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.

I have a Ornate Nile monitor and a Savannah monitor.

Here is what I feed them every week:
Sunday- Two hard boiled eggs each
Monday- Nothing
Tuesday- Two rat pups each and two dozen roaches each
Wednesday- Nothing
Thursday- 4 ounces cooked beef liver each
Friday- Nothing
Saturday- Nothing

The Savannah monitor is three years old at 3ft. Long and the Nile monitor is almost two years old at 2 1/2ft. Long

I house them both kind of the same, except the Nile stays a little more moist. I keep them both of them in their own 125 gallon tank, the substrate is the excavator clay, sold at reptiledirect.com, or bigappleherp.com, I like that because I lay a thick layer of it down and they can make their own burrows. It holds much better than the half dirt, half sand mix I used to do. I have a typical reptile screen lid on the tank, in the middle I have a 250 watt white heat lamp, then off to the side I have the powersun 160 watt uvb uva heat combined bulb. On the other side of the tank I have nothing, and the temperature stays at about 75 degrees. In the middle with the 250 watt bulb I have a basking tree for the Nile, and a big stack of stones for the Savannah, as she is horrible at climbing. The basking spot stays at 100- 115 degrees. My warm side with the 160 watt powersun bulb stays at 80-90 degrees. I also keep their water bowls (Giant cat litter boxes) on the cool side. I see it this way, in the summer we like to cool off by going in a pool or taking a cold shower right? I do the same for them and leave the water on the cool side so it is at least refreshing.

As for taming them down, Savannah monitors are okay, it is not something that you are going to buy nice. You will need to handle them often, and then still handle them 2-3 times a week even when you got them the way you want them.

Sorry that turned out so long. I also used to rescue monitors, but it is an expensive business so I had to quit it. I know I am probably going to get crap for keeping them in fish tanks, but I believe they need moving air too, but you do need higher watt bulbs in order to keep them in fish tanks, because then otherwise the heat does just rise out of the tank.

Hope this helps!

Do not follow any of the advice given by bash.You can not keep monitors in fish tanks,his feeding regimen is terrible stick with whole prey foods such as insects mice and chicks stay away from thing like chicken liver and part of meat.Follow Allergenic"s site on Savanna monitors its the best information out there.

From reading this post and all your posts on the other forums,my vote is you do A LOT more research.You have a lot to learn,and I feel you are not ready for a large lizard.


Greg

I have had monitors for years, these are my newest, but as far as them being healthy, they are great. My humidity stays good, my heat stays good, everything is fine. I did not say it is easy to keep them in fish tanks, it does take a little extra work to do, but I have done it very successfully. They do get whole prey items, but I also give hard boiled eggs or cooked liver with them. My monitors have lived past their first and second years now, that in its self, is more than most people can say, even with taking adequate care of them.

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Originally Posted by bsash

I have had monitors for years, these are my newest, but as far as them being healthy, they are great. My humidity stays good, my heat stays good, everything is fine. I did not say it is easy to keep them in fish tanks, it does take a little extra work to do, but I have done it very successfully. They do get whole prey items, but I also give hard boiled eggs or cooked liver with them. My monitors have lived past their first and second years now, that in its self, is more than most people can say, even with taking adequate care of them.

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Unfortunately, monitors can endure bad conditions for several years without dying, though their health may start to deteriorate. You may take your monitors well into their fifth year before losing them or seeing massive health problems. To say you've brought them past their second year is really not saying a whole lot.

To be honest, a lot of what you said in your post above was so off, I almost suspected a troll?

Well, I suppose not everyone has to agree with me, and that is fine, I will be building them their new enclosures when is starts to get warm, unfortunately, I live in New Jersey, and all I have seen is snow, so, hopefully by April/May, they will have their new homes. When I do this, I will have everything on the inside of the enclosure with just two vents towards the bottom of the enclosure. The fish tanks were never going to be permanent, I just use them to start off with the babies, and move on from there.

I do feed pro-dominantly real food such as frozen/thawed baby chicks, rat pups, dubia roaches, and super worms. But as well, I do give them hard boiled eggs, and cooked beef liver in the mix every week. Again, not everyone has to agree with the way that I do things, but is does not necessarily mean that I am doing everything wrong. Everyone has their own opinions on how to raise them. My opinion is, if you can keep the heat and humidity right in a fish tank why not? I do admit I need higher power bulbs than I should, and that I need to tend to the humidity more than I should, but if you can maintain it, by all means.

This is why when I build my enclosure, everything will be done right, it will make my life easier, as for the monitors, they will be a little happier, I am going to build them pretty tall so a can get a lot of the excavator clay in there so they can really dig.

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Originally Posted by allergenic

Unfortunately, monitors can endure bad conditions for several years without dying, though their health may start to deteriorate. You may take your monitors well into their fifth year before losing them or seeing massive health problems. To say you've brought them past their second year is really not saying a whole lot.

To be honest, a lot of what you said in your post above was so off, I almost suspected a troll?

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just for info sakes. how do you suggest taking care of said monitors??

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Originally Posted by capitalB

just for info sakes. how do you suggest taking care of said monitors??

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savannahmonitor.org

I plan on taking very good care of my "Said" monitors. As they are not my first monitors, and have had others that did not die of illness. The fish tanks were never supposed to be this permanent, but think I'm alright until my new enclosures get built. Thanks.

a 2 year old 2 foot nile is caused by abuse...nothing more.....a nile will exceed 2 feet in its first year EASILY if kept properly

ackies are the best...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Picture056.jpg

timors are nice if you like to get pooped on or bit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Picture018.jpg

I thought I posted that in this thread but apparently, it was in the other thread "What monitor" but I will explain for here as well.

I rescued my Nile from someone who no longer wanted it, and guess that he figured he would simply let it die by not feeding it or cleaning it, etc. I gave him $50 for the monitor and brought it home with me, and was told that it was just about a year old then. I spent well over a grand getting it back to health. The monitor had mouth rot, scale rot, an upper respiratory infection, and missing the tip of its tail due to no humidity when I obtained it.

Maybe that will clear some things up. I do feed just about everyday, and it is mostly f/t baby chicks, rat pups, and then some dubia roaches and super worms. However, I do feed hard boiled eggs and beef liver with the insects.

which out of the two can there be the smallest in other words the smallest tegu or monitor which is smaller? :P

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Originally Posted by dembonez

which out of the two can there be the smallest in other words the smallest tegu or monitor which is smaller? :P

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monitors are smaller..well certain types are...

I'm glad I found this thread just now because I came across a video of a B&W Argentine Tegu gobbling down a rat while looking for beardie videos on YouTube. I've become very captured and fascinated with them. My beardie currently lives in a 4 1/2 x 2 x 2 foot custom tank; would that be sufficient space for a young one? That is to say, I either relocate my beardie or wait until he passes away. I would probably be more ready and further educated by that point, hahah (he's five).

I heard tegus, no matter the size, need DOUBLE their length in enclosure space. I would need to build a hefty cover for the tank, I imagine. I have no doubt tegus are extremely strong and could push their way out of almost anything. Anyway, no more questions. I shall look at that website link that was provided earlier. Thank you!

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Originally Posted by Moofins07

I heard tegus, no matter the size, need DOUBLE their length in enclosure space.

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What you're thinking of is minimum cage footprint requirements. The enclosure should be 2x the animal's length across, 1x the animal's length deep, and then whatever height you need depending on things like type of lights used and depth of substrate.

This is true of monitors, tegu, and it's also why your beardie is in a 4x2 footprint enclosure.

I personally enjoy tegus, the ones I have been around have been very enjoyable

Come on guys, don't bash bsash for his information.

This thread was made to help the OP with his decision, not bash other members on the site for what they do. It's not like yelling at them over the internet is going to do anything. Practically pointless.

To the OP, I personally think the tegus have a lot cooler personalities. I've been around both monitors and tegus from volunteering at a sanctuary (still do) and I would say that the tegus are a lot more fun. I've also held monitors and tegus at shows. Tegus do have awesome personalities and show a lot more emotion. Monitors are more to themselves, minding their own business (from what I have noticed).

IMO, I would say tegu. I plan on getting one at the San Diego Show in June, possibly a Red or B&W. It's so hard to decide:P

Whatever you choose, I hope you are happy it:D:gj:

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

Come on guys, don't bash bsash for his information.

This thread was made to help the OP with his decision, not bash other members on the site for what they do. It's not like yelling at them over the internet is going to do anything. Practically pointless.

To the OP, I personally think the tegus have a lot cooler personalities. I've been around both monitors and tegus from volunteering at a sanctuary (still do) and I would say that the tegus are a lot more fun. I've also held monitors and tegus at shows. Tegus do have awesome personalities and show a lot more emotion. Monitors are more to themselves, minding their own business (from what I have noticed).

IMO, I would say tegu. I plan on getting one at the San Diego Show in June, possibly a Red or B&W. It's so hard to decide:P

Whatever you choose, I hope you are happy it:D:gj:

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Thank you.

Its cool that you are reaching out to get others opinions and experience. Bottom line is get what you want. So many people are breeding reptiles, farming them, selling them, that a home is needed for each one. And even if a savannah monitor is farmed from the wild, you can find a healthy thriving animal, just keep looking. You'll be able to find one that's strong in health, just don't be led astray by sickly looking ones being sold cheap.

Savannah monitor is my pick. I've owned one, he was a placid doll most of the time and had tons of "big lug of a dog" personality. I'd share my crab with him (or he'd fuss around his cage), I'd fetch snails for him to gobble up, and I'd hold him. Sancho was a cool dude. I just don't want to keep lizards or large reptiles any longer. Maybe one day when I'm "settled down." :)

When people ask questions like this, I tend to feel they are not ready for the challenge that is caring properly for a monitor or tegu . So im going with Bearded Dragon.

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Originally Posted by slayer

When people ask questions like this, I tend to feel they are not ready for the challenge that is caring properly for a monitor or tegu . So im going with Bearded Dragon.

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Hahahaha! :gj:

Chris

i like monitors better and are alot more rewarding when you own a monitor also most monitors are harder to tame than tegus.

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Originally Posted by rattlesnake082

i like monitors better and are alot more rewarding when you own a monitor also most monitors are harder to tame than tegus.

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Have you ever owned a tegu as well?

I have owned both, still own some varanids, and they are my pick as well, but my tegus were all awesome animals in their own right. I could let my big male tegu free roam in the backyard. I would never ever think of attempting this with my Ornate monitor.

Chris