Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all. I will also be posting this messege in the Monitor forum as well. Just want to get everybody's opinion on something. I'm looking at getting a couple lizards in the near future. Just wondering what people would recommend either a Uromastyx or a Monitor. I know there are many sub-classes of each, just in general is what i'm lookiing at. I assure you I am no "newbie" with any of this. I currently house many species of pyhons, as well as chameleons. Just looking for something a little different. I love both of these guys, just can't really decide. I definitely have the space covered for them as well. So that isn't an issue at all. Any and all opinions are welcome. And thanks in advance for everything.

Kevin

Having 9 monitors and 7 uros, I obviously love both. The uros are easier to keep and only eat salad as their staple diet. Of course seeing that you have snakes, the rodents are not an issue with you and I'm sure crickets wouldn't be either. There are more species of monitors available from 8" to 8' while the largest uro is only the size of a smaller species monitor. Temperment wise, the uro is generally easy going, most tame down well and they usually don't bite. Monitors are monitors, and they have the attitude to go with it. I personally don't believe in "taming" a monitor, I believe in the monitor making its' decision to approach you, but this is a good decision with the uros as well, don't force anything. Research the types of species for both to see what interests you and then you have at least narrowed it down. Generally, as far as monitors go, niles are nasty and the importation of the thousands of savs that sell for $20 makes them a poor choice due to illness, parasites and dehydration. It really depends on what size you are looking for and your ability to house each species for the long term. Good luck.

Pam

Hey thanks alot for the reply. It's good to get the opinions of people who have kept both species. Still doing lots of reading about both, so we'll see what happens in the near future I guess. And by all means everybody post their experiences with them. THanks again.

Kevin

i love having uros, they have such well developed personalities and its fun to discover that. hugo and helga are complete opposites. i also like them because they eat veggies. i think snakes and monitors are cute too but i just could never feed them another animal. i don't really know what chams eat, but it kind of sucks trying to buy a good variety of veggies for one or two animals because they can rot before they eat most of them and i am not really big on getting frozen food. so besides some veggies going to waste, i can't really think of anything else bad about them. i don't think you would regret getting one. good luck on your quest
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***