Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm going to be purchasing a black throat very soon and I'm interested in one Dan at DTS has. It's posted on the monitor classifieds. I just want some expert opinions of this animal. It looks pretty decent to me. Body weight seems good, all toe nails and tail looks good.

I've been reading and I find different info from different people on growth rate of these animals. The animal i'm looking to buy is an 09 CH individual and it's 12-14 inches long. Does this sound correct to you guys? I saw a video somewhere claiming that their 2 year old animal was 3ft and another that said their animal grew at 6 inches or so a month, which i don't believe what-so-ever. Anyhow 12-14 inch animal being roughly 1 year old sound about right?

I attached a link to the ad and he's the url in case it doesn't work: http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=53&de=763288

Thanks for any replys, comments or suggestions!
black throat AD

Hi,

Growth is highly dependant upon the keeper, not the monitor. Given the chance, monitors will grow at incredible rates; not given the chance...well, they wont. So you can ask what sounds normal to us, but the answer you get is going to be different from each person, becuase each person keeps their monitors slightly different. As long as it looks healthy, it is feeding readily; and its seller has a good reputation, go for it. If you have to ask questions to make yourself feel better about a purchase....well.........then perhaps you should avoid that seller/animal or perhaps do some more research. And please don't take that as an attack; it isn't, just some advice I could often use.

Cheers and goodluck selecting a monitor.
Mike.

Alright lol, let me kind of rephrase that. Is a black throat that's roughly a year old and 12-14 inches sound like it was under-fed at all or stunted. That's pretty much the only thing I'm getting at. I've asked questions and the animal appears to have good body weight and in good condition.

Yea, thats kinda small for that age. And yes, they can grow really fast. 6 inches a month is up there, but its possible. That would be the high side of ones growth potential.

With animals that are "stunted" once given good care, they normally do well if healthy, but will most likely never reach their full potential.

Thank god, blackthroats full potential is way to big anyway.

Besides, what is your intentions for the animal anyway? Did you want to make a monster, breed it, or for a pet? It could still make a great pet. Cheers

Just going to be a pet I suppose. I love monitors. I've kept a few over the years and I think a BT is for me, althoguh I've never kept one. Savannahs we're a bit on the small side and I like the look of BT's. I orginally set out to get a savannah Now I just have to find one. UGH! I spent close 8 hours on the computer yesterday trying to find a good one. I found the one mentioned above and GeneralExotics.com says they have them in stock but that place is like the wal mart of online reptile dealers and I have no clue what i'll be getting. I don't like not being able to see actual stock someone has. They have a beautiful BT listed but obviously that's not the animal i'd be getting. I also couldn't find any type of reviews of previous customers for that place only the bias testimonials.

The search continues.

How are you and your collection?
Ive been busy, still have my 2 monitors.
Heres a monster.

Over 10 years old and still growing, just alot slower.