Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I've been looking into getting a lizard for quite some time now, and I have researched a fair number of monitors but not really talked to many people with alot of experience.

What I really need to know are a couple monitors that are very tame, stays 4 feet or under, and eat basic foods (mice, rats, insects, fruits, vegtables), and can live in a cage that is 6' long, 2 wide, and 2 tall (with provided heat and lighting).

Tameability is key for me, as I still live in my parents house, they dont want to have a 4 foot biting lizard that they have to care for on occasion!

Anyways, what are some tame monitors that stay about 4 feet?

Thanks
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£v£®LïGh†

Currently have: Antherystic Corn Snake, Amelanistic Corn Snake, Oakatee Corn Snake, Leucistic Texas Ratsnake, and an Eastern Fox Snake

Have had:
Ghost Corn Snake, 2 Japanese Firebelly Newts, 3 Green Treefrogs, Cuban treefrog, Eastern Box Turtle, 3 Leopard Geckos

Saving for:
Red Tail Boa, Jungle Carpet Python, Large Lizard

Forgot to previously mention this... but are Black Rough-Necked Monitors very tame? Some of my sources say that they are, others say otherwise, can anyone tell me their true disposition?

Thanks again
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£v£®LïGh†

Currently have: Antherystic Corn Snake, Amelanistic Corn Snake, Oakatee Corn Snake, Leucistic Texas Ratsnake, and an Eastern Fox Snake

Have had:
Ghost Corn Snake, 2 Japanese Firebelly Newts, 3 Green Treefrogs, Cuban treefrog, Eastern Box Turtle, 3 Leopard Geckos

Saving for:
Red Tail Boa, Jungle Carpet Python, Large Lizard

"What I really need to know are a couple monitors that are very tame,"

Bit of a bad term, they are very intellegent reptiles and have very different personalities, one species can be 2 opposites in how they act to you. In general the best monitor to start with or for that matter they are awesome for anyone, is an ACKIE, they are all CBB, a pair can live in a 4x2x2 cage their whole life, they eat a lot less considerably than medium or large species, in general a very brave inquisitive, and grow from 16-30 inches, can eat dusted crickets or lobster roaches their whole life. An ackie can in relative safety teach you what a monitor is and needs on a small scale, kinda like a mini argus. There are many choices to pick from but outside of Aussie monitors most are WC (95% ) that are for sale, ask for a reputeable breeder in a certain species, check them out before purchasing. Really pick the species that trips your trigger, but know far ahead what your in for.

" stays 4 feet or under, and eat basic foods (mice, rats, insects, fruits, vegtables), and can live in a cage that is 6' long, 2 wide, and 2 tall (with provided heat and lighting)".

Forget the fruits and veggies these arent tegus, monitors are carnivores although there is one species that eats some fruit in the wild (grays monitor), there are species that unintentionally eat pieces of veg or plant matter when eating meat. Feed insects (crickets, roaches, and others), rodents (mice, rats), birds (chicken peeps and quail), these are whole animal foods and by far best to feed.

"Tameability is key for me, as I still live in my parents house, they dont want to have a 4 foot biting lizard that they have to care for on occasion!

Anyways, what are some tame monitors that stay about 4 feet?"

Ive been told that flaviargus crosses are awesome medium sized colorful monitors (CBB also).
I myself prefer, albigs, ackies, and a few others.

Dumerli monitors stay 4 feet at max. Also, are very, very tame.
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Greg Holland
G&M HERPS
www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

I second the Dumeril. I have one 10-12 weeks old, he still hides a lot still huffs and puffs and whips a little but that’s what he is supposed to do. I have also handled WC 2.5-3ft Dumeril’s that had just hit the shop and aside from a little hissing and light tail whip they where fine. The WC where very active and good eaters.