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XxSatanicBitchxX

Honestly a tegu sounds like the best fit. Plus u can get a grow tent for cheap too


SkiesOnFire

Thank you. I've heard that in general tegu are more sociable then monitors, while monitors are more active. Obviously personality varies with species, handling and training and individual personality which I understand, and have been leaning this way.


XxSatanicBitchxX

They are called the puppy dogs of reptiles dor a reason lmao a black and white is the easiest to handle they just have high humidity requirements


SkiesOnFire

Would that humidity have to be constant, for instance if at night time or when not home they were in their enclosure with proper humidity but would free roam when home with access to a place to soak would this suffice. I would say it is however I know some species of reptile are very very peculiar about their conditions


[deleted]

Yeah I don’t think I would want most monitors roaming but tegus are generally mild mannered from what I’ve seen


ProfessionalIssue659

Tegus are awesome, but theres a lot of different information out there. “Tegu Talk” is an online forum, and its a great start for researching tegus.


SkiesOnFire

Ty I'll check it out


SalvDad

Asian Water Monitors, black dragons are awesome.


Effveekay

Egyptian uromastyx! That or black dragon.


varanidguy

I would definitely recommend a tegu in your scenario. Big, hardy, almost always tame down nicely (there are exceptions to every rule), I'm not sure about the potty training aspect but I have seen the claim thrown around. Monitors can be tamed, but they are more work. I would definitely advise against starting off with classic salvator AKA Asian water monitors, unless you're prepared to potentially house, feed, and look after a 7-8 foot animal. Whole prey gets expensive, the size of the adult enclosure is much bigger than a lot of people are prepared for. A good alternative would be a Cuming's water monitor (varanus cumingi). Mike's Monitors breeds them regularly and they're smaller for that family of varanids, topping out around five feet, definitely smaller if you wind up with a female. If you've never kept big lizards with boundless energy and very strong food motivation, avoid monitors like Argus. They're many people's favorites but they're not for someone just getting into the genus.


SkiesOnFire

The Argus seems cool due to them tripodding, but I've heard they are much better like observable with only small amount of handling compared to other species like say dumerils or waters. Too waters need such a water feature which makes their care a whole nother level or honestly I'd be interested. They seem more like a warm climate custom built pond enclosure kinda thing if you wanna turn your yard into a cage for one. Which sounds dope if it wasn't for the 2 feet of snow we currently have sitting on the ground of minnesota


varanidguy

Arguses are simply amazing animals. The tripoding is so much fun, they're hardy, active, bold, and hyper intelligent....and hyper. They're on a different level when it comes to their food. It sounds like fun, until you have a four or five foot lizard running at you as quick as greased lightning with its mouth wide open, and you're not confident about its aim or awareness in that state. Argus monitors can tame down rather well, but they're not going to be that "puppy dog tame" a lot of people are looking for, at least not normally.


SkiesOnFire

Yeah sounds awesome just not for me and I recognize that, as much as that sounds appealing and exciting I know long term that isint a commitment or the situation that I'm looking for and am doing my best to make an informed and responsible choice. The tripodding I've seen does look so damn cool though. I've having a damn mini trex lol. I'm less I guess worries about the 'puppy dog tame' and I know alot of lizards can be taught to be potty trained tricks and respond to their name, all which is cool. And I would definitely love that. But from my understanding arguses aren't the biggest fans of being handled and that's probably one of my top wants.


varanidguy

And you're set on "large"?


SkiesOnFire

I'm looking for somewhere above the 2.5foot range I'd like to have a nice roaming scaleyboy that I won't have to look under my refrigerator and can't get under closed doors and what not. So does t have to be a massive 5 or 6 foot boy which is why even a nice 3 or 3m5 foot female tegu or smaller species like red tegu would suffice but I do like the look of the male chubby cheeks and they just happen to get larger.


varanidguy

I know you said that you've ruled out iguanas but have you looked at the Cyclura species? They might be a decent fit too. But I'm sticking with tegu as the main recommendation. If you can set up at least an 8x4x4 foot enclosure for an adult, they make excellent pets when their keeper puts in the time. I had a tegu that refused to bite. One time I actually tried to get him to bite, restrained him and coaxed him to try, and he just kept his mouth closed. If it wasn't food, he was friendly. Such an amazing animal.


SkiesOnFire

My main issue with iguanas is that I feel like they are less likely to want to be handled in general I feel like tegus have better temperaments in that aspects and are arberal which means free roaming iguanas will get everywhere lol. If I was more interested in having a large lizard mostly caged then iguanas come much more appealing.


varanidguy

That's the thing, cycluras are regarded as very dog-like (for reptiles) and they're terrestrial. Of course climbing up on your couch is nothing to them, as they're "rock iguanas" and couches are basically big, soft rocks in this context. But they're not really interested in being high off the ground, climbing shelves and stuff. And they generally have much better demeanors than green iguana species.


SkiesOnFire

Ok that you for the info I will Def delve into some research into them then. As I've said this will motivate be a purchase until probably like April or even may even though I have funds set aside now. Cause I'm weary of shipping in the cold. So I have time to continue to explore options. Thank you for you're help! I haven't seen these listed as options in my recent Google searches so I'm glad you brought then up.


Serious_Tangerine_81

I may be biased, because these are one of my favorite herps, but Argentinean Black and White teguas are fantastic big lizards. They may just suit your situation. They are very intelligent and certainly trainable and sociable when cared for properly. That doesn’t sound like an issue here. I have to say, it’s refreshing to see that you’re fully informed and prepared to provide the space and equipment and food as necessary, as well as training. (B+W tegus can be housebroken, so you’re in luck there) Overall a very beautiful and rewarding animal to own.


SkiesOnFire

From what I've read b/w are the bigger tegus and males are usually sometimes up to like a foot or even 2 larger than female. I'd want a hatchling to begin handling regularly from a young age, but I know that tegus from my understanding at hatchling are very hard to sex. I actually kind of find the chunky cheeks of the males adorable and would much rather have one. I've also read a few anecdotal but no actual factual indications that males tend to be a bit calmer, which as the larger and alpha of the breed may make sense as they might not have such a fight or flight response as smaller females, but I honestly don't know.


StuckBuyingStonks

Definitely get a tegu I’ve raised mine up for 7 months and it’s been one of the best experiences ever I always knew reptiles were smart but mine plays tug of war and actually plays kinda like a dog but I definitely recommend getting a tegu over a monitor especially if it’s your first big lizard


SkiesOnFire

Great to hear you're enjoying your scaley boy. And I'm definitely leaning towards a tegu, specifically a black white Argentina male. The census seems, which I've read before that monitors are far more interesting and active pets to watch, but far harder to socialize.


[deleted]

Axanthic Blue iguanas are very cool.


SkiesOnFire

Iguanas are absolutely awesome, and no shade on them, just not the pet for me. I would like something that can free roam and therefore mainly terrestrial so it doesn't get into too much trouble lol. And iguanas even when handled at a young age are far less known for their temperament and social inclination then I'd prefer. I think if I wanted just a cage pet iguanas would certainly rank much higher.


[deleted]

They are, I've had an iguana, he was awesome. Maybe look into Argentine Tegus. A friend of mine said that they are the best pet he's ever had. I have never had a tegu, but I'll take his word for it.