Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I've decided it was time I get my "large" lizard. I've been wanting a water monitor for about 4 years now, but wasn't ready until now. I've had a savannah for 3 years, a Argentine B&W for 2 years, and my newest Argentine red for almost a year (both tegu's raised from hatchlings)

I would like to know more differences between the speckled and sumatran water monitors. About the only info I could find was that the speckled have less mass than the sumatran. I would like to know more detail from people who have kept the speckled about actual length, weight, personalities (yes I know all monitors have different personalities, but in general..) cage design differences (are speckled more arboreal..etc).

I've thought about getting a White throat, they are beautiful animals, but I LOVE the sleek look of the waters!

I'm assuming that the speckled would require less food (due to less mass, not really worried about cost, just curious) or are the sumatrans just build bigger but require about the same amount (as adults, not juve).

Thanks for any and all help,

Brandon
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Hey Brandon. Bottom line is they are both V. salvator and have the potential to grow anywhere from 4-6 feet on average with Sumatrans averaging toward the larger end and beyond and specks toward the lower end. I know there is a pic on cybersalvator.com of a large male speckled that is about 6 feet long, so there are obviously no guarantees on size. As far as food goes, I would assume either form will eat on average the same amounts, but that will vary from individual to individual and will also depend greatly on the conditions you keep them in. I have never kept a speckled personally, but can say that waters in general run the gamut personality-wise with some becoming total "lap-lizards", some becoming demon lizards, and the vast majority staying somewhere in the middle. Don't really know if specks are any different with regards to personality, but I would suspect not. My advice would be to buy from a local reputable shop and hand-pick the calmest, most alert and least flighty animal you can. And then be prepared to have it change as it grows. I think too many people buy waters with the hopes of them becoming ultra tame, house pets and that is just not reality. Reality is in a few short years you will have a very large carnivorous lizard that may or may not like you and that requires a huge amount of space, huge amount of food and a huge amount of dedication in general to keep one happy and healthy for 15 years. If you're ready for that, best of luck as I believe they are one of, if not the most rewarding reptile to keep in captivity. Billy

>>Hello,
>>
>>I've decided it was time I get my "large" lizard. I've been wanting a water monitor for about 4 years now, but wasn't ready until now. I've had a savannah for 3 years, a Argentine B&W for 2 years, and my newest Argentine red for almost a year (both tegu's raised from hatchlings)
>>
>>I would like to know more differences between the speckled and sumatran water monitors. About the only info I could find was that the speckled have less mass than the sumatran. I would like to know more detail from people who have kept the speckled about actual length, weight, personalities (yes I know all monitors have different personalities, but in general..) cage design differences (are speckled more arboreal..etc).
>>
>>I've thought about getting a White throat, they are beautiful animals, but I LOVE the sleek look of the waters!
>>
>>I'm assuming that the speckled would require less food (due to less mass, not really worried about cost, just curious) or are the sumatrans just build bigger but require about the same amount (as adults, not juve).
>>
>>Thanks for any and all help,
>>
>>Brandon
>>-----
>>

Billy,

Thanks for all the info. I was thinking maybe the speckled was a subspecies of V. Salvator, but really couldn't find much info on them. I looked at cybersalvator's pics, and after looking at the common water monitor's patterns, I tend to like them the best.

Unfortunately, there aren't any local shops that carry water monitors (I'm in WV, what do you expect? hehe) So I've placed an order with LLLReptile for the little guy to be delivered on Tuesday of next week. Luckily I have a spare 6'x3'x2' cage laying around that should hold him for about a year or two (not sure on the growth rates, but should hold him for a year at least)

You know, I often wonder about the tameness of different species, and within a group of the same species. Like you said, you could have a "lap lizard" or a horrible monster. I think more and more that it is how the owners respond to them over the period of time they are growing. When I first got my Sav at 18" he would literally jump to try and bite me (with the help of bitter apple spray and a thick leather glove, that stopped quickly). Now he takes naps with me on the weekends.
I'm just hoping I can give it just the right amount of attention to at least be able to interact with it without me fearing him, or vice versa.

Again, thanks for the information,

Brandon

>>Hey Brandon. Bottom line is they are both V. salvator and have the potential to grow anywhere from 4-6 feet on average with Sumatrans averaging toward the larger end and beyond and specks toward the lower end. I know there is a pic on cybersalvator.com of a large male speckled that is about 6 feet long, so there are obviously no guarantees on size. As far as food goes, I would assume either form will eat on average the same amounts, but that will vary from individual to individual and will also depend greatly on the conditions you keep them in. I have never kept a speckled personally, but can say that waters in general run the gamut personality-wise with some becoming total "lap-lizards", some becoming demon lizards, and the vast majority staying somewhere in the middle. Don't really know if specks are any different with regards to personality, but I would suspect not. My advice would be to buy from a local reputable shop and hand-pick the calmest, most alert and least flighty animal you can. And then be prepared to have it change as it grows. I think too many people buy waters with the hopes of them becoming ultra tame, house pets and that is just not reality. Reality is in a few short years you will have a very large carnivorous lizard that may or may not like you and that requires a huge amount of space, huge amount of food and a huge amount of dedication in general to keep one happy and healthy for 15 years. If you're ready for that, best of luck as I believe they are one of, if not the most rewarding reptile to keep in captivity. Billy
>>
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Females tend to stay smaller than the males.
This girl's head is orange, her body all yellow. She's a normal water monitor.
Enjoy.
D.