Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello I am new to these forums. I have kept Bassilisks, Boa Constrictors, Iguanas, & water dragons. I am equipped with the proper reptile lights and heaters along with the space to keep a monitor up to 8ft long. I am wondering what I should get for my first time keeping a monitor lizard?

that's a real tough question. i started out with inexpensive monitors and most of them died. so i figured i was smart not shelling out for the expensive ones because i figure they would be dead now too. i tried again and now they are all living. i guess i've gotten better at taking care of them. now i wish i had something expensive and rare. what can you do. monitors and the other big lizards live a long time. i think the larger lizards and monitors are the most fun and make the best pets so i would get something big. i have two ornate miles now. one's a little over three feet and the other just about four feet. i'm crazy about them and i wouldn't part with them for anything. i have a few othe big lizards, but they aren't monitors.

What are you looking for in a monitor? That is really the question you should be asking yourself. Take a look at the tons of pictures, read the posts here (and elsewhere) on peoples experience with different species, goto different sites that have lots on information on different species, and then ask questions here regarding the species you have your eye on.

To say one species is better then another would be pretty foolish, it really depends on what you are hoping to get out of keeping a monitor and how well you can meet that species requirements.

-Andrew

I am looking for a monitor that gets between 4 and 8 feet and is easily tamable I hav seen at exotic animal expos people with savanha and water monitors on leashes I always loved the idea of having a reptile that was large enough and tame enough to walk like that.