best monitor/tegu

I am planning to get a monitor or a tegu next year, and i wanted to see what every one thinks is the be choice.

I had to go with ackies, as I could never recomend a larger monitor to anyone, Argus are great I keep one but I would get a cross like mine stays smaller and not as high strung.

Ackies rock. Blue tegus are something else to consider. They don't require fruit to eat like the b&w and red tegus. They also stay smaller than other tegus.

You can always consider a Blue Tongued Skink,I think they are pretty cool and are similar to monitors,or tegus.

If you want something big and tame, check out the Argentine Black and White Tegus... they get huge but are much nicer than their Columbian counterparts.

hey everyone,
Ya i have decided. To either get a group of ackies and breed them or get one black throat monitor. It all dependes on what my mom says.

Nick

Be aware that a blackthroat requires at minimum an 8' cage. Most likely you will have to build it yourself too.

A 5' lizard will eat a LOT too. Keep it in mind.

Ackies rock.....when I get a bigger place, I would love to get a pair of yellows.

i dont know too much about monitors but i think an ackie would be best.

Please don't even consider a peachthroat, black tree, or croc for your first monitor. They are absolutely not beginner species under any circumstances.

Ackies are great for small monitors, Argus are wonderful if you want something a little bigger, and it's hard to go wrong with a nice CB black & white tegu.

K~

I did alot of research on Ackies because I thought they were awesome monitors. But I figured that since I am limited in lizard experience, I would get some bearded dragons first. After I get out of this apartment, a pair of yellow ackies will be the first thing that I get :)

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Be aware that a blackthroat requires at minimum an 8' cage. Most likely you will have to build it yourself too.

A 5' lizard will eat a LOT too. Keep it in mind.

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You forgot poop a lot as well!

Go for the ackies they are gorgeous, plus they are much more managable.

go with a nile monitor. they're wicked!!

Sure they are - they also grow to five feet and can have an attitude to match. Ackies is the best choice ;) I have a Sav and he's pretty good but ackies are the ideal first monitor.

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Originally Posted by bigballs

go with a nile monitor. they're wicked!!

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you cant be serious right?

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Originally Posted by mr~python

you cant be serious right?

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Well I really hope that was a jest he made - but not the most intelligent thing to post on a public forum where people might take it to be true ...

Like someone asking what is the best type of first-time Python to buy and someone suggesting a Burm :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Razaiel

Like someone asking what is the best type of first-time Python to buy and someone suggesting a Burm :rolleyes:

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Actually, my first snake was a burm :O, and while I wouldn't trade the experience for anything, I wouldn't recommend it!!

I think Daniel1983's idea of starting off with Beardies, then moving up is a great idea, if and when I get into reptiles with legs, that's probably what I'll do.

(or I'll just go find a nice WC Nile, because sometimes I have, as they say "poor impulse control", Oh, Well!)

Edit---oh, I just noticed, whoever put the poll up, spelled "savanah" wrong.

i hav to go with ackies!!


and its not spelled shavana or savanah, its spelled savannah

I understand this is not always the case but the best experiences I have had are with water monitors, but I have had some not so good experiences. We have a water monitor at Phoenix Herp Soceity that we take to reptile shows and let the kids pet him.

hey razaiel niles can get over 7 feet. sorry for the joke mr.serious.

and kids don't believe everything you read on a public forum cuz believe it or not, it may not be true!!!

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Originally Posted by bigballs

hey razaiel niles can get over 7 feet. sorry for the joke mr.serious.

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Since its soo bad to be serious huh?

From your list, I choose the Argentine Black & White Tegu. Of course I am partial to them, being that I am a bit tegucentric.. :carrot:

If you want my reason, watch this video..

http://www.siscoreptiles.com/tegu-attention.php

Rick

I just purchaced a B/W today at the expo in white plains, i mentioned you and your video and guy said the tegu i purchaced was one of the babies from your guys from last year.

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Originally Posted by SiscoReptiles

From your list, I choose the Argentine Black & White Tegu. Of course I am partial to them, being that I am a bit tegucentric.. :carrot:

If you want my reason, watch this video..

http://www.siscoreptiles.com/tegu-attention.php

Rick

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Who was the vender and how many tegus did they have that they told you came from me?


I sold only to a few vendors and only sold in small lots. Though there is no way to tell you for sure if it was one of mine, I can at least give you some odds.

Rick

well he only had 3 of them, and said they were from last year. One of the guys had a strong accent, long hair and a little gotee(however you spell it). If you were at the expo, he was in the middle on the right (third row from the left) and the last table.

Sadly, I didn't attend this expo. It sounds like it could have been Bay State Reptiles. They did buy a dozen or so off me to resell during the Portland Maine Expo, as well as a few to keep as breeders.


Rick

Yea he seemed like he really cared for these guys,all i said was yea i seen a video, and hes like yea Sisco?, great guy, this is the offspring from those..

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Originally Posted by bonez

I just purchaced a B/W today at the expo in white plains.

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We were at that show. I don't remember seeing any, but I don't remember what I had for breakfast. I took pictures of lots of BP's but no tegu's.

How much did you pay??? I'm looking into getting one. They're $225 locally. I'd guess they might go for $150 at the show.

Really depends what you call "best" I voted Ackies because they seem to be the best beginner monitor, haven't actually kept any myself yet. Having a hard time finding them at a decent price and most of my money is in balls right now.
My first monitor was a Savannah that was dumped on me a couple years ago. Great experience, but i didn't fall in love with them. He found a home in TX. Later I went for a CB pair in a trade, the female went to a breeder that really wanted her and another went to a friend that really loves "nibbler"
For me, my "best" monitor is the Nile. I just love the way they look, move and behave. I like knowing that if they are acting nasty, they are healthy, lol. I plenty of 'cuddly' creatures and knowledge to keep them for years. Had them for a month and are 30 grams fatter and 3-4" bigger than when i got them from the jobber.
I have some experience with B&W tegus and I love them also, I plan on getting some more when I have the space. I consider them the "best" for handable and interactive monitor. But there are many I have not kept yet.

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Originally Posted by Mezclado_Reps

Really depends what you call "best" I voted Ackies because they seem to be the best beginner monitor, haven't actually kept any myself yet. Having a hard time finding them at a decent price and most of my money is in balls right now.

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The 'decent price' paid for ackies will even out in the end and work to the keepers benefit. Once your nile monitors reach a decent size, you will be able to buy a few ackies with just the cost of a few months food. That is the way monitor pricing seems to work....if you pay little for the animal, you will pay tons to feed and house it. If you get a quality animal and pay a decent price, you will pay less to feed and house it. I kept my group of two ackies at a cost of around $9.00 a week(including crickets, supplements, and electricity). Now I keep a group of 5 Storr's Monitors at a cost of around $18 a week. I paid $250 each for the Ackies and between $350-$450 each for the Storrs. But over a 10 year period, you will spend a small fortune maintaining your nile monitors......I will spend 5x less to maintain my collection.

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Originally Posted by Mezclado_Reps

For me, my "best" monitor is the Nile. I just love the way they look, move and behave. I like knowing that if they are acting nasty, they are healthy, lol. I plenty of 'cuddly' creatures and knowledge to keep them for years. Had them for a month and are 30 grams fatter and 3-4" bigger than when i got them from the jobber.

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To be honest, nile monitors were probably not the 'best' monitor for you....but maybe for you, 'decent price' equals 'best'. There are not many people around that keep niles successfully. The majority of niles(and boscs) are picked up by people looking for a 'decent price' monitor lizard and don't even live past the first year...that is why you don't see too many adults for sale or hear of people trying to breed them.

Also, I was reading about your issues with not paying people money on the BOI. Since you seem to be at some financial hardship, why take on such a financially demanding animal like a nile monitor? Very irresponsible reptile keeping in my opinion.

I breed all my own food, from pinky mice to large rabbits, and I sell some as pets at retail price or frozen feeders to offset any food and housing costs for those. So keeping everything I have is basically free, food wise. Housing is no problem as we have a million tanks of every size around. Not to mention we are moving to our own house this September. My father in law and fiance build my racks, a Nile monitor tank would be a piece of cake, if we are not in the right climate to house him outside. But on the whole, I do agree with everything you are saying and I have never suggested a nile monitor as a pet. They are not even pets to me, they are a responsibility, but i keep them for their personalities and ascetic reasons.
$250 is a great price for the ackies. Yellow or Red? The lowest I have seen where some sub-adults for about $500 each. Every time I inquire, they are out of babies. and forget about finding them locally around here. Not saying they aren't worth that, it's just not that high on my priority list. I definitely know that it seems to work that the cheapest animals are the most expensive to keep. At the end of last month's show a vendor was looking to unload some cresteds. I know even if I got those 2 for $10 each, i would need to buy lots for them that I don't have because I rarely keep geckos. But I did it anyway since I have been pining for one for a while and he was giving me the push i needed, lol. And especially after a show I have plenty to pick up whatever I need for maintenance and any 'impulse' buys I bought. I assure you, not matter what I paid for an animal, their care and enclosures are never second-rate. I have plenty of pictures if you wish to see :)

As for the BOI, everyone was paid back. I have a horrible memory if i don't leave myself a post-it, and everyone that has done business with me [from this site, fauna, and others] sees it nothing more than absentmindedness. I'm not going to go into my excuses [no one cares anyway, just something else they could twist around and make fun of], no point since it's taken care of now, it was not a financial hardship btw. It was a time and stress thing where i just was not online, or even home, as much as I used too. The tegu is the only thing I was really sad to see go. But I did make sure he went to a great home.
If you have any other questions, quote whatever you are talking about cause I haven't read that thread. From what don told me it's a bunch of snake poop. None of my breeder loans ended, still have perfect animals for sale, still have a perfect shipping record, I sold as much as I used too. I didn't scam anyone and I didn't start suddenly start too cause people like drama. Pretty uneventful overall and the BOI has no lack of other punching bags.


P.S. what is your stand on using UVB for monitors? I always have since I have all wattages of MVBs lying around. They seem to love them.

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Originally Posted by SiscoReptiles

From your list, I choose the Argentine Black & White Tegu. Of course I am partial to them, being that I am a bit tegucentric.. :carrot:

If you want my reason, watch this video..

http://www.siscoreptiles.com/tegu-attention.php

Rick

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that is the best thing i have seen on the net all day. I think I need a tegu!

ive been recently pondering the same thing about tegus and i think i found the person i will be getting one from in the near future i always wanted a tegu but could never figure out what i want that video on siscos website deff won me over

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http://www.siscoreptiles.com/tegu-attention.php
Rick

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that was awesome!! i didnt realize they could be so good. I really thought they were more aggressive and incapable of being good "pets" that video was awesome, thankyou for educating the public on them.

Gotta say we have had many but the Labrador Retriever of the monitor world is the water monitor...... ackies and savannas close second.....:D

Another person that is really into tegus is William Regal the wwe wrestler....lol

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

that is the best thing i have seen on the net all day. I think I need a tegu!

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I second that!
It was indeed fantastic and makes every reptile lover want one. :]

get crazy with it, but an iguanadon... or pterodactyl... you know, they make those things now... http://lizardkeepers.com/