Need help choosing a Lizard

[pinefamily]

Get a smaller monitor. Once fully grown, you only need to feed 2-3 times a week.
Not sure what is available in Canada, but an ackie, or a gilleni, or a tristis would all make good choices. The last two are more likely to climb.

[dinosaurdammit]

Originally Posted by pinefamily

Get a smaller monitor. Once fully grown, you only need to feed 2-3 times a week.
Not sure what is available in Canada, but an ackie, or a gilleni, or a tristis would all make good choices. The last two are more likely to climb.

for a first time lizard owner this is terrible advice. Skinks or anoles are good, geckos even but I would NEVER suggest a monitor as a first lizard

[pinefamily]

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

for a first time lizard owner this is terrible advice. Skinks or anoles are good, geckos even but I would NEVER suggest a monitor as a first lizard

Maybe to a complete newbie, but not necessarily for an experienced reptile keeper, especially if they have kept vens. Then they would have a good understanding of safety issues.

[Pirarucu]

Originally Posted by pinefamily

Maybe to a complete newbie, but not necessarily for an experienced reptile keeper, especially if they have kept vens. Then they would have a good understanding of safety issues.

It's not about safety (and what is making you say experienced reptile keeper? The OP has Ball Pythons and Kenyan Sand Boas, based on their previous posts. It certainly doesn't appear that they have experience with hots. And what hot keeper has never kept a lizard? But I digress.), it's about monitors being hard to care for. Most die after a year or two in captivity. And no, experience with snakes does not translate to monitors. They and their husbandry are vastly different. The reason so many monitors die early is that so many people try to keep them like snakes.
I'd also advise against a Chinese Water Dragon, they're no better. People love suggesting them to people, and I have no idea why. Probably the same reason people suggest monitors. They like suggesting cool/interesting animals, regardless of the level of care required, instead of suggesting species that would be a good idea for a first lizard. Suggest the best option, not the one you think is coolest. CWDs, like monitors, mostly die young. How many do you see sold in pet stores? Thousands each year. Now, how many healthy adults do you see in captivity? We know they can easily reach three feet in length, but I can count the number of three footers I've seen on one hand. And two of those are kept at Moody Gardens, not by private keepers.