Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been debating with myself over which is the best 'big' pet lizard. I'm looking to add a large lizard to my collection next year and the two species that have always caught my eye are the Argentine Black & White Tegu and the Salvator Water Monitor. Since I only really have room for a single individual 'larger' animal like that, I was wondering what the pros and cons were of each species. I already know the care specifics of both species, I've researched them to death really and know the space requirements and food expences, but I wanted to ask you all to get some experienced people to get on the topic to further my knowledge and to make the right decision. Exactly how tame can Salvators get? I've seen photos of 6 foot lizards being cradled like babies and of adults on leashes like a dog. How easy/hard is it to get them to that point (I'm talking about both babies and established adults)? Thats a big issue with me, I'm hoping to get a very hands on pet and I've 'heard' both Arg Tegus and Salvators are great for hands on attention. And on average how much food does a Salvator require for a week (how many mice, chicks, etc)?

Anything other info would be awesome. Thanks. Hope I can get some feedback from this.

Adam

My lizard search has made me research almost every large specie. I researched tegus thoroughly but I finally decided to go with monitors and get the water monitor.

I have been talking to various breeders who have had both species from years and have learned a lot. Tegus have been generally describe as "dog tame" (Except for gold tegu/columbian b/w tegu). Water monitors can alsso become the tamest lizard you ever had. It all depends on the temperment of the animal, which varies animal to animal and the work you put into it. Tegus and water monitors will tame down easier than some other species and are one of the "tamest" animals availabe. However there is no guarantee as you can end up with a nasty water or a "tame" nile.

As for feeding it can really be answered to the exact amount. Of course a water monitor will eat much more than a BW tegu since they can become 2x larger both length and mass. A growing water monitor should eat atleast 5days a week. You should provide a varies diet consisting of supplemented crickets, mealworms, feeder roaches, rodents, etc. The crickets should make up the majority of the waters diet. Once the monitor is approaching the 1yr mark it should be fed a rodent diet. It may eat 3-5 mice a day 5-6x a week. You can buy frozen mice at rodentpro.com ...my guess is your water may cost you under $1k a year... As for tegus diet will be similar except argentines need to eat fruit and they will eat less rodents. Feed bugs mainly until they are 1year and then feed mainly rodents. Feeding a young monitor too much rodents will cause digestion problems and may make them more aggressive (

Thanks to Robyn from Pro Exotics for providing the info.

You can read the water care sheets.

http://www.proexotics.com/care_water.html
http://www.proexotics.com/water_monitor_article.html

good tegu reading

http://www.beardiedragon.com/pages/Care/Tegu_Care_QA.html

i suggest getting in touch with bennett from beardiedragon.com he really knows his stuff. also talk to robyn @ www.proexotics.com he really knows his monitors.

If you have to ask then I would say get a tegu. In general they are smaller and more managable for a pet.

Salvators get huge to big for most peoples homes. Many might call them gentle giants however I have enough of them to know not all of them are that way. Lets face it if you end up with a 7 foot monster you probly will not be to happy.

So if being gentle and "tame" as you said is that important then I would not suggest a salvator. Especially if you have had no experience with monitors in general. Its easier to start out with the small ones learn the upkeep as well as the monitor behaviors, then go into the larger species.