Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Iv'e owned a iguana , snakes beared dragons and leopard gecko's along with snapping turtles...
so i know most / care on how to taking care of reptiles i injoy it actully .

but anyway my question ... anyone have any suggestion's for buying a first mondior ? i hear start small ...
what would be a good first mondior pet ? ..
suggestions welcome ...

Christina

It's "monitor" lizard. Look up Varanus acanthurus (aka Ackies or spiny-tailed monitors). They stay small and are fairly calm and very hardy.

I am sure many will "weigh in" on this question and hopefully the general consensus will be Ackie, Ackie, and Ackie. AKA the ridg-tail monitor(ackie/ ridge tail are the both available with two "common" types availible "reds" or "yellow". Smaller is the only way to go when starting out. Likely, you will be so impressed that later you may want to work with the larger varanids...but most definatly start with at least a smaller animal. Once you observe an Ackie (and you will likely find it the most entertaining lizard you own)...prepare to see one comedic,smart and interesting lizard with personality. Thats the thing about the smaller monitors...you get to see them do things we can't facilitate with the larger species(need a ton of room for the "good stuff". There are a handful of "miniture monitor" species around but Ackies are easiest to find and will grant you some "wiggle room" if you don't get it right out of the gate. good luck in your research(and please please please read the forum...your monitor will love you for it) cheers,big ears.

Read everything you can from FR (Frank Retes) here and elsewhere, use the archives too. Then read the monitor husbandry information at proexotics.com. Then read it all again. Honestly after months and months and months of reading what FR and others say everyday I STILL go back into the archives and read it all again and again. I'm dumb like that, I need things beaten in to take hold. Consider it's all really simple, that's the sad part haha.

You will know what monitor best fits your needs once you have a good basic understanding of what it will take to properly care for one. It's your choice alone, honestly no one else knows your situation well enough to recommend anything. Who knows, you may end up not wanting one or really wanting a rarer species not generally worked with. The moral of the story? Do your homework and you wont have to ask.

Good luck -

Tom

i think one can assume "the situation"...so with that we make assumtions and try to give something that works...i really really doubt this person could fully appreciate a V. brevicauda...lastly Ackies will be easy to get out of (should that day come) versus say a 1 yearold nile. cheers,big ears.

Dont get me wrong, I completely agree with your recommendation. My only point was that by doing the research and preparation you should do prior to purchasing a monitor you will subsequently learn and understand the best monitor for your situation.

I have found that when people come to their own conclusions they tend to buy into it more (whatever you are doing). Let him 'discover' the best choice, though I agree an ackie most likely should be the conclusion.

Tom

Good point Tom. Didnt think of it that way but you are right...people seem to buy in better when they arrive on their own. I just hope they do not buy any gilleni out from under me before I'm ready. cheers,zak.