Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been researching monitors for quite some time now, and feel that I am about ready to make a purchase. I am having trouble deciding what I want though. The problem is I only have room for an 8x4x4 cage. I do not like dwarf monitors, so I am looking for something in the mid sized range. I have been thinking about a manrove, or maybe a peach throat. Does anyone know of any more mid sized monitors. Also nobody is ever talking about mangroves on the forums. Are they a rewarding species to keep.

">>Also nobody is ever talking about mangroves on the forums. Are they a rewarding species to keep."

They are a difficult species that seem to take a long long time to settle in and may possibly never loose their fear of humans. Bad first choice.

Think Argus.

They also need more height i would say at least 8x4x6 but more if you could as i've said before you can never give monitors too much room. If you can find captive born and bred they can accuially calm down pretty well, they are mostly aborial so even a calm one will do a number on you when you handle them due to their claws so i usually look at them as more a display species then "pet" species. It's been awhile sence i've had one but I did enjoy working with them and would recomend them to someone with previous monitor experence but would advise against them if you don't.
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"We don't inherate the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children"

how long could i keep an argus in something like this

I have both Mangrove and Argus. The Argus would be the best choice, of the two, for a first Monitor.

If you get a female, 8x4x4 would be plenty. If you get a male it would be the minimum size but would work.

4' male in a 10x4x7 high cage.

I agree with taller is better. I prefer to have a vertical temperature gradient.

Nice lookin enclosure!
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1.1 Savannah Monitors (Annah & Terrance)
1.1 Nile Monitor (Lyle)
1.0 Timor Monitor (Timmmmaaayy)
1.0 Blood Python (Kevin)
1.0 Ball Python (Martin)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Bella)
2.0 Bearded Dragons (Peter & Jack)
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake (Hector)
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boas (Wayne & Maude)
1.0 Dwarf Gecko (Little Girl)
1.0 Curly Hair Tarantula (Pube)
1.0 OBT Usumbara Orange Baboon Tarantula (Sin)
1.0 Emperor Scorpion (Ashoka)
2.0 D. auratus (Poison Dart Frogs)
1.0 Peacock Bass (Gary)

silentjt, both the argus and enclosure are very impressive! How many do you have in their? Thanks.
-Ryan

A midsize monitor that is rarely spoken of is a dumerils. These are probably the most calm monitor I've seen. I have hade two myself and both were unbelievably calm and confident around me. The one I have now will run over to my hand when I change the water, go up my arm and sit on my shoulder. Both of mine were captive bred and been tons of fun. I have owned dwarf to water monitors and would highly recommend a dumerils. Your cage would easily be big enough for a dumerils. If you want to see a video clip a dumerils interacting go to You tube, I think its called "zeldo love" or something. It will make you ill, but its a nice looking lizard. Unfortunately the owner is mistaken a hunt and search mode for food for "loves ad kisses".

>>I have been researching monitors for quite some time now, and
>> feel that I am about ready to make a purchase. I am having
>> trouble deciding what I want though. The problem is I only
>> have room for an 8x4x4 cage. I do not like dwarf monitors,
>> so I am looking for something in the mid sized range.

With these constraints, I would suggest checking out the flavies. They are closely related to arguses, but stay smaller and are more docile.

Good luck,

Luke

Hello,
As Sidbarvin said "think argus" or maybe Flavi. I have never kept Flavi's but they appear to be the smaller of the gouldi group(ask FR). These are all fast active hunter that will bring you years of exciting enjoyment. There are also cb babies available frequently. Keep in mind that the large species get REALLY BIG and even the "medium size" animals are large by most standards... Many of the "dwarfs reach 2' as well... Consider this carefully because you will have this animal longer than the family dog if your husbandry permits... Best to you- Mike

Than you everyone for your coments, I think I am going to go with an argus, I have done some more measuring and I can stretch my cage to 11x5x6 if it turns out to be a male, or maybe i will do it just to give my female some more room. Also I am wondering if anyone know where I can find some good argus monitor care articles. I have already read everything on pe about ten million times, but i am looking for some good argus specific stuff.

Not all dwarf monitors are actually small. I don't know what size you are looking for? There's plenty to choose from; Timor, Argus, Yellow, Sand, even the Savannah monitor would be a good choice. All of the above get a moderate size. The smallest being the Timor (around 28 or less). I know alot of people have positives and negatives on all species. It just depends on the experience and patience on the indivual owner. I never had a Mangrove. I know of someone who does though. Any monitor requires patience though. Some just can tolerate you faster than others. It not only depends on the specie but also on the individual animal.I personally have a Common Nile which requires alot of patience. But if you didn't know the Mangrove still gets a moderate size around 5ft. They all have the typical monitor behavior with some variations as different species. The only way to find out is to just get a monitor in which you really want(researched on). Sorry, if I didn't answer your question they way you wanted to.