Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

Long time reptile keeper (mostly boids), but not much in the way of monitors, or lizards in general for that matter. My situation: I recently had a long time pet Uromstyx pass away, leaving behind a large cage I had built for it some time ago. I'm certainly considering getting another uro, but first wanted some expert opinions as to whether filling this empty space with some sort of monitor or tegu was a possibility. It meausres 48" long by 24" deep with sides 18" high. I had it as an open top setup with my uro, and all the sides are solid melamine, with ceramic heaters pointed down on one end and positioned in such a way that I can get them unfiltered sun for at least half the year.

I certainly like having an open top, but it is easy enough to build a top if a particular species is a good climber or escape prone. Obviously I'm not about to run out and buy anything, but basically the only thing I'm looking at right now is what types of monitors/tegus would be happy in an enclosure this size? It would probably be taken out several times a week for excersise as well. I"m also looking for a species with at least a general trend towards an easygoing temperment. Any suggetions helpful! Thank,s

-Christian-
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"Game over man, game over!"

i have to say up front that i am no expert!!!!!!!!!!
BUT LOOK IN TO ACKIES THEY HAVE VERY NICE PERSONALITIES AND YOU WILL LOVE HAVING THEM IN YOUR HOME. THEY ARE GREAT TO WATCH AND FUN TO HANDLE. I HAVE TWO THAT I HOPE TO BREED IN THE FUTURE.
GOOD LUCK WITH CHOOSING A NEW REPTILE
FROM ALEX

how big do ackies get and are they easily "tamed"?

my female yellow ackie is about 19" and shouldn't get any bigger. my male is abou 15" and probly still has a bit of growing in him.

i really don't know how easy they are to tame, since the first thing my girl did when i got her was climb up on my head and stay there. these monitors seem to naturally have a more easygoing personality than others. now our male we just got, he's still a bit squirmy to hold, but if i reach my hand in to the cage to pet him he doesn't squirm or run off at all. crazy how much less flighty they are.

that said (the the guy who started this post), i would probably stick with uros. i have uros and monitors, and the two are very very VERY different. i'm not saying youcouldn't handle a monitor or anything of the sort, i'm quite certain you could, but the temperament of monitors, even the nicest one, is so so different from a uro. you can't take your eye off a monitor for a second, they will take any and all opportunities to run off in most cases. uros, even the most feisty, can never do as much damage as an angry monitor. and you could never curl up on the couch with a monitor on your chest the way i do with my uros. i guess it depends on how much you like to interact with your lizards?
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1.2 Mali Uromastyx (Ricky, Quinn, Anna)
1.1 Yellow Ackies (Eddie, Roxie)
1.0 Timor (Zealot)

Emily
www.egomantra.com/npoh

Sorry about your uromastyx. I've never kept them, but I have kept both monitors and tegus. Unless you decide on a ridge tail monitor (Ackie, short for V.Acanthurus), your 48" enclosure will be too small for any adult monitor or tegu. It will certainly get you started with a hatchling, but the smallest of tegus and medium sized monitors such as a Savannah, require a minimum of 6 feet in lenth, and ideally 8 feet as a starting point.

If you go with a ridge tail, you won't be disappointed. Good luck regardless of your choice.