Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I read this forum a lot more than I post in it. One thing that I see a lot of is people new to keeping herps asking what kind of monitor they should get. Most of them seem to want a small, tame, cheap monitor. I think that people should start off with other herps and build their knowledge before getting an advanced reptile. Water dragons, bearded dragons, and even frilled dragons are cheaper (for the most part), easily tame, and range from 2 to 3.5 feet. This is what a lot of folks seem to want. Instead they may get a savana or nile (because they are cheap)and have no idea what they are getting into. It just seems to me that a lot of beginner herpers would be happier with a first reptile where the total cost of ownership is less expensive, is holdable, and is a manageable size.

Just my 2 cents, it is not worth much
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Ed

There are water dragons, chameleons, and monitors in my jungle room.

Sorry, if that may have sounded like I was anti-monitor. I am for keeping monitors, snakes, etc. It is a great way to get people to care about animals in the wild.

I love my monitors!!! I think everyone that can should breed them. I just hate to see people that get them and then the monitors live in substandard conditions or worse. I have heard people at a show say, "I will keep it untill it gets big." Those people should get something else untill they are ready to handle a monitor. It is all about what is best for the animal, and the joy of people who keep them.
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Ed

There are water dragons, chameleons, and monitors in my jungle room.

I agree with you to a degree.

People should first evaluate what they are looking for in a pet. As for "beginner" reptiles. What makes a reptile a "beginner" or "advanced"? Size, temperment, and cost? My first herps were butterfly agams cheap(to buy), tame, and pretty small. Much more difficult to keep healthy due to getting the right enviroment setup. My salvator on the other hand is pretty easy to keep imho. I got my argus last, and this is my first go at raising a hatchling and I'm having a time figuring her out and I'm not a beginner. My point is I don't think there are beginner and advanced reptiles, but different reptiles to suit what the person is looking for.