interested in monitors

[Madness420]

i have developed an intrest in monitors lately. i wont be looking to get one for a few years, and its still not a deffinate thing. i have a few questions for current monitor keepers and breeders...

what do you like most about monitors

what is your favorite monitor and why

what is the biggest challenge keeping monitors

what are the dangers of keeping monitors

are monitors hard to breed

are monitors hard to care for

what is the size range

what are the color options that are less than $500

i understand a lot of these questions could be answered on my own with internet research, but i am interested in multiple opinions from experienced keepers. again i am NOT going out tomorrow and getting one, i am simply interested in future possibilities. i have read they are highly inteligent, and i see that some get quite large. at this point, i see them and think "man thats cool" but i want some help deciding if they are for me. thanks in advance for the advice :)

[simpleyork]

what do you like most about monitors

Their smart, the size that some can grow to.

what is your favorite monitor and why

Ornate, or water monitor- just how they look

what is the biggest challenge keeping monitors

begging the wife to give me more space to build enclosures

what are the dangers of keeping monitors

they can bite, but it is defensive not aggression usually


are monitors hard to care for

Not if you setup their enclosures properly

what is the size range

small up to 9ish feet

what are the color options that are less than $500

ornate, savannah, black throats, water, some tree monitors, argus, peach throat, and quince just to name a few under $500

[Madness420]

thanks for the response. that helps a little.

[millertime89]

what do you like most about monitors
Their intelligence

what is your favorite monitor and why
Water monitor, they're generally the least skittish and most accepting of human interaction

what is the biggest challenge keeping monitors
their housing requirements (cage size and heating)

what are the dangers of keeping monitors
Those teeth... Although a tail whip is no small thing either, it hits you like a scaly whip.
http://thereptilereport.com/assets/ssnakess-7may-crocmon-Jen-Webb.jpg

are monitors hard to breed
it varies by species

are monitors hard to care for
Not particularly, it's the size of the enclosure that they need that can be difficult to accommodate. If you can keep a dog or cat then you have a general idea, but they'll need either space to climb or dig (depending on the species), preferably room to soak, and enough room to move around. The cages needs to be twice as long as they are and the same length deep. So a water monitor that will grow to 7ft will need a cage that is 14ft x 7ft and tall enough that they can climb so another 7 ft would be beneficial so you can get something their size in there

what is the size range
depends on the species. The smallest will be around a foot, the largest can get close to 10.

what are the color options that are less than $500
Tons, but the animal is going to be the least expensive part if you do it right, their cage and heating requirements will eat up a lot.

[Minkness]

I'm a bit curious about the smaller breeds. What are they? (Under 3 feet full grown)

[Madness420]

what would be the easiest monitor for a beginer? easy as far as temperment as well as enclosure size/temp/humidity?

[Primal Rage]

Easiest beginner monitor would be Yellow ackies for sure! They stay small, are very easy to handle, and the adult care and set up wont be huge or expensive. I have a buddy that breeds these guys and they have always been fun to interact with. They tend to be very brave and inquisitive when handled regularly.

[Madness420]

what kind of costs would i be looking at with an Ackie?

[Primal Rage]

That depends on how many animals you plan on housing together, and how big of a set up you want.. The exo terra short and wide set ups are pretty nice and affordable. CL is an even better option if you dont mind wheelin and dealin.

[smy_749]

Monitors are expensive, they are not as beginner as some would lead you to believe, and they require some experience to understand why they are doing what they are, which comes with time. An example, is many simply go off feed in fall for a long period, and people panic and sell them thinking they are dying. Its just a weather change and they can sense it. Ackies would be a good first species, yellows more than reds. A larger, more mellow species to consider would be a Varanus dumerili.

[murrindindi]

Monitors are expensive, they are not as beginner as some would lead you to believe, and they require some experience to understand why they are doing what they are, which comes with time. An example, is many simply go off feed in fall for a long period, and people panic and sell them thinking they are dying. Its just a weather change and they can sense it. Ackies would be a good first species, yellows more than reds. A larger, more mellow species to consider would be a Varanus dumerili.

I have to disagree, I have never yet had any species of Varanid that went off food after acclimation (being in good health) during any seasonal weather change, that indicates something is wrong with the captive conditions.

[smy_749]

I have to disagree, I have never yet had any species of Varanid that went off food after acclimation (being in good health) during any seasonal weather change, that indicates something is wrong with the captive conditions.


Almost every keeper in the US experiences this for a few weeks in the fall, including the 'top breeders' here. The weather gets a bit colder, and air gets a bit drier. I'm referring to aussie species.

[murrindindi]

Almost every keeper in the US experiences this for a few weeks in the fall, including the 'top breeders' here. The weather gets a bit colder, and air gets a bit drier. I'm referring to aussie species.

Nonsense!?

[smy_749]

I don't know what to tell you, this is what a lot of people experience here. Its very common, minus those living in FL and Texas maybe.

[CrotalusR#1]

Nonsense!?

If you have certain veranids that will naturally brumate in the wild and you live some where, where there's a cold season you will most defiantly see them go off of feed for a little bit.. Temp really isn't the mane reason tho, it has to do with pressure changes, less sun light, dryer and also temp.
That's for veranids that brumate!

As long as you keep them nice and warm and don't alter the amount of light than you should have no problem but that's not a guarantee.

Also if your monitor dose go into brumation that's a good thing In my book. Means your replicating there natural conditions reasonably well. I brumate all of my animals and have always had very healthy animals that produce regularly.
It also helps get rid if extra fat stores.

[millertime89]

Ackies (Ridge-tailed monitor) are about as good of a starter monitor as you'll get.

Timor monitors: under 2ft usually
Kings Rock Monitor: under 2ft
Short-tailed monitor: under 1ft usually

[Madness420]

like i said this is simply a, "i wonder if i should get one one day" kind of thing for me. i am very happy with my snakes, but it would be cool to have something more "dinosaurish" one day. i really like iguanas, but have heard the males, which are the cool looking ones, can randomly go into territorial breeding mode where they want to fight to the death... that and the enclosure requirements and discouraged my intrest in owning an iguana, so i am looking to maybe satisfy my dinosaur urge with something less dangerous and that does not require its own room in the house.

[Minkness]

Uromastix are awesome for that dino look and can stay smallish ^_^

Also super love my leo geckos As they kinda look like little dinos in my opinion ^_^

[Pirarucu]

I have to disagree, I have never yet had any species of Varanid that went off food after acclimation (being in good health) during any seasonal weather change, that indicates something is wrong with the captive conditions.Most people seem to agree it's fairly normal for the dwarf species to have a diminished food response in the winter, even when their cages are kept warm. Almost everyone I've spoken with online has experienced this.