Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hmm im very intrested in argus and sortive want a pair, but was wondering would u reccomed a flavi over a argus? ive never seen a pic of a full grown flavi, do they look diffrent? how are their persanlities compared? size? i wont be getting them until i get away from college..

thx

>>hmm im very intrested in argus and sortive want a pair, but was
>>wondering would u reccomed a flavi over a argus?

It depends on what you are looking for in a monitor.

>>ive never seen a pic of a full grown flavi, do they look diffrent?

Flavie:

Argus:

>>how are their persanlities compared?

Flavies are quite simply the sweetest, most wonderful monitors I ever worked with. Docile, active, interactive, curious, possibly even friendly.

Arguses have this unnerving intensity about them. They are active, high strung and jumpy yet oddly fearless, with a stronger feeding response than I have seen in any other monitor species. Arguses are more likley to get into trouble, and they really keep you on your toes. Fortunately, they are not "mean." They almost never bite in self defense, but they will puff up and hiss and put on a big display. You also need to be very careful when feeding them if you want to keep all your fingers. Arguses are also very likely to "tripod" standing up on their hind legs with their tail for a brace. I've not seen my flavies do this yet but arguses do it all the time.

Here's an example. Just before I left Southern California for New York State I had the opportunity to visit a major retile expo in the area. I wasn't planning on buying anything, but ended up getting a female argus for one of my two boys and a pair of adult flavies. Not having anyplace to put them for the next several days before my trip, I let the three of them roam around the storage room of the apartment (vinal floor, set up a heat mat and heat lamp and water dish for them). The flavies were perfectly behaved, didn't cause any trouble, were friendly and good natured, ate well, and so on. The argus climbed up what I thought were unclimbable shelves and knocked everything on them down. She broke one of the heat bulbs. She broke off one of her claws and smeared blood all over (nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw the blood everywhere). She was jumpy and pissy and hissy, ate like a half starved wolverine, and makes me wonder why I didn't go prematurely white. Once she squeezed into a crack between a cabinet in the bathroom and the wall and would not come out for two days (I had to set up three heat lamps pointing at her retreat to get her out - I was worried I'd have to leave her behind).

In short, arguses add interest and zest to your life. They keep you from becoming too sedate and complacent. They are also a real hoot to watch since they are so active.

i love both my arguses and my flavies, but for different reasons.

>>size?

Arguses are considerably larger in my experience. Males especially get quite large, most of mine reach 5 feet and 20 pounds. Females stay smaller, at about 3 feet and 6 pounds. My flavies are both about 3 feet, although the male is considerably heftier.

Good luck,

Luke

Sounds like the argus are the winners!!! Kidding, I am sure the Flavis are cool for different reasons. I am actually thinking of getting some very young crosses and try to raise them together since my 2 Argus can not co-habitate a cage.
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Ed

There are chameleons, pythons, and monitors in my jungle room.

thx alot, im not really sure what i want right now than again, this is only a intrest and who knows what college will give me. But thx these two species seem very entertaing, plus i thing they look the best out of al lthe monitors.