Monitor Lizard Questions

Hey

What is the best monitor lizard to be around kids, and can easily be maintained fairly easy. I would like to monitor to be around kids that are 13, 9. No younger than nine. Let me know what you think... -Jon

hi there in my years of experience i do not believe that any type of monitor lizard is ok for your kids!!! like iguanas they are not for kids. try some geckos or bearded dragons good luck!! lzrdldy

They would not be owning the monitor. I am just looking to see if it is safe to have out around the kids that age. If not, is it a good pet to let a 13 year old be with? -Jon

i would suggest you do some research on types of monitors. most get very large and some are quite aggressive. savannahs are tameable and can be docile if handled every day when thry are young. however, i do not think they are for young childrenmainly because of their dispositions. anything with a mouth can bite,and they have a nasty bite!!!! as i said,try the chat room on monitors here at fauna.maybe someone can give some insight on different types that will suit you and the kids. good luck!!! i highly recommend a different type of lizard if they are to be handled by kids! lzrdldy

If a monitor is what you want, I would suggest looking at ackies (Varanus acanthurus).
These are one of the species of dwarf monitors and with you as the primary care taker, they would fit your situation just fine.
They are much easier to house and care for than the larger monitors, but retain all the fascinating behaviors and characteristics that make monitors so interesting.

The 13 year old would be perfectly capable of interacting with these lizards, and even the 9 year old would find them enjoyable with supervision.
None of my yellow ackies are over 18" including the tail, and my reds were just over 24", and at these sizes they remain easily managable.
With regular handling after they're over their spastic hatchling stage, they tame down nicely. They're not content to sit on you like a slug like a bearded dragon will, they're just too active for that, but they do tame well enough to not mind short periods of handling.
The most interesting aspect of them however is not the direct interaction, but just being able to observe their normal habits of hunting, tunneling, and breeding.
I would go with a pair or trio of them though rather than a single animal since they are small and are so easily housed in groups.