Savannah Monitor

[beardie parents]

I just read through this thread out of curiosity and this reinforced why I don't want any lizard other than a beardie. I'm not a snake person so those are out. It is an interesting thread. I also saw that show on the animal planet about those lizards eating their "owner". I think that man got in over his head. I don't even have room for an iguana even if I wanted one.

 

[Phoenix17June2009]

i missed that show but my mom told me about it, and then began asking me all kinds of strange questions about my beardie... :roll: i admit i do treat him like a baby, he has toys and a baby blanket and he gets hand fed from time to time and i speak to him in a baby voice, i have even scolded him a time or two lol!! my mom was saying that the show was telling how people are attracted to animal that could potentiall kill them, and that it reminded her that i had a lizard....i was trying to explain to her that my beardie is 18 inches... thats all... hes prolly not getting any bigger unless he gets a little wider,lol and that hes not dangerous... i'm in more danger riding the horses than i am holding him lol!!

from what i heard about this story, i too think he was in over his head.

 

[Nomad85]

You don't want a Savannah monitor. The novelty will wear off and you will have a problem of how to house/feed/provide proper temps for a large possibly mean lizard...(though I've not met a mean one yet, nile monitors are terrible)
I say this based on the level of care you put in your post, but I don't know you, so if you have the means and knowledge/desire to do it right, then go for it. It wont be cheap or easy though.

 

[vickson420]

I have to agree.I have had the pleasure of working with some Monitors years ago and I also have the scars to prove it...lol.I personally found Savs to be the most difficult personally but that also had alot to do with the way we interacted with them vs. that of a large nile for example.I did fall in love with a beautiful peach throat who was a complete doll and never once showed a spark of aggression towards me but that is a one in a million IMO.The only thing I may disagree with is a statement made a little bit back in regards to the Tegu's, personally I found them to be very docille and quite interactive but maybe I was just lucky...lol.Personally I would never trade out my beardies for any other reptile,the connection is far greater with them then with any other reptile I have ever had the pleasure to know or own.

 

[Reakaleak]

I currentlly own 2 savannahs. I've had them since they were babys, and as long as you have time to handle them daily, or atleast a couple times a week they will be as calm as any beardy! It is true that they have bacteria in their mouths but as long as you wash your hands (i mean your supposed to anyway) you'll be fine. At the worst you'll have to get antibiotics . Of course that's only if you haven't put the time in to tame your monitor.They do eat alot i feed my subadults 6-8 rat pups a week (3-4 twice a week not at once). They are 21" and 24", they try to act bad but all they do is hiss at me. That's only cause i didn't handle them enough when they were baby's but their still workable and their taming down still. As far as housing i have them both in their own cages with tile substrate. It's a 6'L x 2'W x 18"H, 2 level. It should be big enough for them when their adults. When givin the chance they will escape!!! I had one get out and he hid in the closet, funny as hell tho! If you got any questions you can e-mail me ([email protected]). I think sav's are awesome and i'm actually looking into getting a Nile Monitor!

 

[Freeie]

I wouldnt have one. I fostered a young one for 2 months me and my daughter worked every day several times a day so we didnt stress it out to much. She would hiss and bite and swat us. She was very agressive. We didnt feed in its home we put her in a tub with the food already in it so she didnt see us as her food sourse so she wouldnt be food agressive. That didnt work either she was a little terror. Thank goodness i found her a good home with someone who had them for yrs.

 

[jeserah]

If I were going to get a large lizard, it would have to be a rhinoceros iguana or something similar. Mostly because I think they're super cute, but also it's way cheaper to feed a vegetarian reptile. But then again, unless I had acreage(or lots of sq. feet in which to build I ginormous environment), there would be no way I could humanely justify having one.

This was a really interesting thread!

 

[vickson420]

Rhino's are great!They are much less aggressive then the green iggy's but way to big for a 55 gallon :wink:

 

[Monkey]

Im also one of them who reacted on how easy the OP is going to get rid of his beardie on a whim. Me as well LOVE the monitors but I will never owe one. They are too dangerous for me and I dont have the time to spend to train and work with them. A guy I know had one and it was the most well socialised, trained, well mannered lizard I ever meet. He'd crawl up to be petted in peoples laps, he'd go to the shower to do his business, he walked nicely on leash outside, he was just amazing. However the guy who had him, brought him with him everywhere, had set up a corner at his job where the monitor could chill during the day etc. His whole life revolved around this animal.. And if that is what it takes, no, dogs are way easier. But they are amazing that I have to give them, my heart do belong to the komodo it's just SO cute!!!! (yes I think its cute)

 

[HumorDragon]

Moniters have been shown to have a mild venom, what it does is break down your blood cells so you will bleed freely.
As far as fatal attractions I did see a tiny bit of that episode (i can not stand shows like that.) I believe the guy had kamono dragons (is that how you spell it?) and those are the ones who definetly should not be kept by anything less than a hard core herper. (or even zoo.) They are the largest lizard speicies alive I believe.

 

[Maldesto]

To all you people being rude, your acting like im a bad person, im 18 year old man and i don't enjoy having a small lizard like i would a huge one. I thought in the beginning it would be fun, but i just don't see the fun in it. I don't really want to keep this beardeddragon and not treat it like it deserves, its cool don't get me wrong, im just a guy that wants something bigger and more aggressive. I don't think anyone here keeps their beardes when they don't have enough time, or put in enough quality time like they should. I seen over 50 + posts with people getting rid of them no one gives them the harsh crap im getting. I don't think its fair, i am going to be leaving this site now due to the rude people. I'm not getting rid of it on a "whim" im just doing the right thing, do you want me to not give it the attention it needs, and just feed and water it and not handle it. I mean seriously, but whatever, its a beardeddragon site, of course people are going to be douchers when someone isn't interested in a beardie anymore. I am going to give it to a good home or swap it for a monitor lizard. I would never give it to a bad home, i don't treat animals bad.

 

[BeardieNewbie15]

If you really want a monitor nobody is going to stop you. If you don't have time for a beardie you probably won't have time for a monitor. How fun is a pet that you can't even touch because it will possibly bite you? If you didn't want opinions you shouldn't have posted. Your dealing with a bunch of beardie lovers here, and the way you phrased getting rid of your beardie obviously offended a lot of people. It's not that we are "douchers" we just care about the species you are talking about getting rid of. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[PaganDragons]

To all you people being rude, your acting like im a bad person, im 18 year old BOY and i don't enjoy having a small lizard like i would a huge one. I thought in the beginning it would be fun, but i just don't see the fun in it. I don't really want to keep this beardeddragon and not treat it like it deserves, its cool don't get me wrong, im just a guy that wants something bigger and more aggressive. I don't think anyone here keeps their beardes when they don't have enough time, or put in enough quality time like they should. I seen over 50 + posts with people getting rid of them no one gives them the harsh crap im getting. I don't think its fair, i am going to be leaving this site now due to the rude people. I'm not getting rid of it on a "whim" im just doing the right thing, do you want me to not give it the attention it needs, and just feed and water it and not handle it. I mean seriously, but whatever, its a beardeddragon site, of course people are going to be douchers when someone isn't interested in a beardie anymore. I am going to give it to a good home or swap it for a monitor lizard. I would never give it to a bad home, i don't treat animals bad.

 

[keschete]

To all you people being rude, your acting like im a bad person, im 18 year old BOY

AMEN! My initial statement was based on how you were going to "get rid" of your beardie. Those are your words. Responsible adults don't just get rid of pets. And as for getting something meaner, bigger, tougher....you sound like a kid trying to trade his lab in for a pit bull (no offense pit bull owners). A beardie isn't cool enough.

The people who run the Varanid forums are serious about their animals and are probably not as nice as we are when it comes to people who lack the knowledge and skill to care for an advanced pet. I know a few of those guys and many are very serious about their monitors.

 

[vickson420]

Ok folks that is enough.The OP has explained his position and it is not up to us to decide if his actions are right or wrong.He asked a question so please stick to that and only that.Rudeness will not be tolerated and that goes for everyone including the original poster of this thread as well as those who have posted after.

Vicky