General Questions

[Deafbum]

I am considering buying an argus or water monitor.

1.) What would be a decent size enclousure for each one

2.) Do you suppy your monitors with a multivitamin and calcium

4.) What size of a water container would a water monitor need

5.) How do you drain/clean the water container

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[boaterr]

Originally Posted by Deafbum

I am considering buying an argus or water monitor.
1.) What would be a decent size enclousure for each one
2.) Do you suppy your monitors with a multivitamin and calcium
4.) What size of a water container would a water monitor need
5.) How do you drain/clean the water container

A decent enclosure would be gigantic. 2-3 times the monitors length and at least as wide as the monitor is. So your talking about a minimum 8*4*4 foot for the Argus and a cage the size of a large bedroom for the water.
You would obviously need a giant water container for such a large animal.

I would not consider buying any monitor "no matter how small" until I went out and handled the animal for myself "an adult monitor can be a real handful". Have you ever had a large lizard for a large period of time, because a water should never be for someone just braking into the hobby?

I will be getting a black throat monitor soon, so I spent the weekend helping a friend move some of his large black throat just so I could get a feel for what I am getting into. It was fun but I took some pretty bad scratches "they have claws like razors" and I took some painful tail whips.

Also, I hope you have some serious disposable income because large reptiles go though the wallet like a tornado through a one bedroom flat.

[C.Frankenstein]

Agreed.

Interesting species you've got your sights set on, though. Any reason in particular why?

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[Deafbum]

ya i aggree that the water is to big, but are argus monitors a good choice compared to other medium sized monitors?

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[Deafbum]

The reson that i picked the two particular species is because i have been told that the are the most "tame"

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[luker3232]

remember argus' get rather big too

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[luker3232]

who told you that? because that is a full 180 degree turn from the truth

[Deafbum]

whould a mangrove monitor be a more docile medium sized species?

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[C.Frankenstein]

Originally Posted by Deafbum

The reson that i picked the two particular species is because i have been told that the are the most "tame"

I don't really think there's one species of monitor that can be considered 'tame'. Well, maybe ackies.

Every single animal is different. Some nice, some full of hate. It's a gamble. You really shouldn't buy a large reptile species because you've heard that it's more 'tame' than another. In the end, you're going to have a large reptile on your hands no matter what. It might tolerate handling, but it might not. What are you going to do with a full grown argus that wants to eat your thumbs?

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Deafbum

whould a mangrove monitor be a more docile medium sized species?

No. Mangrove monitors are typically WC. Even if you can get your greedy little mitts on a CB mangrove, they're still really flighty. And you know the ole' saying about 'Fight or Flight', yeah? Keep a flighty animal in an enclosed space and you don't leave it many options. It's going to fight.

Monitor bites are terrible. I've only been bitten by a couple of mid-sized monitors, and that was more than enough.

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	Captive Born Captive Born

	Wild caught wild caught

[Ophiophilia]

TEGUS! Or maybe Varanus Acanthurus (Spiny-tail monitors)
No one ever goes for the little ones (I didn't even like them either until I saw them, they are fun little critters)

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[boaterr]

Originally Posted by Ophiophilia

TEGUS! Or maybe Varanus Acanthurus (Spiny-tail monitors)
No one ever goes for the little ones (I didn't even like them either until I saw them, they are fun little critters)

Tegus are a great pet for someone who wants a big lizard but does not want to deal with monitors. I find Tegus to usually be much more docile that monitors, but I have seen a couple chainsaws.

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[Deafbum]

has anyone had any experiance with peach throat monitors(Varanus jobiensis) ?

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[C.Frankenstein]

They're flighty, too.

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[Ophiophilia]

I think you should check out Argentine Tegus if you're looking into a big lizard that's monitor like

[DRZRider]

I keep argus and a very small water (less than 3 feet). I have kept peachthroats and they are very similar to mangroves.

If someone that has an argus tells you it is tame, either they are lying or there is something wrong with the argus. I have heard of tame waters, but they are rare. Waters are known to be skittish when young, but may calm down as adults, or they may not. The indicus complex (mangroves, peachthroats, bluetails) are known to be skittish and do not tame down. I have heard of one tame mangrove that someone once had, that is it.

If you want a monitor to have a big tame lizard you will be disappointed. The only ones I would even recommend for someone that wants to hold a monitor is an ackie (which I also have).

As stated previously argentine tegus may more of what you are looking for.

Ed

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[Deafbum]

thank your for recommendations ill eather get an ackie or one of the tegu spiecies

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[DRZRider]

Sounds good. If you go with a tegu make sure you get one from Argentina. Columbians are thought to be as bad or worse than the monitors.

Good luck,

Ed

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[boaterr]

Originally Posted by Deafbum

thank your for recommendations ill eather get an ackie or one of the tegu spiecies

Before you do make sure you research your potential buy heavily. To often keepers are so blockheaded that they buy the animal first and then they get the bright idea to research it's needs after the fact "in the mean time the animal goes thorugh stress and pain that could have been avoided". I sound kind of harsh but this is the time of the year when countless people are getting rid of large reptiles because they were unprepared and got in way over their head.

As said before Tegus can be nice pets but so can Green Anacondas and Mainland Reticulated Pythons, as long as the keeper understands what he is dealing with and understands the risks involved.

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[razeraze]

I was stupid enough to believe water monitors tame fairly easy. I was wrong, and almost lost the use of my thumb for it.

Boaterr I am glad you are still considering monitors. I wish you the best of luck with them, do you have any pictures of the blackthroats you worked with?

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[boaterr]

Originally Posted by razeraze

I was stupid enough to believe water monitors tame fairly easy. I was wrong, and almost lost the use of my thumb for it.

Boaterr I am glad you are still considering monitors. I wish you the best of luck with them, do you have any pictures of the blackthroats you worked with?

I do not have any pics at the moment but I can take some next time I see Chris. Everything I have read about large monitors tells me that they are not really a good pet for someone who wants to touch and hold their pet on a daily basis, but the ones I dealt with were very calm and did not mind be rubbed and held "except for 2 that really liked to tail whip". How often do you hold Juggernaut? Also do you feed him everyday or every other day.

My girlfriend wants an black and white argentaine Tegu but we will see what happens because I want a monitor .

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