Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I want to get a monitor or tegu, but I would like to know if there is a monitor or tegu that only gets around 2 1/2' to 3' long as an adult.

Ackies would probably be the best bet. They stay small (around 16in to 2ft) They are definetly worth the couple extra bucks! Good luck!

I think all Tegus stay around 2-3 ft long, Ackies are a type of monitor thats doesnt get large. Also try Savannahs which get around 3-4 ft long.

Tegus get bigger than that. The blues stay a bit smaller, but the argentine black and whites or reds can top 4 feet, sometimes 5 feet, although that is rare. My young male red tegu is almost 3 feet long already. The Colombians (black and whites or goldens) stay smaller, but they are the nile of the tegu world.

Leslie

I believe the smallest tegu is the Chilean Dwarf (callopistes maculatus) which reaches about 19". They are quite attractive but very skittish. The most popular small monitor is the ackie. They are comical and friendly. My adults actually come right over by me whenever I do anything in their cage and don't mind being touched or handled. There are other small monitors also, bu the ackie is the most available. Do your research, get your cage completely set up and then buy the animal. Good luck!

Pam

Yes, the Chilean Dwarf is smaller, and very beautiful, but they are VERY skittish and paranoid and are known for not living much over a year in captivity, no matter what you do. There is aparently something that they need that we just don't understand as yet. They can be doing fine, and will die literally overnight. I had one survive over a year, but the vet and I, even with a necropsy, never figured out what killed her. Would not recommend one unless you want a lizard that panics every time it catches sight of you.

Leslie