Favorite Monitor Species

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fisher12889

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
May 21, 2006
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Colorado
Im interested in getting a monitor, but Im not sure what species would be good. I was looking at savannahs, and anything around that size would be good. Any suggestions? Ive heard blackthroats are cool, but they get bigger than savs.
 
It really depends on how much space you can devote to the animal. I have a Blackthroat that I've raise from a hatchling. When I got him he was about 13 inches long and lived in a 20 long. That only lasted about 2 months. He's now 7 years old and has a custom enclosure that takes up half of my spare bedroom floor to ceiling. He weighs in at about 35lbs and eats about 5 pounds of food a week. Large rats, trout, eggs, ground turkey, chicks etc, etc. It's a huge responsibility. Just as huge fish and tanks are a big task. You also reap huge rewards being able to interact with such magnificent creatures. Other good smaller species are Dumeril's monitors and ackies or perhaps even try a true whitethroat monitor. Whitethroats are quite pretty and usually (not always) stay a bit smaller than Blackthroats. Ackies are considerably smaller but make up for size with personality. Dumeril's are medium sized and a little shy, but if raised from a baby do very well and seem to be outgoing. Hope this helped. Take care.
 
for a first monitor id strongly reccomend a savanna, their geat pets and by no means are "small"
 
if u want a small awesome animal,look into either a timor monitor or a akiethey stay under 2 feet..under 6 feet savannas,white throats,black throats for lage land,and for tree black tree and mangrove are great. 6 -16 feetwater monitors are cool pets but they take alot of work to tame them aor they will rip ur face of and they get like 9 feet..THE COOLEST monitor i have ever seen and ever worked with is the crocodile monitor,theye make great pets if u have the room and the money to feed it .theye easily can get 14 feet,theye ar the longest lizard in the world.can be tame as pupies,and are butiful.but i start with a timor or akie
 
Personallly I like croc monitors. :D
You wouldn't want one though.
 
messiner;512661; said:
for a first monitor id strongly reccomend a savanna, their geat pets and by no means are "small"

Ya thats what Ive heard, and its why I was looking into them. Plus there more in my price range lol
 
I would get a Savanna over most others! mine was dog tame and would eat lots of different foods! and never wipped or tried to bite me!
I am going out tomarow to pick one up! but its a toss up between a savanna or a nile! We shall see what I bring home tomarrow!:D
 
Pleco-nation;513104; said:
I would get a Savanna over most others! mine was dog tame and would eat lots of different foods! and never wipped or tried to bite me!
I am going out tomarow to pick one up! but its a toss up between a savanna or a nile! We shall see what I bring home tomarrow!:D

Let us know what you get, and dont forget the pics! I think Ill try and get a sav, I just gotta convince my mom now lol
 
fisher12889;512984; said:
Ya thats what Ive heard, and its why I was looking into them. Plus there more in my price range lol



The initial purchase price may seem atractive, but you must consider the cost of PROPER caging and food. Smaller monitors, such as the ackie are much cheaper even though their initial purchase price is large. You must also consider vet bills, all ackie monitors are captive bred and it is almost imposible to find captive bred savanas. (if a pet store tells you a savana monitor is captive bred thet are most likley not telling you the truth.
 
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