What monitor besides a savannah is better to have as a pet?

Question

I was just wondering, what is better a black throat monitor or a white throat? I am going to the reptile expo and their should be tons of baby monitors for sale, what would be better? I already have a savannah that is the weirdest thing, I bought a nile, and they have been living together for the past 2 years. But anyway, what would be better with temperment?

Answer 1

you've had a nile in with your savannah for 2 years and the sav isnt dead.

im genuinely surprised since it wasnt a bright idea imho

how about an ackie (dont house with anything)

as for black or white throats the both similar in care and temprement so there really isnt much bettween them

Answer 2

White throats and black throats are concidered by some to be one in the same so there is really hardley any difference, they make great monitors to keep if you have the rite experience, they can be very tame and there are people that let them roam around the house but those are experienced owners. By you having two monitors housed together tells me im not quite sure you should have any monitors at all, most monitors are highly territorial and do not like sharing living space with others not to mention you have a nile with a savanna. And besides the husbandry for one monitor is huge and costly it will have to be double to house two i am adding to my answer because jason h just blew me out of the water with his. What i meant to get at is savannas in the wild do lots of roaming thats why they need plenty of space in captivitiy by adding another one in its enviroment you are only decreasing its territory and they can become stressed and aggressive. Not so much as babies or young adults but more so when fully grown, they need there own space.

Answer 3

I had a peach throated monitor (v. Jobiensis) that was a big sweetheart and the vet called a "momma's boy". He would crawl on the couch or my lap and fall asleep for hours. He was a big mush. I also have a yellow (quince) monitor (v. melanis) that isn't very tame since she was wild caught---no lectures please--her species was only discovered in 1997. She loves to climb and has literally climbed up door frames to the ceiling. Very fast and has needle like claws but I can hold for a few minutes. She also starting climbing the bookcases now and will fall asleep on the top shelf after throwing DVDs off to make room (or sleeps on top of the DVDs).  

Answer 4

I would recommend getting something from the tegus family.  I have a blue tegu and that is one of the best pets I have ever had.  They are usually very friendly.  They are also not that big and easy to handle.  

Answer 5

ridge tailed monitors (ackies) are the best choice for a first time varanid or tegu type "pet" hands down, nothing is as friendly or inquisitive as an ackie in the whole monitor, tegu world. no discussion on this one. forget the savannah or black/white throat you need to have some monitor/tegu keeping years under your belt before you get one of these. you will fail and they will die or be you will be overwhelmed by their care and cost , probably both. here is a link to all you you need to know to get started with ackies http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ2.html#14

as far as tegus go all are fairly easy to keep its just size and temperaments that differ ( they all get big just some bigger ); blue tegus are the smallest, have nice temperament, and can subside on an all rodent diet. argentine black and whites (aka. the chacoan or giant tegu) are the most recommended species for the beginner do to there excellent temperaments and their very, forgiving of keeper mistakes. they are also one of the largest tegu species some individuals will take some fruit as well as rodents some not . the red tegu is also one of the largest along with the argentin black and white. it also shares the same excellent temperament as the arentine black and white but it is not very forgiving of mistakes in their care at all. colombian black and white tegus(common tegu) is the least recommended  they are just as easy to keep as most of the other tegus ,its their temperament that are S****y. they are down right mean! here is a link to one of the most respected tegu breeder in the world bert langerwerf at http://www.agamainternational.com/

p.s. savs. and tegus need a minimum cage size of 8 feet long by 4 feet wide by 4 feet deep, a black throat monitor minimum cage size of 12 feet by 6 feet by 6 feet. those are some big cages! and feeding is EXPENSIVE . an  breeding trio of ackies on the other hand needs a minimum cage size of 4 feet long by 2 feet wide by 2 feet deep ,that is a MUCH more easy to provide cage size then the others and the feeding isnt a fraction of the cost..which one is going to be cared for properly by a monitor / tegu newbie? these animals are a whole different ball game than any other herp. besides the size thing get old fast when it comes to monitors. . go ackie!

p.p.s. i guess i didnt read the whole question cause i just noticed the sav. & nile thing.  monitors ARE social animals( frank retes at the goanna ranch proved this fact) but only in same species/breeding settings ( for the most part ). i agree with william w maybe you should reconsider keeping monitors

p.p.p.s.to lizard momma.  quince monitors are hot looking monitors right? dont hear about people keeping them very often . i had a pair years ago i picked up from switzer reptiles. never any good eggs from them just duds. loved looking at them though, just couldnt  stand their temperaments  (can you say scratch and spray). even the few C.B.B. ones ive seen have had S****y attitudes.