which one

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

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.

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

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Originally Posted by mumps

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

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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.

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

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?

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Originally Posted by 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

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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.

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Originally Posted by 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

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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.

^^ 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

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Originally Posted by 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

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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.

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Originally Posted by infernalis

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.

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Yeah, I just cut and pasted my response when I realized we were up to three threads now. Ah to be young again without "real" responsibilities.:tears:

i think i will just use my money to get a male ball python morph since people dont think im ready for one

Since the Iguana wasn't touched on too much, i'll go there. I have 2 Cuban rocks. I also have a spare bedroom that is the reptile room, a fenced and fully escape-proof back yard and i spend infinitely more on organic blueberries than microbrew. Yet, I still worry at times that I am not doing right by these animals. You should never fully feel that your husbandry is perfect, it can only be a replica. I adore the gray/orange blur flying from the ceiling onto my head when I enter their room. I have a whip mark or two. They also will chill for hours or eat from my hand.

My honest suggestion would be to do a realistic budget. See what you spend the most money on. Do you value this more than a new pet? Figure out how to cut $200 bucks a month to dedicate to the reptile of your choosing. Believe me, I spend more than this. Electricity, replacing UV bulbs, Substrate for a 12ft tank 2ft deep isn't cheap, a variety of veggies to keep them interested and healthy and oh my gosh the time dedication.

If and when you are ready for this enormous commitment I wish you the best of luck, these can be wonderful and rewarding animals to spend your LIFE with. However just like any family member, you will have issues and have to be dedicated enough to solve them.

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Originally Posted by Elite Morphs

i think i will just use my money to get a male ball python morph since people dont think im ready for one

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This would be a 100x better choice for you. I actually gained some respect for you here. Because when you first started posting here it sounde like you were hellbent on getting a big lizard no matter what. By changing your mind after listening to peoples advice it shows your mature compared to other 13 year olds. You could get like 5 ball pythons and it would still only be a fraction of the money/time of keeping a sav or iguana! Please feel free to keep posting and asking questions :)

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

This would be a 100x better choice for you. I actually gained some respect for you here. Because when you first started posting here it sounde like you were hellbent on getting a big lizard no matter what. By changing your mind after listening to peoples advice it shows your mature compared to other 13 year olds. You could get like 5 ball pythons and it would still only be a fraction of the money/time of keeping a sav or iguana! Please feel free to keep posting and asking questions :)

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And I just gained a boatload more respect for you... :cool:

Tolerance and patience are valuable virtues. kudos.

Plus, speaking from experience as I was once a 13 year old girl. Chicks dig Ball Pythons!

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Originally Posted by offthewallflower

Plus, speaking from experience as I was once a 13 year old girl. Chicks dig Ball Pythons!

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Too bad girls like you didnt live near me. Saying i had 4 balls got me dirty looks in high school hahaha

haha and thanks mike i really appreciate that comment

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Originally Posted by Elite Morphs

i think i will just use my money to get a male ball python morph since people dont think im ready for one

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I don't think many here will argue against getting a ball python but is that what you really want? If you have your heart set on a lizard there are plenty of awesome species out there for your consideration. Northern blue tongue skinks grow to a decent size and are much more manageable - quite the groovy lizard in my opinion!

Here's a good site if you want to learn more about em:
http://bluetongueskinks.net/

yea blue tongues are pretty cool but i want to get ball pythons and breed them at the moment maybe i can get some when i get a steady money flow like in about 2 years and hopefully some other cool things too

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Originally Posted by Elite Morphs

yea blue tongues are pretty cool but i want to get ball pythons and breed them at the moment maybe i can get some when i get a steady money flow like in about 2 years and hopefully some other cool things too

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Now that's the spirit.

You know what, get that Sav book before they are all gone, read it, ask questions.

Then when the time does come, you will be more than ready.:D