Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm going to get a monitor, that's the only thing I'm certain about. I've been looking around and I've had a few different ones catch my eye. And now I'm completely torn on what to get.

What I want:

Peachthroat
Black Tree Monitor
Dumeril's Monitor

I've also been considering a Ionides, but I wanted to hear peoples impressions of these first.

I'm really wanting something somewhat unique and possibly colorful (The Peachthroat fits wonderfully). But I also want something that doesn't get too insanely large (So as much as I've always wanted a Water monitor, those are completely out of the question.) I'm also wanting something that won't turn out to be a typical nile when it's full grown.

Basically, I'm wanting personal impressions of these lizards. The peachthroat is what I really have my eye on, but I hear they're pretty nervous animals: Shaking when picked up, hissing, puffing up, etc.

The Dumeril's is something I wanted just because they seem to be some what rarer as pets.

And the Black Tree is something I wanted just because of how cool they look. Completely different than the typical monitor.

Or feel free to give other suggestions. And yes, I'm researching all of this.

I would recomend a Blackthroat(aka Ionides).
Peach throats are beautiful but are often skittish, nervous and quick to deficate on u to get away. Most of them are imports and hardly tame down.
Dumerils are very dillicate as young and are not ment to be handled a lot untill they get older. As babies they have beautiful bright yellow/orange heads, but as they get older, the become a dark balck/grayish color.
Black trees are awsome, but they stress very easy and are not meant to really be handled. They are more of a display animal. Also they mainly come in as imports that may have problems. I would not recomend one for a pet.
IMO Blackthroats(Ionides) are great. they tame down very easily and handle well. Babies aren't very delicate and tame very easily. Some have amazing colors. Mine has a reddish hue to it with bright colored yellowish legs. CB or CH ionides often look much better color wise than wc. A lot of wc ones are ugly and all gray colored. SHvar from the forums has an incredibly beautiful blackthroat Cross, that shows u how beautiful they can be. U can get a cb/ch one from Proexotics or from Serpentsden. I've got mine from Serpentsden, and it is awsome. Hope this info helps!