Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering why everyone says the ackies are the best starter monitors. they say they become more tame and stay smaller then most monitors... right? ok well i have been seeing alot of black roughnecks that are verrry tame/calm (ya i know thos are bad words to use sorry) and dont seem to mind being handled nearly as much as my ackie. i know they get to be about 4-5 feet compared to the ackies 2 feet, but why does the ackie always win the best starter monitor, besides the size issue? any input would be cooooooollllllll.
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0.1.0 BCI, 3 yr old
0.0.1 Ridge Tail Monitor, Juvi.
0.0.1 Leoperd Gecko, Juvi (My girlfriends)

Is and needs without breaking the bank.
Most people belive that they can get a cool medium to large sized monitor and keep it (cut corners)in an aquarium, in a small cage, because the animal fits in there.
Ackies and other dwarfs demonstrate to you that they need space, substrate depth, the amount of food needed, etc etc but you dont end up having to sell or give it away because you can afford it. Most people who get dwarfs are suprised at what they spend in insects, now, to properly care for any medium to large sized monitor take all of those dwarf costs and multiply them.
A dwarf teachs on a small scale what a monitor is, what they need, and in a few months time costs alot less to properly care for.
Examples I have a cage that I built for my big albig, I bought the wood, FRP, sealant, paint, screws, but had all electronics, bulbs, etc and it still cost me about $1000. I have some smaller cages that were for medium sized animals that cost me $300 each to build.
None of those prices covers substrate, food, water dishes, the animal, etc. The lowest cost of monitor ownership is the initial cost, even expensive CBB monitors. Next comes food, oh its expensive to feed them what they need ($200-$300 in bulk food a year, while in their first year alone). Of course examples of caging were given above. Next would be vet bills, these can cost from $100-$1000, never know what may be needed.
Any questions so far as to why a $150-$350 ackie is a better choice so far?
How about space, a 4x2x2ft or 6x3x3ft cage for ackies is great.
Imagine now, twice or more the body length, plus its own length in width, or more. Now how about examples, BRMs as you mentioned, 5ft wide, 10ft long, and 5ft or more in height as they like to climb. Anyone that tells you that you can keep a bigger monitor in a small cage and its just fine that way is full of CRAP, can you live 24/7 in a closet that you just fit in?

some very good points, i like this point of view... 'can you live 24/7 in a closet that you just fit in?' ha.. also, beside food and cageing... what about the monitor its self as in the attitude and personality wise? I know no matter what i get that they would be proporly cared for, (to the best of my ability, which is not bad i have been told) my baby boa came with a 10g and a week later i went out and got her a 55g just so she would be more happy. the ackie was in a 10g for about a day, then a 30g and i now plan to build them both big new cage, not living together tho ofcouse. But on the the monitor, which one do you think is the 'most fun to keep'? thanks.
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0.1.0 BCI, 3 yr old
0.0.1 Ridge Tail Monitor, Juvi.
0.0.1 Leoperd Gecko, Juvi (My girlfriends)