Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey guys,

im interested in getting into monitors. I have a 6 x 4 x2 cage (l x w x h)...what monitors could live in this size of a cage? i am looking for something bigger than an ackie that will be able to live in my cage.

I have kept TONS of lizards and so has my dad...we are no begginers....we know what we are getting ourselves into. he grew up with 3 iggies...we have kept frillies, mellers, beardies, CWDs, BTSs, and have helped friends care for there monitor while they were on vacation.

Also is there any species i could keep outdoors in san diego? the coldest it reaches is just at freezing (32F) and it gets up to 110 in the summer....i plan on building a outdoor heatbox if necessary to kepp it warm in the winter.

i am thinking about a savanna monitor or maybe a tegu...what are the pros what are the cons?

thanks in advance!
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eric

well buddy,it sounds to me like you are plenty ready for a monitor.i haven't the slightest about san-diego or their laws.the cage sounds fine for some species,a tree monitor perhaps,my personal fav is the dumeril's,you could do a white throat..bigger than a savannah.if you look into tegus go with an argentine black&white..they are alot of fun as well...
good luck and have fun.

I think you could probably handle most monitors for a while. I have a cage nearly the same size, just a little larger. I've been keeping a black and white tegu in it and it seems to be plenty of space for him. Im looking into getting a water monitor and starting him off in the cage I have. I would not suggest a tree monitor because I believe they need more climbing space and you are only 2 feet tall. A white throat would be a good choice, if you like Savanah's. I absolutely love my tegu's. Very active, and a lot of personality. I have also struggled between which monitor to get and was torn between a peachthroat, bluetail and water monitor. Good luck.

i am actually interested in them...
i can tilt the cage on its side and make a few upgrades....and then the cage will be 6 feet long 4 feet tall and 2 feet deep...
im not really quite sure if this would be good for the monitor...a little on the small side for a VERY active lizard

we have a small kiddie pool that we are planning on designating for him...with a screen top and everything so he can get his swim in....would this be efeective or not?

i am cureently do research on them....

thanks alot dude!
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eric

everything sounds fine,except for the kiddie pool,it would seem like a logical solution to a large body of water,but think about cleaning,as i have found almost all of my animals prefer to go to the bathroom in water....

the kiddie pool would be outside! i would occasionally out him in there just to give him a chance to swim!

it wouldn't be in the cage..

You guys sure a 6 feet long, 4feet tall, 2 feet depp cage is big enough?
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eric

2 feet deep sounds a little small for a tegu. Even an adult sav. may need more than that.

The enclosure size would be fine untill they outgrow it.
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Ed

i was gonna tip the cage on the side to make upgrades for a dumerils monitor....the cage was regularily 6 feet long x 4 feet deep x 2 FEET WIDE!!!!

if i got the dumerils i would tilt the cage on a different side so the cage would be 6 feet long x 4 feet tall x 2 FEET DEEP!!

i think im gonna get a acantherus though....

any help would be great!
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eric

n/p
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Ed