog. This applies to all reptiles.

Having said that, if you are looking for a monitor that you could interact with, the ackies are a fairly good choice. My male is very outgoing and will curiously inspect me if I put my hand in the enclosure (sometimes he will climb up my arm out of the enclosure, so I think he realizes that my arm is a way of escape as well). The female on the other hand, is very flighty. The only way that I can see her in the enclosure is if I remain completely still so she doesn't realize that I am there. There may also be other dwarf monitors you may be interested in. Just do some research.

Argus and flavi/argus or flavi/gouldii crosses are also possible good choices, I think. I don't own one. I hope to own a single male or a pair of some type of flavi cross soon. These medium-sized monitors are said to be very outgoing, but don't hesitate to show you your place. They have an extremely strong feeding response and have no fear of people. Sometimes they can be handled, sometimes not. It depends on the individual, like with all animals. Flavi crosses are smaller than pure argus or gould's monitors, more beautiful than either parent (personal opinion), and I think more tolerable of interaction (more likely than argus). They still have the same awesome feeding response and outgoing behavior as pure argus, in a more managable size.

Blackthroats are also nice choices, but get extremely large. They can also vary on temperment as well. SHvar has a large female ionides that can be taken out of its enclosure and interacted with easily. He also has a male that is completely the opposite. I would love to own a blackthroat or whitethroat, but don't have near enough space. The same goes for water monitors, which are even larger.

Dumerils monitors may also be good for you. They are also medium-sized. They are smaller than argus, and easier to interact with usually. Ben at roughneckmonitors.com reccomends a mostly shellfish diet, which may be cheaper for you. It depends on how easily you can get crawfish and other shellfish. Others have had success on a rodent diet as well. I would suggest that you check out Ben's website. There is a lot of good information.

Remember, you cannot just allow your monitor to free-roam your house. It MUST have an large enclosure. They (all except completely arboreal ones) require a deep substrate to dig and create burrows in, as well as higher humidity and temperature than your house would tolerate. Also don't expect to be able to interact with your animal. It is a monitor. Expect no more from it and you will not be dissapointed.

Thanks Varanus_rock your info was EXTREMELY helpful. I understand that the monitor isn't a loving creature and I don't want one to be, I already have a son. I want my lizard to be a savage like my sav. He can hiss and tail whip I just don't him to bite me. I'm gonna research the Dumerils and Flavi crosses and see if I like them. They sound more my style.

Are the monitors you mentioned pesonalities similiar to Iguanas. I can only judge monitor personality on my sav and I thought he was the man. I had him from a baby to just about 3 feet so I didn't have him as long as my other lizards. Thanks for the feed back its appreciated.

I don't really know what the temperment of an iguana is typically like. But like I said, it will vary in species as well as in the individual. Yeah, now that I have had my ackies a while I want some more monitors, mostly the sand (flavi, goulds, argus) monitor(s) or the dumeril(s). I even want another pair of ackies (reds this time). Watch out, after you really get to know how great monitors are, you will be addicted.

Oh yeah, please refrain from buying the flavi crosses advertised by Jason at Rare Earth on the classifieds. I am wanting to possibly get them. You could buy one of the males though, so I don't have to recieve it and then sell it. I would have no need for an extra male.

No problem Varanus_Rock their all yours. Best of luck to ya with your new flavi crosses. It'll be some time before I get my monitor, because I'm the type of person who has to research everything I can. But theres still nothing like experience. I'll probably purchase one in the spring or summer. I'm going to a reptile expo at the end of the month in White Plains NY. There I'll meet breeders and really narrow down my choices. Thanks for all your help and if anyone else reading this would like to add there opinion please feel free.

Also does anyone have temperment info on peach throat monitors. I've heard they get 4-5 feet. Again I understand they're monitors but as a group how are peach throats. I've been bit by a Veiled and a Cuban Anole and that hurt like hell so I'm terrified by the jaws of a large lizard. I just don't wanna be attacked for being in the same room as him. I also understand it's largely based on the individuals personality.

I think that peach-throats are supposed to have decent temperments. I don't think that they are near as shy as other members of their complex, like mangroves. They may also make excellent choices as captives. I would assume that they would be similar in demeanor to dumerils. These are, once again, another monitor I would love to own. Actually, I would like to own all of them. If I only had the space, time, and money...

I actually heard that peachthroats tend to be very flighty, just like mangroves. I was looking into getting a couple a while back but ended up getting water monitors instead. Im sure if you work with them enough you could get them to be used to you. And I'm sure their bite is really hard as well. A monitors bite will hurt like hell, no matter how big or how small they are. They will unleash the fury with their jaws. I think you are correct with their adult size. Good luck, they are gorgeous.

DRZRider has a very "tame" young peachthroat. He can feed it via tongs and says that it has a fairly strong feeding response, coming to the edge of the cage in anticipation of its food. It may just be a freak peachthroat, though. He frequents repticzone, but I think he is on here too. Whatever monitor you decide to get, be sure to have fun. My ackies are the best captive reptiles I have ever owned (even though I have not owned many). It is wonderful that you research as much as you can before getting your animal, unlike many impulse buyers. If you have trouble getting information on keeping a monitor, just keep it similar to another its size and/or type. You may have to adjust whether you emphasize height or floor space and the diet a bit, but they all have very similar care. You can also ask here. Good luck.

Yeah, my peachthroat is awesome. I would not call it tame though. I would not think of reaching for it if I did not have heavy leather gloves on. Peachies are flighty, very active, fast, and they will not hesitate to bite or scratch. Did I mention they are fast? It took many months for that peachie to get used to me enough to not run when it sees me. I think they are the prettiest monitors with their colorful tail and throat. They are worth having if you are patient in the beginning and don't care about handling it.

Dumerils and peachies have very different demeanors. I think dumerils make better "pets" since they are not as flighty. Dumerils seem to me to be slower, more laid back, and more aquatic.

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Ed

I did not mean that it was "tame." It was just the quickest word that came to mind. I meant that it was fairly easy to interact with for you. I don't really know about the demeanors of most monitors, especially Indonesian ones. Sorry, it was just an assumption, as I thought that they led similar lifestyles. Are peachies not fairly aquatic as well?

By the way, this is Field_Herper from RZ.

Ryan

You are right in that they both come from indo and require high humidity and love to climb. I think peachies and dumerils are very similier and very different at the same time. I read that peachies are not as aquatic as mangroves, and are avid diggers. The peachies I have don't get in water much. I have never seen the peachies dig either, but mine use hides such as burrows and other things to get under. I have limited experience since I have only had one since April of this year.

I am still surprised that I have not seen them in water more. When I got my first one, I was expecting it to hide all the time, dig a lot, and be very aquatic. I did not expect it to learn to come to me for food. It has actually climbed onto me and onto plates I held to get food.

I you can't tell, I enjoy the heck out of my peachthroats. They are like clowns on speed that will give you stitches in a second.
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Ed

I have had a few species of dwarf monitors, and my favorites are my ackies. My pair is 4 1/2 years old, and they are so mellow and laid back. They never run from anyone, and they are extremely nosy as to what is happening in the reptile room, always checking everything out. When I use the dustbuster to clean around the cages the male likes to sit on the dustbuster while I use it, kind of like a reptile rodeo. I take the male to grade schools for presentations on occasion and he comes out and sits on my shoulder facing the children so he doesn't miss anything. He is quite a character. Maybe he is an oddball, I don't really know as this was the first pair of monitors I had. I got the pair when they were 1 1/2 years old, and always let them do what they wanted, I never forced them to be held or do anything else, I always let them do what they wanted. It seemed to work out fine, as they are very much loved by me and a joy to own. Good luck with your search.

Pam
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Yeah, my male ackie does some pretty entertaining things too. Once, I put them in a seperate container while I was messing with their cage. I was making a lot of racket, and then, I turned to check on them and saw the male tripodding, just like an argus. I was stunned. I have never heard of any monitor doing this other than sand monitors, at least not for anything but food. But, he was just standing there trying to get a glimpse of me, like a meerkat. I just love them. They are such wonderful animals.

Wow guys this descision is hard. It's gonna take me some time to make up my mind. DRZrider nice pics those guys look awesome. Is your peach throat captive bred? Do you guys know of any peach throat breeders? If I choose a peach throat then I would like a captive bred baby and would be willing to wait a long time for a top quality one. Is there a personality difference between a male and female? Also what are the differences between flavi/argus and flavi/gouldii crosses? I'm have a hard time finding info on them. Varanids_Rock and pgross are making me want an ackie. Do you guys find a difference between the red and yellows besides color? Can you house one of each together? I think whats gonna end up happing is I'm gonna get an ackie and some type of medium sized monitor. You guys have been great!! Thanks for all the help.

Tim

The differences between the sand crosses is sometimes very obvious, and sometimes not. I think that flavi/argus are pretty multicolored. The pure flavies that I have seen are dark colored with some orange on their back. I believe flavi/gouldii are pretty multicolored as well. I really don't know what I am talking about, so I will stop there.

With ackies, the males are typically more outgoing, and I would expect the same with other monitors. But, it all really comes down to the individual animal.

Sorry, I don't own any reds (yet...), so I can't tell you any differences. I think they are all extremely similar, but can't tell you for sure. You could house a red and yellow together. Heck, people have bred redXyellow crosses. I wouldn't personally do it, but it can be done, probably just as easily as breeding yellowsXyellows or redsXreds. I would go with a pair of reds. They are gorgeous animals, and some of the most beautiful monitors in my opinion. But, I would say that the blue and green tree monitors are the most beautiful overall. Some flavi crosses and peachies are gorgeous too, though. What you want in your monitor all boils down to your personal opinion. You should get what YOU want. If you want an extremely out going monitor, go with some kind of argus or sand monitor, maybe even ackies. If you want a beautiful one, you might go for a peachie. But, no matter what you get, I am sure you will enjoy it. Monitors are just plain awesome.

Sorry if the post doesn't make much sense, I am very tired.

Ryan

Ryan is right. Argus are some of the most outgoing monitors, and you can find captive bred ones. I have never had an ackie, so I can't comment on them. People who keep them seem to enjoy them. I know of very few instances where peachthroats have been captive bred. Actually I can only think of one hatching in the private sector.

I used to keep argus and they were great fun. Selling them to a breeder was the dumbest thing I ever did.

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Ed