Best starter monitor?

[JeffT]

A good beginner monitor, like Jeff said, is Ackies, they average about 20 inches and dont need a terribly large cage.

[V.hb]

fan, just because the monitor will eat the food offered does not nessecarily mean its good for them.
Dog food - high ash, leads to kidney problems and is definatly fatal.
Beef - This is another bad form of food to feed on a daily basis to your monitors.
Chicken - Our chicken is pretty well chemically grown.. May be ok for our consumption (not exactly proven either) Definatly not the best food source for your monitor either.
Eggs - Same as chicken unless you go with quall or organic eggs.

Stick to rodents and bugs and you wont have a problem. I too own savannahs, ackies, blackthroats, niles And have owned many other species. I find savs are the easiest and the best beginner pet. Enclosure wont cost more then 75$ to make out of wood, dirt is free, lights are pricey, but floods arent expensive. just my opinion. I really do like Ackies too, but i would never have gotten into varanids the way I'am without the push from my savannahs. Good luck.

[Emily-Fisher]

From reading caresheets, ackies sound like they are by far the best for begginers. Need I say more?

[V.hb]

"from reading" thats not hands on......... Like i said in my response, it takes the hands on approach to really get one you like. They are all unique in their own ways.

[Tim and Julie B]

Read up on everything and choose something you feel best meets your requirements and is something you love you can't go wrong. Just research until you find one species you like. But do not settle on something that you will be unhappy with later. Take everyones advice but ultimatly it is your decision. White throats kick butt, Or black throats, Or peach throats, or blk trees, or blue tailed or................................................ ....................................

[tHeGiNo]

Yep, trust me I have been reading my @$$ off. I just figured I'd see what people with hands on advice as to what they think would be the best for a first monitor, besides an ackie.

[Tim and Julie B]

we had a white throat as our first one. She is great! I have no idea if other people consider them a good starter or not. We had no problems.

[Aaron_S]

get a parayguan red tegu...stay relatively small at the size of 30"-36". The ones I have worked with are tame just watch out going in..strong feed response lol.They also have some nice colours.

[Gregg M]

White throats are some of the best monitors you could keep...... Get big a tame....... I had one pushing 6 feet plus....... It was my lap lizard....... But, I would not recomend any large varanid for a beginner......

[fanmaninacan]

Hey!

guys thanks.!!
Yep so far its looking bright for a sav.!
i understand ackies are good to...(but too small)
.......when is it the best time to start feeding a sav..pinkies?..around what age?..what size?

im geting a 8 by 2 feet enclosure......Will a baby be fine in one that BIG?......I am planning on feeding it in a diff tank.
BIGGER the better...??(in some cases)

N guys help me pick out a substrate-would use newspaper..But really dont want to.......--playsand
--bed a beast
---normal potting soild

I really like the playsand.....BUT.....Im not shure......(impactions)

any one know a good place to get a baby sav?--cant find a CB.!.
will have to settle for a Wc..=(

thanks every 1

WOW GINO>>...sorry for stealing ur post!!,,,lol.....

im out
T.P

[asphyxia]

Hey Fan my friend,

Sand? Newspaper?, F. me, You have alot of research to do first.
I suggest you do some then start a new post.

In the meantime IMO the best substright is dirt, there is some great suggestions in the Varanius forum, look at them

Good Luck
Brian

[tHeGiNo]

Play sand would be a horrible idea Try mulch, or coconut fibres as they are digestable in the Hydrochloric acids of the stomache Do not settle for a WC man, keep looking for CB thats where you want to support lol. As far as monitors go, the bigger the better is always the case i believe. You know that you will have to maintain a basking spot for your Savannah that ranges from about 100-115°F. The 8 foot long is perfect, but remember you need to keep this puppy at ambient temps of 85-90°F. As an adult, you may want to make the enclosure wider then 2 feet however. Generally, it should be as wide as the length of the monitor. I do however feel Savs would be a good choice and am considering one. This is due to their relatively small size and ability to 'tame.' I am still trying to make up my mind as far as which to get...

[V.hb]

Gino, you wont find many CB monitors other then ackies in Ontario.. unless you go into other dwarfs and thats big bucks. so settle for a healthy WC juvinile

[V.hb]

also savannah basking spots should be hotter than 115 degrees, more like 130-150.

[tHeGiNo]

My apologies, I do not know why I put 115. Hey I just woke up then give me a break lol. As far as not finding many cb monitors, I guess a lot must be misrepresented as cb.