What monitor should i get?

Hey. Im not new to reptiles and i currently was looking at monitors. I heard about ackies but there price threw me off. I seen a sav at my lps and hes in pretty good condition. ($50). I was thinking about buying it but im not sure if its for begginers with monitors. Thanks:)

no forget the sav you should get a nile there only like 10 bucks.

If you cant afford an ackie you cant afford a sav or any monitor for that matter. Someone that can not afford the price of the monitor will not be able to afford the amount of food they consume to keep them heatlhy and will certainly not be able to afford the housing and electric bill you get from it.

I can afford the ackie and monitors but i dont want to spend $250-300 for something that will get two feet. Also i heard nile monitors are aggresive and hard to tame.

The average cost of food for the larger monitors far exceeds the cost of an akies.All savannas are wild caught and most of them do not live past the first year.

Now you said you do not want to spend 200 on an akies but the cost of that 50 savanna,you will need a cage (monitors do not do well in fish tanks)100-200,you will need to feed it 1000 cricket a month what is that about 100 bucks and then don't forget the electricity bill to heat that large enclosure


What are you plans for when you grow tired of have a large lizard that bites,tail whips,and craps on you everytime you try to hold it,monitors do not become tame like most people think.Do yourself a favor and rethink the AKIES


GREG

Im all prepared. Also where could i get an ackie? I have a 100 gallon tank with nothing to put in it, Its sitting in my room taking up space. Hmm ill think ill get an ackie since you say.

I would recommend a 24 in HP monitor. LOL couldnt resist

See I have always felt that if you have to ask someone what you should get then your not ready to get any of them. Of course niles are hard to tame they have a bad rep well that goes for alot of monitors like gbasset said they dont all tame down. Some become tolerable of you. I have one water monitor that cost more to heat and keep up with then 12 burmese pythons and shes nowhere near her adult size. Shes been in her cage now for 3 months and already outgrown it and in need of a larger enclosure.

Savannah monitors are actually great monitors. After frequent handling, they can become very calm and as if they are like a dog. I like Savs, and I wouldn't mind purchasing one, but I'm more of a BP freak:)

i think you should get a monitor than you know how to care for. just be careful and dont underestimate how much money they are, i had a sav and all was well, then the food bill got pretty high and i had to find him a new home

they take a lot of work too, building a cage, cleaning up their mess, working for the money to keep them...

I have to disagree I see no comparison from a monitor to a dog. You dont have to give a dog a basking spot and make sure the ambient temps dont drop below a certain degree. Your dog cant become egg bound and dogs enjoy affection and compassion they like to be loved monitors can become tolerate of people but its not like there going to lay on your lap roll over and let you rub the belly

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Originally Posted by Denial

I have to disagree I see no comparison from a monitor to a dog. You dont have to give a dog a basking spot and make sure the ambient temps dont drop below a certain degree. Your dog cant become egg bound and dogs enjoy affection and compassion they like to be loved monitors can become tolerate of people but its not like there going to lay on your lap roll over and let you rub the belly

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I'm just saying how I've seen Savs that just lay there right next to their owners. I think it's pretty cool, so I compared that to a dog because my dogs always like to sit and lay with me and from the Savs that are chill and lay with their owners that I've seen usually remind me of a dog.

Thankss everybody. I think im going to get an ackie. Also does anyone know where to get one? (like a website or store, i live in ohio).

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Originally Posted by derrabe

I would recommend a 24 in HP monitor. LOL couldnt resist

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hilarious

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Originally Posted by K00l bean

Im all prepared. Also where could i get an ackie? I have a 100 gallon tank with nothing to put in it, Its sitting in my room taking up space. Hmm ill think ill get an ackie since you say.

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So that 100 gallon tank will tolerate 18" minimum of substrate? Heavy sandy/soil or DG substrate?

Most 100 gallon glass tanks (that's what we're talking about right?) aren't wide enough for a full grown ace.

How do you plan on keeping the humidity up?

How do you plan on getting a 140 degree hot spot?

You need to answer those questions before you think about getting an ackie.

I was thinking about keeping it in 100 as a baby then a custom made one. Also I have all the stuff for the monitor but all i need is to know where to buy the monitor.

If you've done your homework & are thoroughly prepared to make a decision on the best monitor species to care for at this time in your herp experience, then through your research & information-seeking, you should already have a pretty good idea as to where to find one.

IOW...please...do more homework.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonLOVER

Savannah monitors are actually great monitors. After frequent handling, they can become very calm and as if they are like a dog. I like Savs, and I wouldn't mind purchasing one, but I'm more of a BP freak:)

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You have never owned a monitor,but you will advise someone to get one.Why?Monitors can become traceable not tame they definitely do not become dog tame

As far as handling goes once again you are giving advice on something you never owened.Force handling dose more damage than good,if you do the gentle handling everyday 15-20 minutes bla bla your monitor will always be afraid never feel secure in his encloser and my stop eating basking and eventually die

Please do not give advice on something you have no experince with


greg

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Originally Posted by K00l bean

I was thinking about keeping it in 100 as a baby then a custom made one. Also I have all the stuff for the monitor but all i need is to know where to buy the monitor.

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Size isn't the only issue with a 100 gallon tank. Humidity and providing the proper depth of substrate are of utmost importance.

Providing a hot enough basking spot, preferably at the top of a Rete's stack is equally important.

While some may claim that an ackie makes a good beginners' monitor, most monitor keepers would tell you that monitors are not good beginner's pets. They do not tolerate husbandry miscues. While ackies may be smaller, they still require a lot of space for their size and a lot of attention to several important husbandry parameters.

hey, just curious, i dont know too much about the larger lizards, but where do tegus fit in all this? wut precautions are essential? i dont plan on buying a large lizard, i have my hands full with my BPs, but im just curious

Ive been reading about the 2 monitors for a few months now. Also all the stuff ive read about ackies, they havent gave me a website or breeder to buy them from.

I read this thread and it screamed-get a bearded dragon first-then decide if you are going to be capable of housing a monitor... Heck a beardie would even be really happy in a 100gal tank lol. And beardies are known for being friendly, go figure. just throwin that out there

Maybe. I asked my dad and mom if i can get an ackie of course they said yes but then i said its 300 and there like no, wait a year. Im thinking of getting a beardie. Any other suggestions?

If you want to talk about ackies, talk to ProExotics. I do not suggest you get a monitor at this stage. Monitors are a huge step up for a relatively new keeper, plus, what will happen when you move out, go to college, get busy for summer, go on family vacations?

Beardies might be a better fit. Easier to feed, house, and handle. There's a few beardie forums out there you could join too, in addition to people here who have them. They have their own specialized needs, and you might find they are much better to keep as pets in the long run.

Thanks. Ill wait for an ackie or sav later. A beardie looks good. ill search them up and gather info before i get it or if i get it.

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Originally Posted by K00l bean

Maybe. I asked my dad and mom if i can get an ackie of course they said yes but then i said its 300 and there like no, wait a year. Im thinking of getting a beardie. Any other suggestions?

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If you have to ask mom and dad,there is no way you are ready for a monitor.



greg

Im not allowed to get a pet without there knowledge, they will make me sell all of my other pets. They are strict as can be. They want to know what i want before i buy it , so they know whats coming.

bearded are a bunch of work...

I recommend a leopard gecko. Much easier, cheaper (to buy and to feed) and they hunt in very similar ways as a monitor.

Bearded will need special UV lighting, and a varied diet.

get some crickets and mealworms and an occasional pinky mouse and you're all set.

Check craigslist...

people give away leopards all the time.

They do pretty much everything a monitor does on a smaller and cheaper scale.

And I have 2.2 colony of ackies...

If I didn't breed my own food and supplement with some turkey here and there.....their food bill would exceed $80-100 a month easily...food alone.

A single ackie can eat 20+ crickets a day and still be hungry.

I have a 2.5'x6.25'x3' cage with about 1200 lbs of dirt (1 ft deep)

I have some leos. Im giving my male away for a female possibly.

berdies are cool, good luck.

Im going to breed today ,maybe...

I hate these threads.

What are you breeding today? Wouldn't that be bringing animals into the house without your parents permission?

Its not a total new animal.