Thinking of buying

[Twitch_1993]

I'm thinking of getting a tegus or monitor during the Rocky Mountain Reptile Expoi in Aug. Would a 80gal high be good for a young teg or monitor? And what kind should I get I cant decide.

[Argentra]

Hmm... there usually aren't that many monitors to choose from at the RMRE. They like to focus on snakes and geckos.

However, if I were to get one or the other I would personally go with a Sav. I've always loved those guys.

[bonheki]

Hmm... there usually aren't that many monitors to choose from at the RMRE. They like to focus on snakes and geckos.

However, if I were to get one or the other I would personally go with a Sav. I've always loved those guys.

DONT BUY FROM A SHOW AND DONT BUY A SAV!!!!
Ok first off shows usually have random animals ( I mean a bunch of differnt animals and you will prolly choose from what they have their) Second do ALOT of reasearch I strongly suggest you get and save up for a Ackie! For monitors/tegus they SHOULD NOT be keeped in aquariums they should have homemade cages!
Plus if you get a sav do you have room for a 8X4X5 cage? ( bare minimum) Savs also get 3-4ft and some can get 5ft....
Do you also have the money to feed these lizards baby monitors need to be feed everyday ( only 6 times a week ) and when they get bigger need to be feed BIGER prey items! ( depending on monitor is the secdual you will feed on (secies) )
Do you have experience with monitors/tegus? If that do you have any lizard experience at all? Monitors are not a ohh how cute lizard that will be your friends you will be lucky if your monitor turns out "nice" ( nice is not biteing you not tail whiping you) Monitors are no beardies need lots of respect and not your everyday lizard... Plus they need lots of space and some are hard to keep,maintain.....
any questions plz PM me... As for my suggestions do some research on ackies and dont buy any MONITOR!!!!! ( yet )

[Patrick Long]

DONT BUY FROM A SHOW AND DONT BUY A SAV!!!!
Ok first off shows usually have random animals ( I mean a bunch of differnt animals and you will prolly choose from what they have their) Second do ALOT of reasearch I strongly suggest you get and save up for a Ackie! For monitors/tegus they SHOULD NOT be keeped in aquariums they should have homemade cages!
Plus if you get a sav do you have room for a 8X4X5 cage? ( bare minimum) Savs also get 3-4ft and some can get 5ft....
Do you also have the money to feed these lizards baby monitors need to be feed everyday ( only 6 times a week ) and when they get bigger need to be feed BIGER prey items! ( depending on monitor is the secdual you will feed on (secies) )
Do you have experience with monitors/tegus? If that do you have any lizard experience at all? Monitors are not a ohh how cute lizard that will be your friends you will be lucky if your monitor turns out "nice" ( nice is not biteing you not tail whiping you) Monitors are no beardies need lots of respect and not your everyday lizard... Plus they need lots of space and some are hard to keep,maintain.....
any questions plz PM me... As for my suggestions do some research on ackies and dont buy any MONITOR!!!!! ( yet )

I think your post is a little broad, yes the Sav will need a large enclosure, but not for a year or so. I have my blackthoat housed in an 80 gal right now, and he is perfectly fine in it. ( i do have plans to build another enclosure, but just sayin.)

Do you have cats or dogs? They get fed everyday, so that is not THAT big of a deal, as an adult multiple small rats are perfect for monitors.

If you want that sort of lovey creature that will cuddle, a monitor is maybe not for you, but Tegus, are very friendly, and very playful.

Watch this

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

[littleindiangirl]

Ok, looking at your profile, you are 15 years old. This already is a mark against you, because you most likely don't have a job, and will be depending on others to drive you to places, more than likely buy the food and spend money on the vet visits. (I mean it when I say this, not as a jab, but as a fair warning, you WILL have vet visits.)

Like Bonheki suggested, many vendors go to reptile shows, and very few actually breed their own monitors. From the shows I've been too, they are usually in poor health, dehydrated with stuck shed and look to be about on the brink of death. You should research any possible breeders your going to buy from before you purchase any animal. It'd be a shame to spend $300, just to have the animal die from illness.

That said, I also have to agree that you should probably hold off on buying a monitor until you have gained some years of experience dealing with a lizard before you shoot right for the large ones.

Monitors and Tegu's get big, require a lot of space as a minimum, (Almost a room if you ask me), and will cost a lot of money in maintenance. This isn't like buying a beardie dragon or iguana, these are animals that require a lot of dedication, persistence and an experienced hand.

Like I said, if you were older, legally an adult, it would be different. But since legally you aren't, you can't be expected to provide everything for this animal by yourself.

If your parents were okay and knowledgeable about what a huge commitment this animal is, things would be different.

Given the circumstances, I have to advise towards getting neither of those animals.

[daniel1983]

Monitors are alot of work. Daily feeding. Daily care. Monitors are not for beginning keepers.

It is very important to research before you buy. Savs can get to be up to 6' long and you will need to provide a MINIMUM enclosure the size of 8 foot x 4 foot x 4 foot for it when it is full grown. I would not recommend a sav unless you can properly care for one....or it will end up like 99% of the other savs bought on impulse....DEAD.

Smaller monitors are great though. If you can find a lone ackie, it would be a great first monitor. They are docile, show a great array of behaviors and only get round 24" total length.

[Patrick Long]

If you can find a lone ackie, it would be a great first monitor. They are docile, show a great array of behaviors and only get round 24" total length.

and they come in yellow and red as well!!!!

[STORMS]

Watch this

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

That was a great video!!!

[bonheki]

I think your post is a little broad, yes the Sav will need a large enclosure, but not for a year or so. I have my blackthoat housed in an 80 gal right now, and he is perfectly fine in it. ( i do have plans to build another enclosure, but just sayin.)

Do you have cats or dogs? They get fed everyday, so that is not THAT big of a deal, as an adult multiple small rats are perfect for monitors.

If you want that sort of lovey creature that will cuddle, a monitor is maybe not for you, but Tegus, are very friendly, and very playful.

Watch this

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

Well as for the dog/cat example you can just buy a big bag of food an your set for a couple of weeks... As for feeding some people dont have cheap sources/good sources ( I know a guy who spends 200$ every 2 weeks on his monitors and he has 3 but his bill could go down 150$$) ( thiers also other people who spend as low as 7$ on a sav a week, and others who spend up to 20$$ for a sav a week all depends on your food source)
I never owned a tegu (or plan on owning) so I cant say anything about them... Also baby monitors ( and adults ) need a veriety of differnt foods .. babys need crickets,worms ( I feed super worms) and mice ( roaches work well ),.. as for adults they need a diet of some birds as well as rats. So people feed quail,chicks,and mice and some people even use thoes big hissers and other big roahes too feed their big monitors... As for cageing a 8X4X5 cage is pretty big not all people have that much space for their animals and others have alot of room! I really dont know your personal situation but just saying anyway....
Just trying to help....

[bonheki]

Ok, looking at your profile, you are 15 years old. This already is a mark against you, because you most likely don't have a job, and will be depending on others to drive you to places, more than likely buy the food and spend money on the vet visits. (I mean it when I say this, not as a jab, but as a fair warning, you WILL have vet visits.)

Like Bonheki suggested, many vendors go to reptile shows, and very few actually breed their own monitors. From the shows I've been too, they are usually in poor health, dehydrated with stuck shed and look to be about on the brink of death. You should research any possible breeders your going to buy from before you purchase any animal. It'd be a shame to spend $300, just to have the animal die from illness.

That said, I also have to agree that you should probably hold off on buying a monitor until you have gained some years of experience dealing with a lizard before you shoot right for the large ones.

Monitors and Tegu's get big, require a lot of space as a minimum, (Almost a room if you ask me), and will cost a lot of money in maintenance. This isn't like buying a beardie dragon or iguana, these are animals that require a lot of dedication, persistence and an experienced hand.

Like I said, if you were older, legally an adult, it would be different. But since legally you aren't, you can't be expected to provide everything for this animal by yourself.

If your parents were okay and knowledgeable about what a huge commitment this animal is, things would be different.

Given the circumstances, I have to advise towards getting neither of those animals.

Plus more then 50% of monitors a WC, and CBB monitors cost a couple hundred more then wc soo its alot cheaper to buy a wc then a cbb monitor and with out the right care thoes Wc monitors die...
But again all ackies are Cbb because it is illegal to get ackies from where their from ( i forgot where their from sorry lolz)
they stay small arent nearly as mean or agressive as other monitors and are cool!
Plus they dont require big cages....( 4X2.5or biggerX4)