Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have experience with blue tailed monitors, timors, or mangroves?
If so does anyone sell them captive bred?
Temperment?

It isn't like a car dealership where you can walk in and say "I'll take one of those and two of those". Heck it isn't even like the snake world, where you can basically do that as well.

Those are all wild caught imported animals. No one is breeding them. Timors very rarely.

The Mangrove is the cheap wild caught version of the Peachthroat. Not as pretty, more flighty, but a lot cheaper. And crappier. And still won't like any kind of handling.

The Timor, as they say, is like keeping an empty cage. They aren't interested in you, or any handling. Like an Ackie, but less friendly, and invisible. And wild caught/imported.

The Blue Tail is an extra large Peachie that is not as colorful and still doesn't want to be touched or handled. Also imported.

Of course, you could call a dozen different dealers and ask them for captive bred Timors or Mangroves or whatever, and they will say "Yeah, I have a couple of those, just brought them in, err, I just got them from the breeder yesterday. 38 bucks plus shipping, how many you want?"

I am not sure why folks get the impression that Ackies are "common" or "not exciting". Your choices on high quality monitor lizards are INCREDIBLY limited. We are LUCKY that Ackies are not only captive bred, but AWESOME lizards. Lucked out on that one.

But common and unexciting? If you took 1% of all of the captive bred Ball pythons from this year, that would still be a thousand times greater than the number of Ackies bred this year.

Ackies would make a far superior captive lizard choice to Savs, Mangroves, Blue Tails, Timors, any of those.

Best of luck in your choice.
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robyn@proexotics.com

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Pro Exotics Reptiles

I dont have experience with blue tails or mangroves, but I do keep timors and ackies. If I had to choose only one to keep, it would be ackies for sure. And not only am I a huge arboreal fan, but I also usually like the less common reptiles as well. Like robyn said, ackies are just far superior captives.

That is pretty much the concensus- ackies. But like you i am also a fan of the less common reptiles mabye i should buy an ackie to get a feel for monitors and move to something else after i learn a little more. Thanks for the advice.

I am not sure we are on the same page here.

Something "less common" than an Ackie? For every Ackie hatched and sold there are literally 50 of each of those other species sold. Ackies ARE much less common than any of the others you have mentioned.

As for captive bred Mangroves, they are the "junk" of the blue tail family, brought in as imports for $20. Nobody breeds those commercially, it just isn't economical.

If that type of monitor floats your boat, go with the Peachie or Bluetail. Bluetails (Kalabeck's) are gorgeous as babies (as seen below) and less so as adults. The problem comes with adults, as they are big and meaty monitors, with LOTS of movement, so keeping more than a single animal becomes a giant cage conundrum.

I would recommend a 15 ft cage for a pair of Bluetail adults.
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

Regardless of your choice, you are considering it, and weighing options. That already puts you ahead of the normal curve of folks making impulse purchases. Nice : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

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Pro Exotics Reptiles

Thanks robyn thats a real help, im not trying to bash ackies just trying to see what else is out there ya know. ill keep what you siad in mind when making my choice.

Blue tails are skittish mine doesn't mind me anymore but at first he was constantly trying to get away from me. He is out in his enclosure very often he eats out of my hand and is just awesome. But you must remember each individual animal has it's own personality. Mangroves are very similar to blue tails.

Thats a great looking lizard. Thanks for the tips

Thanks, hes my special little guy. keep doing what you are doing to make sure you know what you are getting into, it's alot of work but it a rewarding experience seeing them grow eat and just watching them be themselves. Good luck with your search.

Great looking baby! Those were the days!
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

What do you mean "those were the days?"

Back when we did/sold lots of those types of monitors- Blue Tails, Peachies, Roughnecks, Waters, Green Trees, Melinus, all that Indo stuff : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

Thanks btw, didn't realize I didn't write out before I posted my last message.

you seriously have to look at what you want in a monitor-i knew getting into Bluetails that they will not have the qualities you are looking for.And as much as i want ,cannot make them that way.Even captive bred babies won't fit your bill,it doesn't magically make them have qualities of say Ackies.if you get your heart set on a particular species-you need to know their basic behaviours and except them.treating them as disposable animals and saying i'll try and if i can't mold them to be like Ackies i'll be rid of is just irresponsible.monitors live many years this should be in your planning as well.

I would never treat any animal as disposable. I will take the same approach i do with all my animals interact or check up on it everyday, give it what needs, keep it well fed, set up a sweet enclosure , give it the respect it deserves and ask questions if i need help.

I am inquiring to you and other experienced monitor keepers about the various species that are out there and what their experiences are with them so i can make a smart informed decision when i purchase my monitor. Handling is not too important to me just looking for an interesting lizard to care for.

Whats your blue tail like?

I acquired them as wildcaught babies.I've had them about a year now.I rarely try to handle them,but when i do ,they never attempt to bite or tailwhip,they do defecate.They are shy and nervous allowing me to view them for short periods.They have amazing strength and speed-wait till they get 5-6'.I wouldn't even imagine taking them outside-too risky.Google doreanus skull to see the teeth you are dealing with not to mention their razor sharp claws.Definitely beautiful,pictures especially of babies don't do them justice velvety black,yellow, white and their turquiose blue tails.But their secretive nature is a big drawback.

Thats really helpful thanks for your insight. Their look is what made me ask about them in the first place

I do a tremendous amount of reading on the indicus complex and I myself house an adult male V. indicus, really really beautiful animal who I think is very under-appreciated! Robyn don't bash my Mangrove!

Anyway, indicus is such a shy complex I would not recommend them to anyone just into monitors or without lots of experience and patience. As said before ackies are probably your best way to go, I've seen the ones up at ProExotics and I wish I started out with ackies myself !

Sorry Titan, I don't mean to bash the Mangrove, it is just such a common impulse buy species, because it is an imported and cheap species, and that creates tons of unwanted and "disposable" animals. Congrats to you for keeping a beautiful specimen : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles