Monitor vs Tegu- ultimate showdown

[Amcquear]

Okay, here's the skinny. I'm looking into getting a new pet lizard. When I say pet lizard- I mean it, a PET. Something that is as much at home in its enclosure as it is being handled. The animal has to be intelligent, largeish (16" to 4-5' in length, don't exactly want a komodo dragon here) relatively easy to care for (keeping in mind that I work in a research lab that houses 100's of reptiles and amphibians so I'm pretty familiar with general husbandry techniques, although I have no experience with monitors or tegus in specific) and personable. I know that personality is an individual thing, but I mean a species that is generally pleasant. The big question: is this ideal species a monitor or tegu. If one or the other, what specific species? Ackie, durmeil's, savannah, blackthroat, black and white, blue, red, etc.? Thanks for all the help.

[Itachi]

Get a dog or a cat then, reptiles aren't cuddely animals, they are wild animals. Plus, they aren't easy to care for. I think you need to do some research and find a different animal besides reptiles; as well as monitors, that fit your needs and wants.

[Amcquear]

I'd think that I'd be familiar with the fact that reptiles aren't dogs or cats- I don't want a dog or cat. I'd like a large lizard that is personable, it's not like I want it to roam the house, use a doggy door, and walk around on a leash. I know full well the wrath of an angry reptile, although I've only been bitten by snakes mostly, the only lizard has been a chuckwalla. I guess I should clarify- I'm not after a cuddly little companion animal, I'm just looking for a largeish lizard with a tolerable personality. In other words, it won't mind captivity. I know of some reptiles that bite even when they're only handled for normal maintnence reasons- like the amazon tree boas when I soak them or move them out to clean their cages. You know? The kind of animal that's a joy to keep.

[TheOtherAndy]

Originally Posted by Itachi

Get a dog or a cat then, reptiles aren't cuddely animals, they are wild animals. Plus, they aren't easy to care for. I think you need to do some research and find a different animal besides reptiles; as well as monitors, that fit your needs and wants.

My thoughts EXACTLY. It might sound mean, or insensitive, or whatever, but if you want to get a monitor for any reason other than being fascinated with monitors, its a bad reason. When people say they simply want a big lizard that walks around the house, it clearly has nothing to do with the animal itself. If all you want is a big tame lizard, there are thousands of green igs out there that need homes.

[Joanna]

I think you guys need to read his post. From what I understand he doesn't want a reptile that is like a dog, he just wants a species that doesn't have a hissy fit when it's handled. From looking at the list of reptiles he has I would guess that he understands what keeping a reptile involves.

[hisba]

I agree with Joanna, this person sounds like they know what they want and has plenty of experience.

I don't have any experience myself with monitors or tegus tho, from what I have heard from talking to people, tegus in general tend to be more aggresive (esp the B&W tegus). From what you are saying I think a monitor might be a better choice, I've heard good things about black thoat monitors... also aren't savana monitors typically pretty personable? Sorry I can't help more, just don't have the experience with the species.

[buck2003]

Hi, Out of curiosity what work do you do in a lab with the reptiles?

[TheOtherAndy]

Amazingly, people with experience with monitors generally discourage people from getting them for reasons like this, with criteria this broad. People that don't have them, or have had one or two never seem to understand why. I kept herps for a long time before I ever tackled monitors, and none of my experience was useful at all. Monitors have very specific needs and specialized metabolisms that simply don't apply to geckos or snakes or beardies or whatever. Again, a green ig applies to all these criteria (though NO big lizard is easy to keep), and their care is well understood and documented... and people are desperately trying to give them away. If people want a large carnivorous lizard because its somehow cooler than a green ig, then thats not a good reason. I would say thats just my opinion, but I've never known an *experienced* monitor keeper (meaning raised one from a baby to reproduction at least) that disagreed. If there's one out there, please post.

[hisba]

just wanted to throw this website up here for the original poster to research if they want
http://www.varanusweb.com/
and I do agree with theotherandy that if you rescued an Iggy that would be great, there are so many that need homes and they are personable as well.

	Iguana Iguana

[Amcquear]

I work for a lab that does evolutionary biology research. We keep the load of reptiles as teaching/display animals. Being an undergrad, my job is to be my PhD student's mule and take workload off of her. I deal with the tons of newts. We are the only facility in the world to successfully breed Taricha Granulosa newts in captivity! My professor has contributed to many a herpetology book. My job centers around pit-tagging the newts, treating them with hormones, watching them for medical problems, monitoring and caring for eggs and their development, and tending to the caddisfly larvae we use in the experiment. Our work centers around production of TTX in the newts and eggs with the other variable being the presence of predatory caddisfly larvae. We also have a long-running experiment with garter snakes and their resistance to TTX toxin in newts. The reason I said "Ease of care" is because I know monitors are very different. Their metabolisms are much faster, they are larger, and more intelligent than other animals with which I deal. This is exactly why I'm looking into one- because the higher intelligence, more activity, different husbandy needs would present an interesting challenge and rewarding experience. I'm looking for something that won't try to kill/harm me every time I feel like handling it or interacting with it- but, again, I'm not looking for a puppy- as I have no intention of making it a housepet or constantly handling it. Thanks for all the great info- those of you that contributed.

[Itachi]

Originally Posted by Joanna

I think you guys need to read his post. From what I understand he doesn't want a reptile that is like a dog, he just wants a species that doesn't have a hissy fit when it's handled. From looking at the list of reptiles he has I would guess that he understands what keeping a reptile involves.

Yet there is no species of monitors that DO NOT throw a hissy fit. Monitors DO NOT like to be handled. They freak out when touched because it's not normal for them. The "tame" ones you hear about are often kept for years and are worked with for those several years and have come to trust the human.

[Amcquear]

Hence, my appeal to the RTB forums, to seek the advice of those that have kept monitors under practical conditions and take said advice into consideration before further pursuing monitors/tegus.

[NicoleRussell]

I can't talk too much about monitors but my tegus are wonderful and my cyclura are too.
Arengentine tegus will tame much faster and get large quicker then cylura---cyclura take years and tegus take about 18 months (if not brumated)....cyclura are herbevores..tegus mostly carnivorous.......
I would suggest no other tegu other then Tupinambis Merianae...here's some more info:
http://www.agamainternational.com/merianae.shtml