which one

[Elite Morphs]

i was thinking of getting another reptile and i was looking into green/red iguanas and savannah monitors and was wondering which one is a better pet cage size does not matter

[infernalis]

Either is going to be a chore, however if you want a better chance of a tractable lizard, the Monitor would be a better choice.

I am biased though...

Iguanas can be temperamental and mean, but so can a monitor.

It's really up to whatever makes you happiest, because properly done, you will be in charge of this animal's destiny for quite a few years either way.

[mumps]

A lot of people may say "cage size does not matter"; until they realize the ACTUAL size required for either of these species.

You are, however, asking a question that only you can answer; it depends on what YOU wish to gain from this relationship.

I have raised an iguana, and it was great.

I have raised monitors, though never an exanthematicus, and that was great as well.

Chris

[infernalis]

A lot of people may say "cage size does not matter"; until they realize the ACTUAL size required for either of these species.
Chris

Cheers to that!!

My Savannah Monitor Cage takes up half a room, would require a forklift to move it, and I can already tell when these babies get bigger, it is going to be too small.

Both species of Lizard you are asking about are roaming foragers, in the wild they can and do use miles of territory, so be prepared to provide unbelievable amounts of space if you want healthy animals.

[Elite Morphs]

my room is in the basement and i plan to let them free roam it when i am home but when i am at school they will be in the cage until i get home to let them out so caging will not be a issue i just need something big enough to keep them in when i am at school

[sleepygeckos]

Posted in the other thread of the same topic, posted funny here, sorry: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...=1#post1798928


Originally Posted by Trogdorpheus
Are you really ready to commit to something that has an average lifespan that is longer than you've been around at this point?

That pretty much says it all. Everyone here is being really nice to you, but if this was say, Yahoo Answers or even Kingsnake, you'd be nailed to the wall for thinking you could handle a lizard that big.

Seriously, everyone thinks they are superman when they are your age... but when I got my first pet my dad made me make arrangements for it when I went off to college. I had to find a breeder who was willing to take in a "retired" rabbit - and ready to pay for it, the year before I left. Most colleges are doing the "you must stay in the dorms your first year" thing... mine didn't even allow fish.

As far as the "let it roam around free when you are home" yeah, I tried that one on my fiance - he won't even let ME at MY AGE pull that line, because of the temperament of monitors. Even if I was hoping for a "guard lizard." See where you are in 10, 20 years... go into biology in the meantime and play with all the herps in the lab, but don't go getting over your head. IMHO of course... which probably won't sink in for another dozen or so years, am I right?

[John1982]

my room is in the basement and i plan to let them free roam it when i am home but when i am at school they will be in the cage until i get home to let them out so caging will not be a issue i just need something big enough to keep them in when i am at school

If you end up with a 3-6 foot lizard that hates you with a passion you might not be so eager to let it free roam your living space. I suggest, as others, going with the super sized enclosure.

[babyknees]

my room is in the basement and i plan to let them free roam it when i am home but when i am at school they will be in the cage until i get home to let them out so caging will not be a issue i just need something big enough to keep them in when i am at school

They have high heat and humidity requirements that you should look into and consider how you'll provide those if it's roaming your room BEFORE you get it. When this site http://savannahmonitor.org/ goes back up read the whole thing a couple times. This is the site that is always suggested to those considering savs or who recently purchased them without doing any research. It's got a lot of great info and has convinced me that I won't be getting one until I own my own home, have a steady and good income and the time to provide the animal with the proper care it deserves...I've also come to accept that this may never happen. You're young...you have YEARS ahead of you to own giant lizards spend your youth learning about them so that when you do have the time, money and space you'll be ready.

[mumps]

^^ Good post babyknees. Free roaming will not provide the heat, humidity or any of the burrowing - hunting - hiding behaviors that varanids relish so much.

Think this one over. Carefully.

Chris

[infernalis]

^^ Good post babyknees. Free roaming will not provide the heat, humidity or any of the burrowing - hunting - hiding behaviors that varanids relish so much.

Think this one over. Carefully.
Chris

Thanks...

I don't think the O.P. wants to hear this, I see the same thing posted in more than one place.

Sad, really, the lizard is going to suffer for it in the end.