Monitor or Tegu???

i have done some research and am down to the question monitor or tegu i like them both but will only be getting one. i have had a little bit of experiance with both. but was wondering what peoples preferences are and why. im looking at either a black and white tegu or savannah monitor. im not concerned with size. more looking for easier to handle. so any info or feedback would be great
thanks in advance

IMO it wont matter, both are a tremendous amount of work.
I think some smaller monitors are better for novice keepers, such as Ackies.

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Originally Posted by Monty

i have done some research and am down to the question monitor or tegu i like them both but will only be getting one. i have had a little bit of experiance with both. but was wondering what peoples preferences are and why. im looking at either a black and white tegu or savannah monitor. im not concerned with size. more looking for easier to handle. so any info or feedback would be great
thanks in advance

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Savannah Monitors have a reputation for being a beginner monitor, and that's unfortunate because they are far from it. Their diet is much more specialized than people realize, and the caging requirements are quite humbling. If you're on the fence about them, I would stay away from the Sav.

http://tegutalk.com and http://thetegu.com are good places to gain more information on Tegus, and http://savannahmonitor.org is a good place to read more on Savannah Monitors and why they are not good beginner monitors.

I have never owned Varanus exanthematicus, as I find them to be a little on the boring side, not to mention a little on the "small" side for a "large" lizard. I have owned Tupinambis merianae, and they were an absolute joy to maintain. One of my favorite species, for sure.

I have kept Varanus niloticus, Varanus salvator, Varanus dumerilii and Varanus doreanus. I currently maintain a trio of Varanus acanthurus brachyurus and a male Varanus ornatus.

I find varanids to be the coolest reptiles of all. Period. But I do love them all...

Chris

i say tegu i think they are so much eaiser than a monitor imo

not to mention if you get a red they are nicest my opinion tho let us know what you get! :D

i deff will it wont be for a little while but yea like i said im not worried about size and yea both i do realize need a varied diet of eggs ground turkey mice on occasion crickets roaches and things like that and i also heard on occasion fruit. I plan on starting with the healthiest baby i can find.im not on the fence about either of them just really wasnt sure which one would be the "easiest to care for and tame" to say though its not important to me if its nasty vicious hey thats fine by me too

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Originally Posted by Monty

i deff will it wont be for a little while but yea like i said im not worried about size and yea both i do realize need a varied diet of eggs ground turkey mice on occasion crickets roaches and things like that and i also heard on occasion fruit.

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I would definitely suggest reading up on the links I posted earlier. Tegus are omnivorous and eat both meat and fruit. Savannah Monitors are primarily insectivores and the majority of their diet in the wild consists of insects and snails. They do not eat fruit, nor do they eat ground turkey and should not be fed mostly rodents.

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Originally Posted by Monty

I plan on starting with the healthiest baby i can find.

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As all Savannah Monitors on the market today are wild caught or farmed and then sold by wholesalers, finding a healthy baby is doubtful.

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Originally Posted by Monty

im not on the fence about either of them just really wasnt sure which one would be the "easiest to care for and tame" to say though its not important to me if its nasty vicious hey thats fine by me too

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As I wrote to you on the other forum, I would do some research as to diet, housing requirements, overall cost to keep, temperature, humidity and decide which best fits into your own lifestyle. Based on your replies it's not quite looking like you've done that yet.

IF you really have the time to associate w/ it everyday then i say Tegu.....that being and Argentine, stay away from the columbians. Tegus are really smart and can be house trained like a cat if you have the time and patience to do it. Ive owned both and quite frankly savanah monitors are boring IMO....I have two large Argentine breeders that are very feeder aggressive but have extremely unique personalities, and when you are near them they look you dead in the eye...kinda freaky but cool. They are one of the only reptiles in the world that hibernate...get a Tegu if u got the time.

I forgot to stress you must be sure u have the time to handle this animal quite often or you will have an extremely agressive animal that can cause severe damage. If you dont mind pain or getting bit as myself then to each his own.

getting bit is one of the things that happens when you own animals dogs and cats bite too dont forget. and i got bit by a dog alot worse then any lizard so far.