To who ever knows about monitor lizards.?

Question

Are ther any monitor lizards that do not grow very big or do not bite?

Answer 1

Savannah monitors are considered to be fairly small and tame... But your best bet would be an "Ackie" monitor (Varanus acanthurus. They stay very small and are relatively easy to care for. As with any monitor, no matter the size or supposed temperment, it will only be as "tame" as you make it. You need to handle it regularly and properly, and avoid feeding it live food that will only fuel it's hunting instincts. (I hate when people will get one, throw a live mouse at it once a week and never touch it, then wonder why they have a supper agressive 4 foot lizard on their hands.)

Here's a decent Ackie care sheet:
http://www.proexotics.com/care_ackie.html

Answer 2

Don't be fooled by people that will tell you Monitor Lizards cannot be tamed or handled safely. The best way to understand a Monitor is to own one.
Smaller types of Monitors available are the Tree Monitors and the rough Necks. These are not inexpensive and thought should be considered into researching the species you plan to keep, so that you can keep it properly.
A monitor like animal that grows only a few feet are the Tegus of South America. Though they are not Monitors (strictly Old World) they do however possess many of the same qualitys that people find attractive in Monitors, such as the stocky body, constant tongue flicking and enormous appetite.
Research every angle before you consider this type of pet and best wishes on your new venture. Thanks, Leo

Answer 3

Even though reports abound concerning "tame" monitors (usually in reference to the Savannah monitor), the fact is that all carnivores are capible biters--that's what feeds them. Monitors possess a basic intellect, as do most reptiles, and will often learn to tell human from prey so long as they aren't hungry at that given moment. Once hungry, nearly all that I've worked with (and I've worked with several hundred over the years) develop "tunnel vision" and "one-track-minds." Movement excites them, hunger motivates them... and they attack. A monitor that's been handled frequently soon learns that handling isn't a setup to be eaten, so they can appear relatively calm. But a high level of respect must always be paid to their ability to inflict sudden and severe bites. Monitors and Tegus make very poor choices for people who are concerned about either size or temperment.

If you'd like a moderately-sized lizard for a pet that isn't likely to bite you, you might instead check into the Chinese Water Dragon. They do have sharp teeth and do eat live animals occasionally, but are renowned for their pleasant temperment if purchased young and worked with gently. They average three feet in length as adults. Green Iguanas are usually not biters as hatchlings--and the guy at the pet shop may tell you that they're like having a little green dog--but they often reach lengths of six feet and tend to become territorial as adults; bites are likely at this stage, although they'd happen infrequently with most specimens.

What I'd recommend doing is to go to your local petshop and have a look at what they've got. Once you see an animal that interests you, DON'T BUY IT YET. Go home and research it on the internet; most animals have extensive lists that appear by running a Google search. Don't trust the word of the guy behind the counter -- he's there to sell the animal. Many in the pet industry are no more educated about reptiles than the guy at the corner gas station; they'll sell a crocodilian to someone who lives in an apartment. I remember a group of salesmen who were telling a teenager (who was buying a hatchling caiman crocodile) that they don't get much bigger than 2-3 feet. Try 5-10 feet in reality!

Once you come across an animal that would fit into what you're confident that you can handle (don't kid yourself--having a "cool" pet isn't worth eventually being afraid to deal with the animal), then set up its home, regulate the temperature, and go get 'im. With habitat destruction going the way it is, I feel the best shot reptiles have at survival lies in the hands of hobbyists. Good luck to you!

Answer 4

I’ve been a herpeculturalist and herpetologist for many years and have had little success with keeping monitors that were not prone to deliver a savage bite whenever given the opportunity. However, I know of one woman who has had a great deal of success. She feeds her monitors daily, in the morning when their cage lights go on. They are fed using a pair of tongs and gloves and the diet is mostly beef hearts and chicken gizzards. She handles them daily in the afternoon. Her monitors are the most docile I’ve ever seen.

Answer 5

ackie's are by far the best montior for sommeone looking for something small and handleable. They have a very good temperment and dont get nearly as large as some of the other monitor species on the market...

Argus monitors are a good medium sized monitor but still require a very large cage and are extreamly skitish and can give you a very nasty bite...... but theyre definalty a personal favorit.

Answer 6

they remind me of george bush, they'll "monitor" your calls.