Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am new to this forum and I know you guys probably get these kinds of questions all the time , but I've been in a rut on which monitor to get. Its between the peachthroat and an argus monitor , I've read up on both and know the tempermants of both and how much an argus can eat and things like that. Housing is not an issue I already have an 8x3x2 cage for my tegu and I can get another one bigger if I need to . I just wanted to see what some other people think about the lizards and have some feedback on them.

thank you

I've never kept Peachthroats, but I can tell you that I have really enjoyed my two argus's. They have tons of personality and are quite fearless! Feeding time is always interesting that's for sure. Nothing like a big argus grabing mouse after mouse off of tongs, literally, mouse after mouse, after mouse...hahaha Maybe Mike or someone else could tell you about the behavior of peachthroats, as I wouldn't want to tell you incorrect information. But yes Argus are very active in my limited experience, and require very large custom enclosures. Just be sure you know what you're getting yourself into, as almost any monitor is going to be extremely costly. I think it would also be fair to say that the most interaction you'll get with either species will be at feeding time...so don't ge them expecting to handle them, just let them be monitors and they will continually suprise you with their behavior. Good luck on your continued researching, Lance

Ive held a few argus monitors I just got a pretty nasty cut from a 3 1/2 ft female from prehistoric pets . I have a argentine B&W tegu I can hold if I want a bigger lizard to interact with more often and not get messed up by it. I dont mind a lizard with a bad attitude.

Yeah I wouldn't describe them as necessarily having a bad attitude...they just know when they want to be left alone. They don't mind letting you in on the secret either though, haha. I really just enjoy watching them, they always seem to be doing something. Whether its basking for a few minutes, tripoding to get a better view, swimming in their water bowl then drying off under the basking spot, eating, digging burrows, climbing up a tree I have in the cage, etc... I haven't been bitten by either of them, but of coarse I don't bother them. I have gotten the occasional tail whip and hiss when changing the water bowl or light bulbs though haha. I would expect nothing less from them, they're more enjoyable the way they are, than if I were to have a "calm/tame" argus due to improper conditions. Cheers, Lance

Do all the research you can and hail Mike from Mikes' Monitors- he seems to be working out well with the peachthroats... Best to you- Mike

Well, have you kept monitors before ? Have you ever seen Jurassic Park ? Remember the Velociraptors and the whole intelligence thing ? Remember how hungry they were ? Remember how they would figure anything out in order to eat the humans ?

Argus Monitors are the same freaking way ... Argus monitors are unlike any monitor i have ever kept. I had my Large male escape from his enclosure in a locked room... break the glass in the window to escape onto the back porch , then rip through the screen on the porch to make his escape into my yard... If he wasnt so use to being around me I would have never seen him again ..

Ive never kept a peach throat .. Argus's are a handful but they are fun and very fast feeders... mine grew extremely fast ...
Good Luck
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Safari Tom
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