Looking for...

[Doxster]

So I am planning for a future purchase.

Me and my fiance is looking for a house, and when we get one with alot of space she says that we need a big nice looking terrarium/vivarium in the house. And she has never been too involved in my reptile hobby so this is huge for me, I was like "...What?!".

Since I have alot of snakes I thought it would be cool with something new in this terrarium/vivarium and thought about some kind of lizard, something semi big, something like 25 inches or so.

The thing is, I breed my own rats for the snakes, so it would be very convenient if I could find a lizard that I find interesting that thrives on rodents as a base food. Sure something else once in a while I could live with, but I don not have the time nor the will to breed a different kind of feeders for just one animal.

Are there any lizards that fits this description?

Thanks in advance.

[jason79]

Black Throat Monitor or Varanus albigularis are pretty cool. I have a friend that has one and he is pretty laid back. They get bigger than the 25 Inches though.

[Doxster]

They look awesome! But I do think they get a bit too big, I think we would have to draw the line at like 3ft.

What about Gila Monsters? I understand they don't get as big as 25 inches and are venomous, what "keeper level" is needed to care for these properly?

[ballin]

I think you would need a permit for one as they are endangered and venomous. Might be wrong though

[Wretched Deviant]

Bearded Dragons don't get huge, they're really friendly, and cool to look at. They don't really use mice or rats as a staple or anything but I get around 1000 crickets from premium crickets or llreptile for decent prices (lll doesn't have a live guarantee under 40 degrees and the winter gets too cool for that here), I'd say go for a tegu but they get a decent size. And you only need permits for keeping gilas in areas they're a natural species, I was interested in one for awhile. And if the gila you get isn't CB then you can get a hefty fine.

[CA cowgirl]

How about an argus monitor? Or a timor monitor? I believe both of those stay in your range.

These guys I don't know their sizes... green tree monitor and ackie monitor.

While you prefer rodent feeders, if you have a single lizard that you can dial it in how much he wants per week, and you have a good source locally to buy from, a cricket eater that occasionally eats a small rodent is nice. It is less work than a gorgeous chameleon (awesome vivarium animal) that needs misting and perfect husbandry, or crested geckos that need their nectar mix, or beardeds that need their veggies with crickets and rarely rodents, etc.

Or if your gal is willing, have it be her pet and you help her set it up, but its her gig to maintain and provide food for it. Just a few thoughts

[BOWSER11788]

water dragon, only get like a foot or something, its good, the moniters get to big, unless you want an ackie, when you mean a viv, are you meaning like a show, tank, you can't go wrong with dragons. you can plant live stuff, put in a waterfall or humidifier/smoker in it. I have seen a bunch of nice setups for chinese water dragons

[suzuki4life]

water dragon, only get like a foot or something, its good, the moniters get to big, unless you want an ackie, when you mean a viv, are you meaning like a show, tank, you can't go wrong with dragons. you can plant live stuff, put in a waterfall or humidifier/smoker in it. I have seen a bunch of nice setups for chinese water dragons

water dragon only grows a foot long?

[suzuki4life]

poison dart frogs.

[Kuba]

poison dart frogs.

Last time i checked poison dart frogs wernt lizard and dont grow to be 25 inches