Choosing big lizard (no money/space restrictions), tegu or sailfin?

[Sylphie]

As an engagement token from my fiancee I want a big lizard instead of typical ring. We have both money and space for anything at all really, so it's not really important how big an enclosure will be etc. Of course common sense dictates that the animal price would need to be around 800$, but as for enclosure and care requirement there are no restrictions at all. Also, I don't really mind if it'll be omnivorous, carnivorous or herbivorous, or arboreal/terrestrial. I wolud prefer if the lizard wouldn't be heavier than 25-35lbs and not too aggressive/defensive.

For a long time I was sure I want a black&white argentine tegu, but recently I'm also considering a sailfin dragon (Hydrosaurus pustulatus or amboinensis). There is plenty of info about tegus, but I can't really find much about sailfins other than basic care. If anyone knows someone I could write to and ask some opinions how they are as pets and how working with them looks I would really appreciate it (or maybe someone here worked with them and could tell me what is their opinion about those dragons). I would gladly hear your opinion about what you would choose from these two.
I like tegus more in terms of personality and "pet-ability", but I also fell in love with sailfins and they seem to be more challenging in terms of "taming" them.

Or maybe you have any other reccomendations what I could look at? I'm not really a fan of monitors as I don't like how they look, but I'm sure there are some species of big lizards that I don't know.

Thanks!

[trailblazer295]

I was going to say Komodo Dragon :p

[Sylphie]

I was going to say Komodo Dragon :p

Hmm, I would say that "no bigger than 35lbs and not aggressive/defensive" doesn't describe komodos :D Although like most reptile fans I would love to see one live (well, zoo in my city has some, but they are tiny babies).

But well, I can only turn one room into big enclosure and I guess that Komodo would need more than a whole house, so yeah...

[riddick07]

I'm a little in love with the caiman lizard these days but I've always liked the tegus. I like the black throat monitors too.

I almost bought a caiman lizard at the last reptile show but held off since I just don't have the resources to set one up right now.

[Sylphie]

I like caimans too, but I'm slightly wary about their diet as I don't really know where I cound buy snails, shrimps etc. in my big city... and when we move to countryside it would be even harder to find! :D But yeah, aside from that they are gorgeous!

[dannybgoode]

You know i think I'd be slightly boring and go for a Savannah but do it really properly. I think they're awesome creatures and it would be great to see one in a 10'*10'*10' say :)

[Tiny Boidae]

You know, if I were to get back into the medium-sized lizards, I'd get an Australian Water Dragon or two with a nice outdoor setup. A little hard to find and a little pricey, but absolutely gorgeous animals. They're high on my bucket list for sure. I'd love to have a breeding colony of those in a heartbeat.

[Sylphie]

You know i think I'd be slightly boring and go for a Savannah but do it really properly. I think they're awesome creatures and it would be great to see one in a 10'*10'*10' say :)

Big, naturalistic tank is a must, we would hate to buy a big lizard and then keep it in minimal size with only substrate and water/food bowls! Also, if we'll spend quite a few of $ on the lizard and then a lot on food etc. it would be plainly stupid to scrimp on enclosure.

I mostly think about converting a small storage room into an enclosure (like 14ftx8ft floor size, or bigger). It all really depens on a home project we will choose, but it's already decided that one small room will be for big lizard, and the living room for the rest of the reptiles.

[Minkness]

What about a tro of ackie monitors? They are a bit bigger than a beardie, active, intelligent, and when handled young can be quite tame. Could do an enclosure that is 8 long, 4 high and 3 deep and they sould use all of it. =)

[dave himself]

Have a look at rhino iguanas there pretty cool and nothing like green iguanas. We have a male in the shop and he's quite tame, we can let him out to roam around. Although they are a bit flighty when they are young :)

[Sylphie]

You know, if I were to get back into the medium-sized lizards, I'd get an Australian Water Dragon or two with a nice outdoor setup. A little hard to find and a little pricey, but absolutely gorgeous animals. They're high on my bucket list for sure. I'd love to have a breeding colony of those in a heartbeat.

Ooooh, that's a species I didn't hear about! We'll read some info about them and we'll see, they look like a super rambo-ranger lizard!


Minkness, ackies, savannahs and tree monitors are the only species that I like the look of, although being honest, they are cool to see in someone else collection but I probably would feel like I "wasted" the space and occasion, if that makes sense :D


dave himself, I thought about rhinos too, they just are so cool, but the size is somewhat bigger than I would feel safe to work with (even if most of them are puppy dog tame).

[jjhill001]

One of those dog tame Water Monitors from NERD.

[BillyCostume]

I second the rhino iguana :)

[Sylphie]

One of those dog tame Water Monitors from NERD.

Unfrotunately I'm from Poland, Europe, so shipping would be problematic (especially as I would hate to over-stress the lizard).

[Sylphie]

Also, in case of rhino iguanas, anyone knows what are their light requirements? I can't find proper info about it, as some articles suggest just normal UVB, while others said that they need both UVB + color-correcting hqi lights with proper spectrums etc.

[dave himself]

We have the one in the shop with normal UV a CHE and LEDs for light. Plus he does like to go to the doors and sleep in the natural light a lot :)

[dannybgoode]

Also, in case of rhino iguanas, anyone knows what are their light requirements? I can't find proper info about it, as some articles suggest just normal UVB, while others said that they need both UVB + color-correcting hqi lights with proper spectrums etc.

I'd always provide both uv and full spectrum lighting for any dinural lizard to be honest. It's one of those things. Is it essential? Probably not. Is it beneficial - yes.

In my book beneficial = essential...

[Sylphie]

I'd always provide both uv and full spectrum lighting for any dinural lizard to be honest. It's one of those things. Is it essential? Probably not. Is it beneficial - yes.

In my book beneficial = essential...


I'm using just full uvb+uva as all our diurnal lizards are still not big enough for huge enclosures, so it covers mostly all of the tank. I guess when they will move to bigger ones I will think about adding more light too, especially for desert species.

[dannybgoode]

In smaller vivs just something like a 9w Arcadia Jungle Dawn is sufficient I find. Helps with plant growth also :).

The issue with just uva/viv is whilst it may appear bright to our eyes in the confines of a viv it's actually not and a nice bright full spectrum led array helps enormously with getting the light level up to something approximating daylight.

[Skipper7]

I don't know much about them, but I have always found mangrove monitors to be very interesting. Swimming, climbing, digging- they do it all. The yellow ones are beautiful and the blue phases are simply stunning.