Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm still trying to decide on which type to get. I just kind of want the opinions of people who have owned them, that way I can judge which is better for me. I've narrowed it down to two:

Ionides/Blackthroat

or

Argus/Flavi (3/4ths Argus, 1/4th Flavi).

I've heard a LOT of good stuff about Blackthroats. But I've also heard quite a bit of good stuff about Argus crosses. (And some 'bad' stuff about straight Argus: About them being kind of mean when compared to some of the other monitors). But the crosses are a LITTLE more conveinent size wise. (I don't care what anyone says, smaller is always easier, regardless of whether or not you have just a small 50 gallon cage to use or an entire house.) That's not to say I'm not willing to put in the work for a larger monitor, because I am. Just weighing the pros and cons.

Only you can determine which YOU like better! LOL

Please understand, its like asking, which jacket should I buy? Both have good features, now someone please tell me what I prefer...

Even if someone who has bad both, respond and tell you which THEY like better, it does not mean that is how YOU will feel about it.
That said, if a smaller size appeals to you, use that to help you decide. The cross will be smaller, so that is a huge plus for you right there. And its been said many times on here, the 'huge lizard' novelty wears thin fast.
There's also the plus of crosses being CB.
And more active.
And keeps colors into adulthood better.

As for being 'mean', that has a LOT to do with the keeper, IMO. And you take the temperament chance, no matter the species. From docile to nervous is possible with all species, as they are all individuals.
Have fun.
D.

I keep both species(WT) and crosses but like Dragoon said its all a matter of personal preference and convenience. For me personally I like both.They both have their own unique traits. The crosses are active, inquisitive and energetic, and will keep you interested and looking at them.They also stay at a more manageable size. As where the albigs as they get older are less active than crosses, are less manageable due to size and will require a decent sized enclosure. They(albig) are also in my opinion very endearing. These are just my personal experiences and observations.

Again you have to ask yourself what you want from your monitors to make a more satisfactory decision. Plus theres a bunch of other species out there you can look at as well.

Argus are for crazy people, Ionides are for cool people. does that help?

seriously though, i am here all night : )

it is just a personal preference, and from that basis, i love the Ionides, and i can't stand the Argus. they are just not appealing for me to work with, and very tough to sell. i have tried the crosses too, and while they were better, still not a thrill.

there are a number of keepers that enjoy that whole complex of monitors though, so you will hear both sides, it just comes down to personal choice.

i can tell you that i have had 99% great satisfaction from Ionides customers, and about 25% satisfaction from Argus customers...

it is hard to describe the attributes of either on a forum, aside from what has already been said 3000 times, try and see some quality animals first hand and get some interaction time, and then make a choice : )

best of luck!
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

The problem is, no one around here really has any full grown Argus, Argus Complex, or Ionides.

The petstore has a large Black roughneck, and that's about it. Also some Flavi's that he wants 2 grand for the pair, which seems way too high, heh.

I wasn't so much asking for someone to tell me which one I should get, but to tell me which one they prefer, and hopefully WHY they prefer it.

And dammit, every post I make, Robyn raves about Ionides. I'm finding it hard to resist.

It's not really about who likes what, but what you like. When I decided to get a reptile, I really wanted a monitor. I bought a butterfly agama though because they were a lot smaller in size. The problem was I still wanted a monitor. So, I looked at all the different species and was really interested in getting an argus. Well, someone offered me their 3ft. water monitor for free. I took it and thought that it would be great just to have any monitor. The problem was I was still interested in getting an argus. Well, 2 months later, I got my argus. My point here is different people have different attractions to different animals. Get what interest you and you'll be happy, otherwise you may end up either not as happy or have with a reptile park in your basement

FYI, you can get an argus for about 250.00 just about anywhere online.

Best of luck to you.

Usumbara,
I have both a bt and an argus. Both have two completely different personalities. I adore both of them equally. The argus is a little more shy than my bt, but I love him for it. Is there any place where you could interact with both species? You would almost need to interact with a couple different bt's and a couple different argus (as I don't believe that either species has a "set" attitude). I have noticed that the argus seems to be a little more sensitive to the furry critters around him and the kids, the bt is a little more laid back with them all. Don't know if you have dogs or cats or kids, but just a tidbit. Good luck in deciding. Let me know what you decide and don't forget to post pics.

Best wishes for you and yours,
JS

I've never met a mean argus (although some are more defensive than others). Mostly they are high strung, quick to puff up and hiss, reluctant to bite in self defense, and not content to just sit in your arms. Watch your fingers at feeding time, though, as they tend to have a very strong feeding response. I can't tell you much about black throats (having never worked with one myself) but I have a bunch of my thoughts on argus monitors posted on my website at http://pizards.com/hbd/argus.html which may help you make your decison.

Why do I like them?
* Beautiful colors
* Elegant shape
* Active, fun to watch
* Interesting behaviors
* Eager feeders
* Hardy, adjust well to captivity
* Reluctant to bite (except for feeding errors)
* Powerful, impressive animals
* Tripoding is just too cool!

Things I don't particularly care for
* Males get very large
* It would be nice if they were more handleable

Remember, this is all about full blooded arguses. I've heard the flavies and crosses are more mellow and stay smaller (although I've never had one myself).

Luke