starter monitor or tegu?

[Bsixxx]

getting more and more interested in monitors and tegus latley. So I want to know what would be a resonably docile monitor or tegu, also a good starter one? I really like the argentine red tegus and also love the argus and black throat monitors. So what would be a good size to get one at and type of setup and care? i was thinking of getting a little juvie around 10-14" and a little 4x2x2 cage type thing, and just put it in there when im gone or at night, and let it roam my backyard or whatever(if thats allright?) Anyway any suggestions on these? Anything that doesnt get over 4' is good for me a little bigger is ok to but i dont want it bigger than that.


anyway thanks in advanced.

 

[Jessica Dring]

What experience do you have with reptiles? Then we can help you out. BTW is there no way you can keep a monitor in a 4x2x2. Try a 8x4x6 (lxWxH)

 

[AttackFish]

Well, If I were you, and I had the moolah, I would get a trio of Ackie Monitors. They are the BEST starter monitor. I dont think it would be a good idea to let it roam around in your backyard un supervised, as it would climb, or dig under your fence, and you cant truely monitor temps and what not if its outside all day. Argus and Black throat monitors get quite large, bigger then 4' LOL.

A good tegu would be a Blue Tegu, they are the smallest species of tegu, and are absolutely awesome, and can be tamed down quite well. Cage size for an adult would be 8'x4'x4' IMO. The reason for 4' depth is so you can have two feet of substrate for burrowing and whatnot, wich monitors and tegus love to do.

But yeah, if I were you, I'd get a Trio of ackies, or a Blue Tegu. Blue Tegus are great though, and more and more breeders are producing albinos now, wich look stunning IMO. Expect to pay atleast $200 for a high quality albino tegu though. Red Tegus are pretty costly aswell, a friend of mine bought a 4 1/2, possibly 5' (I cant remember exact size) red for about $300 and then sold it for $500 to some guy in Texas. The thing was a beat, very thick. Puppy dog tame though, the store that had it before my friend bought it used to let it walk around the shop, never harmed a soul, was a great dude.

Trio of ackies, or a Blue Tegu get my vote though. Just do alot of research, and maybe join www.thetegu.com for all your tegu questions, and I meen ALL of your tegu questions.

Good luck bro!

 

[Bsixxx]

What experience do you have with reptiles? Then we can help you out. BTW is there no way you can keep a monitor in a 4x2x2. Try a 8x4x6 (lxWxH)

experiance wise, not much just maybe helping friends clean cages and hold them, never owned one but friends have them and they seem cool.

So anyway i cant get one in a tank, I have to pretty much build an enclosure?
hmm allright. And blue tegus, there that cheap/ i was thinking atleast 350.

but thanks for the help and suggestions

 

[Jessica Dring]

I would say it would definately help handling as many different individuals as you can. Nothing can prepare you from an attack from a large lizard but a little experience in handling different ones will help you deal with the situation, should it happen. That's my main concern.

 

[Bsixxx]

I would say it would definately help handling as many different individuals as you can. Nothing can prepare you from an attack from a large lizard but a little experience in handling different ones will help you deal with the situation, should it happen. That's my main concern.

yeah mine to, a buddy of mine had a mean boa or pythin i dunno / all I know is that it was over 13' and it went after people in his house and tried to bite them and what not. That was my experiance with a mean reptile...
anyway Im not going to rush into things like most people, if I have to build an enclosure or get a huge tank Ill try that when i have more money and less fish but I want to try out some tegus or monitors one day, maybe a snake?

 

[Jessica Dring]

Sounds like your not sure what you want, If I was you I would wait till you see something and say in your head 'Hey, THAT'S me'


(then research of course hehe)

 

[Bsixxx]

Sounds like your not sure what you want, If I was you I would wait till you see something and say in your head 'Hey, THAT'S me'


(then research of course hehe)

well I know what I want, just dont know if i want it now...

 

[Jessica Dring]

Then don't get it. Forget about it and if you truly want it, in 4, 6, 8 months hell a year or two it will be on your mind. My iggy was on my mind 3 years before I got one. They'll always be around, there's no rush

 

[AttackFish]

experiance wise, not much just maybe helping friends clean cages and hold them, never owned one but friends have them and they seem cool.

So anyway i cant get one in a tank, I have to pretty much build an enclosure?
hmm allright. And blue tegus, there that cheap/ i was thinking atleast 350.

but thanks for the help and suggestions

Tanks suck for monitors and tegus, they dsont hold humidty well, and arent deep enough for burrowing. Blue tegus are cheap, and look nice. www.bluetegu.com has really god pics and care articles for red and blue tegus, but they do not have animals available at this time, and they wont for a while. Although, a person I have talked to by the name of Dan will be producing CB Albino Blues and Powder Blues soon, possibly this year, or next and will be selling them for $200, possibly cheaper. You can check him out at www.chaosreptiles.com He's a really nice guy, I have talked to him a few times on myspace, very eager to give advice and I'm sure he'd help you out with tegus if you emailed him or whatever, He has alot of Tegus, reds, blues, columbians, argentines, aswell as venomous snakes, lizards, and crocodilians. He's even supplied zoo's before If I remember correctly. Very nice guy.