My son has been asking if we can have a monitor for the past couple years. (More like begging) I think I'm ready to give in, but I have never owned a monitor and I don't know much about them. I am getting ready to do some research now, but thought I'd open the floor here first. What type of monitor would be best for a beginner? Are there types we should avoid? Any suggestions or cautions I should be aware of before we proceed? I would appreciate as much input as possible. Thanks!

I am not a monitor expert by any means and I don't actually own any. However I did research them for a while and if I were to get into them I would probably start with an ackie or other dwarf species. They look and behave like the big guys but are much more manageable. I personally love the glauerti, gilleni, and pilbarensis but I have heard they can be more shy than the ackies and are definitely more pricey. I would probably avoid bt's, savannahs, niles, tree monitors, crocs, etc for a first monitor simply because (with the exception of the trees) they are large, expensive to house and feed, and as with any large predator there is always a possibility for injury. lol I've heard good things about water monitors but they can get very large so just keep that in mind.

Hope that helped and hopefully some of the experienced monitor keepers can comment as well and correct me if I said anything wrong. :cheers:

Hahahahahahahah!!! Joe went with the opposite of what I say! I've been keeping them for years, and the FIRST thing you need to do is figure out your space. If you can comfortably house one of the larger species, get a water. Hands down most malleable one to work with. Second on the list would be a sav. Lots of people have those and love em to pieces, I just happen to prefer the look of the waters.

If you don't have the space for the big boys, then I'd say timor or mangrove, possibly a green tree. (Although, to be honest, there are people here that have ackies and do very well with them, that has not been my personal experience. We have two pair that are completely psychotic, and others that have passed through that have been the same, doesn't mean that they are bad, I just always use gloves and keep in mind that they are wicked fast. But that is just MY experience, like I said, others here have really good luck with them)

Hahahahahahahah!!! Joe went with the opposite of what I say! I've been keeping them for years, and the FIRST thing you need to do is figure out your space. If you can comfortably house one of the larger species, get a water. Hands down most malleable one to work with. Second on the list would be a sav. Lots of people have those and love em to pieces, I just happen to prefer the look of the waters.

If you don't have the space for the big boys, then I'd say timor or mangrove, possibly a green tree. (Although, to be honest, there are people here that have ackies and do very well with them, that has not been my personal experience. We have two pair that are completely psychotic, and others that have passed through that have been the same, doesn't mean that they are bad, I just always use gloves and keep in mind that they are wicked fast. But that is just MY experience, like I said, others here have really good luck with them)

lol When I said I had heard good things about waters, I should of said I had heard them from you. lol I know you love em and I would probably pick a water if I had the space too. And yeah I probably should have mentioned ackies are a little crazy lol but that's what I like about em! :lmao: :cheers:

lol When I said I had heard good things about waters, I should of said I had heard them from you. lol I know you love em and I would probably pick a water if I had the space too. And yeah I probably should have mentioned ackies are a little crazy lol but that's what I like about em! :lmao: :cheers:

Cuz you also failed to mention that you aren't quite right in the head!:p:lmao::lmao:

(Kidding Joe!!)

Naw, Melanie got an ackie after I told her a billion times to get a water and let her play with a couple of my adult waters, and she loves it.:cheers:

Cuz you also failed to mention that you aren't quite right in the head!:p:lmao::lmao:

(Kidding Joe!!)

Naw, Melanie got an ackie after I told her a billion times to get a water and let her play with a couple of my adult waters, and she loves it.:cheers:

:lmao: :cheers:

Something I should say... you also asked about avoiding. Avoid Niles as a first monitor, probably also blue trees, yellows, and blacks. Also avoid ANY that is fresh in wild caught. Avoid ANY that are so sweet that they just lay in your hand. They don't need to be spastic, but they should never just lay there, that means they are two steps from death. Also, don't take a bite as it being a mean animal. If you are starting with a baby you're going to take some bites. Depending on the species they should look "full" but not obese, check the eyes first, they should be clear, alert, and aware, never dull and Never Sunken In looking. I stress that because that is the first easy way to see a problem is the "sad eyes" effect from dehydration, etc. Also if you're going with one of the smaller species check the mouth and nostrils for rubs or sores.

Thank you for all of your input. I think I now have half of the problem solved. I'm pretty sure I've decided on a Sumatran water monitor. Now for the next issue.. To my knowledge, there is no place locally to get one. Do you guys have any suggestions on someone I could buy from online? I get a little bit nervous purchasing an animal I cannot see first. Do you know of someone trustworthy who is selling quality water monitors?

Sara probably has some and all of the TCR stuff is top notch!

Thanks for the suggestion Joe. I sent Sara a PM and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Get an Ackie..You wont need a ton of space, and they like a hot basking spot around 140 though. Ive worked with them and have friends who bred them and they are alot of fun!

I replied to your PM... I'm out right now, but we'll see how things go. :cheers:

Get an Ackie..You wont need a ton of space, and they like a hot basking spot around 140 though. Ive worked with them and have friends who bred them and they are alot of fun!

Honestly, size is a big part of the appeal. We all like big reptiles. That is what spawned my son's interest in the first place. He watched our beardies grow from tiny little babies to beefy little things and he was excited. Then the iguana far outgrew the beardies and he was amazed. Then he got online in search of a lizard that would outgrow the iguana. I would love to say this obsession is solely his, but I am also excited by the thought of a 6ft+ lizard. ;)

Honestly, size is a big part of the appeal. We all like big reptiles. That is what spawned my son's interest in the first place. He watched our beardies grow from tiny little babies to beefy little things and he was excited. Then the iguana far outgrew the beardies and he was amazed. Then he got online in search of a lizard that would outgrow the iguana. I would love to say this obsession is solely his, but I am also excited by the thought of a 6ft+ lizard. ;)

Absolutly!...Put up pics when you get one!

I will for sure. :yes:

The only thing not to like about big monitors is BIG poop. :lmao:

Hi everyone! As an experienced keeper of water monitors, I would NEVER recommend a water monitor as a first monitor. Period. Most people don't realize the requirements of such a lizard. This animal will need an enclosure that is a MINIMUM of 12' x 6' within the first year if fed and kept properly. Monitors are fed EVERY day, not once a week. The cost of heating that size of enclosure (depending on your location) can be substantial. Also, the cost of building the enclosure will be very high. Please, please do your research BEFORE you buy. Have an enclosure built BEFORE you get the monitor (glass aquariums should NEVER be used). The 'big lizard' thing is not that cool if it is suffering from poor conditions. Go to some of the monitor forums such as varanus.nl, varanus.net, and cybersalvator.com to find out FACTUAL care guidelines for monitors. I would highly suggest going with ackies first to get monitor care down on a smaller scale. Don't get in over your head and let the animal suffer because of it. Remember, this is coming from experience. Thanks for your time.

Another note, what if you do all things correctly and you happen to have a water with a personality that doesn't allow interaction and is extremely defensive? Many waters never tolerate interaction.

Hi everyone! As an experienced keeper of water monitors, I would NEVER recommend a water monitor as a first monitor. Period. Most people don't realize the requirements of such a lizard. This animal will need an enclosure that is a MINIMUM of 12' x 6' within the first year if fed and kept properly. Monitors are fed EVERY day, not once a week. The cost of heating that size of enclosure (depending on your location) can be substantial. Also, the cost of building the enclosure will be very high. Please, please do your research BEFORE you buy. Have an enclosure built BEFORE you get the monitor (glass aquariums should NEVER be used). The 'big lizard' thing is not that cool if it is suffering from poor conditions. Go to some of the monitor forums such as varanus.nl, varanus.net, and cybersalvator.com to find out FACTUAL care guidelines for monitors. I would highly suggest going with ackies first to get monitor care down on a smaller scale. Don't get in over your head and let the animal suffer because of it. Remember, this is coming from experience. Thanks for your time.

Another note, what if you do all things correctly and you happen to have a water with a personality that doesn't allow interaction and is extremely defensive? Many waters never tolerate interaction.

As someone that has been keeping them on a personal level for 10 years, and being with someone that has kept them for over 30 years, and someone that has been been in PM contact with the OP and the amount of research she is doing, I am comfortable with her getting one. She's aware of size and housing needs...

Most people on this site are not jump first, ask later people.

Good to know, I'm glad she's done her research. I'm still wary about recommending a water as a 'first' monitor for her and her son. It is a long term (possibly 25 year) commitment that may be hers alone if the son loses interest. I'm curious Sara, what do you keep as far as waters?

I am still doing research. :) Trying to make sure all my bases are covered. No monitor yet. Still preparing. We have a cage built now, and I have spent a whole lotta time reading. I am patient and will make sure I am fully prepared before I make the buy. I appreciate everyones input. It is obvious to me how much the members here care about reptiles. You guys are great.

Also, I will let my son enjoy the monitor as a member of our family, but I will be taking it on as mine. I will be responsible for care, and the monitor will stay with me when my son leaves home.

Thats great Jayne! Attach some pics of the enclosure, I can help you out with the setup. How big is it?

Good to know, I'm glad she's done her research. I'm still wary about recommending a water as a 'first' monitor for her and her son. It is a long term (possibly 25 year) commitment that may be hers alone if the son loses interest. I'm curious Sara, what do you keep as far as waters?

Currently a pair of black dragons, sadly lost my sulpher last year... there's pics in here somewhere of "taking Tinley for a walk" that was her, she was my 'baby'... Plus the countless others that have come through that I have had the pleasure of getting healthy and keeping until they were placed.

As for recommending as a first, IMO it depends on the person and what they already have and how long they've been doing it. When you look at other pets and experience, it is often a very good fit in comparison to a smaller more high strung one. Kind of the equivalent of saying for a first dog to somebody that really wants a mastiff they have to have a jack russel terrier first. If they don't want a higher strung, faster, crazier little dog, it is going to turn them off to dogs as a whole and they aren't going to enjoy it. Like I said though, that is just my opinion... I've been working with "the public" for a long time and my job (aside from the obvious constant cleaning) is fitting the right pet for the person. It's what I do. I tell people all the time that it isn't going to work for them, that the animal they think they want isn't going to be a good fit. I give them options, I give them advice, and I refuse sales. Every day. They often then go online or to somewhere else and buy it anyway. About half of those they are calling in less than a year asking if we can take what they bought, it is too big, out of control, mean, whatever. :cheers:

We currently have a savanna, and he is our second. They are great pets, as long as you start getting them used to handling early. Our current sav, we got as a sub adult, and is taking a little longer to get used to being picked up. We usually pick him up with gloves, but take them off once he calms down and relaxes. The nice thing about the savannas, is that they don't get huge. We would love to have a water monitor, but just don't have the space. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Monitors are a completely different level of care when compared to snakes, geckos, or bearded dragons. A person with no actual experience with MONITORS should not start out with the ones that require the most resources, in my opinion. The monitor ends up suffering for years before it succumbs. I am not saying this is the case with Jayne, but in general. She seems like she wants to learn, and that is great. I've just seen too many monitors suffer on 2'' of cypress mulch in a glass cage, no hides, very poor temps, screen tops, and only fed one or two times per week. Jayne, I see you live in Ohio, do you have a setup that will allow for 85% humidity, 125-135 deg F basking area, cool end of cage no lower than 82 F (including the 1.5-2' of sand/soil/cocopeat/leaf litter substrate), with multiple hide areas that can be maintained at this level all year long? I would love to see pictures of the enclosure that you have built.

on another note, I'm trying to get my post count up so I can PM you Sara....so keep replying to the post. lol

Thats great Jayne! Attach some pics of the enclosure, I can help you out with the setup. How big is it?

We created our beginning cage out of a display case. I can snap a few pics when I get home from work. It measures 6ft long, 3ft wide, 4 1/2ft tall. We cut out half of the seperating shelf and left half for a basking platform. Completely water sealed. We built a ladder for access. Installed a heat panel on one side. Screen top for ventallation and heat/uvb lighting fixtures. 1/2 inch acrylic doors with locks. 3ft x 2ft pool on ground level. Any other recommendations for this inclosure?

Just reread my post. *1/2 screen top*

First rule of thumb with monitors...lose the ventilation. if you must have any, it should be small and low in the cage (and that is only if the room the enclosure will be in heats up more than 80 deg F). An open top (screen) or ventilation area will not allow proper humidity at all. Make sure at least a portion of the substrate is heated with a kane mat or similar controlled by a thermostat. Again, lose the screen immediately. Affix all heat elements to the INSIDE of the enclosure, out of reach from the monitor. At 4.5' tall, 55w sylvania halo floods should suffice for basking area. Check temps with a temp gun.

Have a temp gun. The room it is in is always 90 and above in the day, and rarely drops below 80 in the night. Even the half screen is too much? The rest of the cage is completely enclosed. I would prefer the lighting on the outside of the cage, but I will do what is best for the monitor. Would the use of a fogger/humidifier combat the half screen top? Like I said, I will ultimately do what is best for the animal.

Even half screen is too much. All humidity will be lost, even with a fogger/humidifier. Dehydration and kidney issues will ensue.

As soon as I figure out how to post pictures, I can give you some examples of set up.

Any direct suggestions on what I should do to modify our current enclosure to make it more suitable? I understand what I've been told so far, I am just not sure how I should proceed. If anyone has specific directions for modifications, please throw them out there. Thanks again for all of the help.

You can email me at varanusjames@gmail.com. I can send some pics and walk you through it.

What are Timors like?

Dan

What are Timors like?

Dan

Bigger than ackies, smaller then savs... more ackie body but longer tail. Not as hyper as ackies, but skittish. I had one for about a year that would eat out of my hand, climb up my arm, and sit on my head. Cute little bugger.

They remind me alot of the rock monitors and tree monitors. They are the type I will get when I get a monitor.

What are Timors like?

Dan

Like having an empty cage if kept right. Every one I've worked with was super shy and hid all the time. Nothing like an ackie
If the OP is not settled on the water and still wants a biggun may I suggest white/blackthroats. Pro Exotics is a good source for info especially on albigs. Their ionides are awesome.
And stock tanks are great base cages. You can also add on to get more height for larger and climbing monitors.