Nile or Black Throat?

[likeal0stchild]

I am looking for my next monitor and am not sure which to get, I will be looking for the most docile monitor and will accept anyones opinions.I am thinking of the black throat or a nile.If anyone else has any other ideas for my next monitor plz do tell.Housing isnt a problem by the way.

[M_surinamensis]

Ackie...

There's something a bit wrong with someone who is preparing to purchase a monitor, mentions docility as a desireable trait and then includes niles in the list of potentials. It generally indicates, not always but generally, a lack of experience with the genus... One of those situations where, when you're ready to own one, you don't need to ask questions of that nature.

Start with a nice dwarf monitor, to get you used to the idea of an active, diurnal lizard that'll occassionally grab anything to see if it might be food and then consider scaling up.

[likeal0stchild]

Forgot to add I own a Savannah monitor lizard....so no noob here........I inculded the nile because I truly do like tghe nature of the lizard....although vicious

[likeal0stchild]

I am leaning towards black throat by an easy 75%, there tempermeant form wat i hear is very docile,I heard the same about my Savannah and she aint no pic nic but is def improving.


Slowly...............but surely

[AHLizards]

blackthroats aren't "tame" they are instinctive, large eating machines that require alot of respect.. if you think your savannah isn't all that easy, a blackthroat is a notch harder.. Don't get me wrong, they're awesome but know what you're getting into.

[likeal0stchild]

O......I know my friend.....I know......and its worth that one more notch

[anacondaman]

i say go with the akie also.....its a bit more on the money aspect..but if u love ur monitors as much as u say u do then thats no problem.....niles r big and nasty (there are a few eceptions) and black throats although not as long are bulky and r very instictive as earlier stated (again with the few eceptions).....maybe u should try some south american tegus!.. they wont dissapiont u!
best of luck

adam

[likeal0stchild]

hmmm........nevver looked into tegus and id be more than glad to check em out......but.....the black throat is definetly in winning place on my list

[likeal0stchild]

as far as niles go, I would never want one now because with them there are very very very few exceptions.A black throat theres a good cahnce of him being very tolerant,although a rat slayer.

[likeal0stchild]

I have checked into white throats somewat alo, these are the same lizard correct?just different morphs.if so i am getting the white throat

[M_surinamensis]

They used to be... The old taxonomy had Savs, Black throats and white throats all lumped into a single species, with some sources not even giving them subspecific designations. As there has been a greater emphasis on natural history and population borders when it comes to defining a "species" in the last couple decades, it's generally accepted that they are each independant breeding populations, making them all seperate species. Some sources will, as always when discussing taxonomy, differ.

If I remember correctly the original poster had indicated in another thread that his Sav was less than two feet long. I might be thinking of someone else, but this is an impression I formed. Somewhere. For some reason. If you're having trouble handling and caring for a baby sav, you should in no way, shape or form consider a nile or a black throat or a white throat.

It's never very satisfactory to hear, but there are many questions that shouldn't have to be asked... Nothing wrong with asking them, but you need to be prepared to accept the answer. When it comes to the experience needed to own any individual species of animal, the answer is always... "When you're ready to own the animal, you won't have to ask the questions." Asking if niles can be docile or can be "trained" or "tamed" only shows that you have no experience with the species and really haven't done any research outside of asking on these forums. The same goes for soliciting opinions about docility- if you were prepared for the ownership you would have already known the answers to your questions.

[Bighead]

Go with that leucistic nile. he lets little kids pet him and he's only $125,000.00 USD ($164,954.09 CAD). Money should be no object if you truly love your pet. ;)

[Bighead]

P.S. Plus tax and shipping

[SHvar]

Just like all monitors have an individual personality. Ive had Bosc, common nile, ornate, ackie, timor and BTs as well 2 BT/WT crosses and taken care of many others. To say an Albig is an inch more or a bit more than a bosc is a decieving opinion, a bosc is a medium sized monitor species that in the wild never seems to exceed 3.5-4 ft (although in captivity they can reach 4.5 ft and 10lbs is healthy), is the smallest species in Africa and a food source for larger varanids on occaision. An Albig is a large heavy and deceptively powerful animal that can climb great, when bigger can rip the doors out of many cages they are kept in, and eat as much as an argus thats the same size only worse. An albig can range anywhere from 4-7+ft and weigh from 10-53lbs (53lbs is obese, or an overestimate, 35lbs is more like a maximum), and can tunnel like a company of coal miners, and most importantly has a dangerous and accurate long tail (they are the best "or worst" tail whippers, depending how you want to word it), they are very very strong animals, have I mentioned a very dangerous tail? WTs are a southern albig lighter colors different patterns, and live in a temperate range, whereas the BT is a more northern albig with darker colors more abundant food sources warmer temps grows larger. They are constantly in taxonomic flux but are both albigs= V.Albigularis, yet there are some V.Microstictus in the pet trade.
The ackie is an awesome animal, like a squirrel doesnt want to stop (energizer lizard), small, digs like a lunatic, are all CBB, can live their life in a 4x2x2 cage. They teach you what a monitor truly is and needs only without the massive expense of doing it right with big species.
Years ago albigs got me hooked and Ill never be without one now but I dont suggest them unless you are truly ready for a big powerful dangerous animal, like one of mine can carry away a large living room chair. Have I mentioned dangerous tail yet?

[M_surinamensis]

They teach you what a monitor truly is and needs only without the massive expense of doing it right with big species

That's an excellent point as well... The Ackie itself is more expensive than many of the more frequently avaliable imported species but the cost of housing, lighting, heating and feeding is all substantially less. When you start looking at a $250-300 lizard that'll require $400-500 for a REALLY nice enclosure versus a $30 lizard that requires several thousand to renovate a spare bedroom, the pricetag of the ackie seems pretty reasonable.

[likeal0stchild]

Well I thank you all very much for your help in this decision and you have made me think somewhat. In a few months I am definatly buying a white throat monitor..........from now to then I will read up and learn and cram and work on his enclosure.........have fun all

[reptiguy123]

Umm...it could just be me, but i think you missed the point and blew off all of the help that people gave. Again, it could just be me....

[kap10cavy]

I myself would like to have a larger monitor, but I am still learning about my savannahs , Oh how I wish I could aquire a large beautiful animal like Sobeck, did I mention she was beautiful?
Knowing what I know and what I can tryly handle I'm really thinking of getting an ackie.
Point I'm trying to make is know your limits, for you and the animal.

PS> did I mention I think Sobeck is beautiful? lol

[SHvar]

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Apr/2004425692729090083427.jpg
Weeks. She was tiny when I got her at 2 months old and 16 inches. Its the environment that they live in that allows for growth and development. Unfortunately over the years the environment I offered to past BTs wasnt near as good and they didnt live so well but grew fast male and female, examples of 2.5-3 ft and growing to 4.5ft in a few months time. For awhile Sobeks conditions werent all that good either when she grew to a certain length and large cages became a need. They are hardy like a tank and adapt to conditions well but theres a line between not so good conditions and bad.
The cage she currently lives in she has ripped the doors off of it with what seemed like not oo much effort, but she has the idea and doesnt break out now, of course its easier to find a 6+ft monitor than a small one when on the loose. Unfortunately most monitors on the loose are not so respective to your personal property.