Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My son is interested in getting a monitor of some sort. I know nothing except that they get very big..How much on average does it cost to feed a full grown monitor and at what age is full grown...I need to find out which ones are friendliest as well as which ones get what size..Any help here would be great..Thanks
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0.1 South Texas bullsnake
1.0 Eastern Kingsnake
1.0 apricot pueblan milksnake
0.0.1 Northern BTS (Huffy)
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 Western Hognose (Fuego)
1.1 cornsnakes (Asmodeus and Strawberry)
0.2 Bearded dragons (itchy and scratchy)
0.1 Rosehair T. (Jigglypuff)
1.0 dog BC..(Kippy)
2.1 cats (Thomas,Sunflower,Diablo)

My son is interested in getting a monitor of some sort. I know nothing except that they get very big..

Not all of them get big sizes range from very small to very big.

How much on average does it cost to feed a full grown monitor and at what age is full grown...

Cost of food depends of course on which monitor your feeding. Something like an ackie will eat mostly insects, some pinkies.
Something like a water monitor will eat rats, rabbits, chickens.
Everything inbetween that will eat mice, rats, chicks, insects.

I toss my ackies a handful of crickets daily, my waters eat 2 large rats, or a chicken every other day or so. There is no set schedule so sometimes they eat more sometimes less.

I need to find out which ones are friendliest as well as which ones get what size..

Tempermants vary within individuals as well as species. If you choose a species thats known to be docile it will help. But be prepared as they all can or may bite, be wiggly, or just simply not want you holding and carrying it around.

As far as which gets what size, it would take awhile to type all of them out and what size they range. That information is probly already up someplace so just do some reasearch.

Otherwise try to pin point more of what your looking for in a monitor then we may be able to help. Leaving your question as it is worded is a very broad spectrum. Try narrowing it down a bit by what you expect out of a monitor. What colors, size, cage, diet, temperment, etc. that you are looking for.

Great information from your post. My questions to them would be:

How old is your son?

Do you have any other reptile experience?

How much are you willing to spend?

Is this a long term commitment or just a "want" for the moment? (I have 5 kids, all have "wanted" one animal or another over the years, NOT one made a long term 100% commitment, they usually ended up with me, so can you, as the parent make the commitment?)

How much room do you have?

You also have to realize, as mentioned before, that even the docile monitors can inflict painful bites, can tail whip or just don't want to interact with you. Can you handle that or will the animal be quickly rehomed as it doesn't fit the "pet" requirement. I, personally, don't consider monitors to be great "pets" for children. Monitors do what monitors want to do, not always what you would like them to do. You have to understand that. I have a few and they have very individual personalities, some much more friendly than others, some that really don't want anything to do with me. I may not like it, but I get it. That's the way it goes. The problem with a person wanting this one "pet" monitor is that it may not turn out to be what you want. I don't have the experience for the larger species, so I stick with my dwarfs which I find fun and rewarding for me.

Please research thoroughly, talk to owners of various species, see what is required to house and feed one before you make the purchase. Whatever you choose, good luck to you.

Pam

Actually after reading up Im thinking he might like a Tegu instead. He is eleven almost 12 and currently owns a bearded dragon. You must understand also that we do this hobby together. so even if he decided he didnt want it, I would.thanks for the replies but now Im really looking at the Black and White Tegus for him.
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.........
0.1 South Texas bullsnake
1.0 Eastern Kingsnake
1.0 apricot pueblan milksnake
0.0.1 Northern BTS (Huffy)
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 Western Hognose (Fuego)
1.1 cornsnakes (Asmodeus and Strawberry)
0.2 Bearded dragons (itchy and scratchy)
0.1 Rosehair T. (Jigglypuff)
1.0 dog BC..(Kippy)
2.1 cats (Thomas,Sunflower,Diablo)

I own both monitors and tegus, and I think that the tegus might be the way to go if you want a larger lizard that is more likely to have a friendly temperment. Just remember that the cheaper Columbian black and white tegus have a reputation for not being a good pet. The Argentine black and white, the blue, or the red would be a better choice as a kid's pet, but they are more expensive. My male red tegu is now 3 feet long, and has never tail whipped me or made any attempt to bite.

Bearded dragons are also awesome pets for kids. They don't get as large, but they make up for it in personality. I've got a trio of dragons, too!

Just research and try to get a very good idea of what the needs of your new pet will be. Good luck!

Leslie

on getting him a Argentine B&W tegu. I really think this is the best large lizard for him. He already has a beardie and we also have a Blue tongue skink(which is by far my favorite).This is much better than a Savie or some other huge monitor like he wanted, yet its big enough to let it run around the house on occasion.Thanks all
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.........
0.1 South Texas bullsnake
1.0 Eastern Kingsnake
1.0 apricot pueblan milksnake
0.0.1 Northern BTS (Huffy)
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 Western Hognose (Fuego)
1.1 cornsnakes (Asmodeus and Strawberry)
0.2 Bearded dragons (itchy and scratchy)
0.1 Rosehair T. (Jigglypuff)
1.0 dog BC..(Kippy)
2.1 cats (Thomas,Sunflower,Diablo)