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FLAherper

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Hello, I usually use the fauna for classifieds but decided to use forums
To.
Little info I'm 15 parents have never let
Me
Keep a reptile in my life, so I went out and
Got a job to pay for all of them myself. I'm in Florida Duh, and
I am really into the varanus family. I have a large reptile shop near me and I'm really just wanting a monitor or tegu. the large lizards to me are just amazing.

So I know just how hard it is to keep any type of monitor, with large spaces deep substrate correct and large diet and a pissed of 4+ ft lizard if you handle them wrong. But if correctly they are beautiful feisty animals.

I have 2 beardies right now a female argentine boa and a jungle carpet.
I have experience with 2 large niles I feed clean at shop. And would think about getting one of my own. But the species I am unsure of. I would assume black throat but idk it's a huge thing and come interment to think about.

Opinions.
 
what living arrangement do you have, bigger monitors require lots of room and if you are in a small apartment or a similar situation simple space could present a problem. Another thing to consider is it takes a lot more to care for a monitor then your beardies and the two snakes. I would say just make sure you do your research first and jump in to anything you arent able to handle.
 
I think the younger guys are harder to
Care for (they were for me) due to Insect diet. But the meat the miles
Put away is ridiculous!!!

And I have plenty of room for a medium
Monitor cage. I do not live in a apartment.
 
monitors need a lot of support they grow very fast when they are kept right so you would be better starting off with smaller ones like akies. even the smaller ones need big enclosures and lots of heat .
 
I'm not a fan of the ackies, they are monitor in truth but are mini sized lol. Waters miles
Crocs I've all
Dealt with are to big for me def not begginer, owner of where I work
Said I should go black throat.
 
black throats are a good way to go but they get big as you no. get a baby v. ornatus they can come vary tame over a nile but also get very large. and the trust in the monitor is between you and them if you can support the monitor with the care they need you will have a best friend.
 
Haha I meant not for a beginner. And idk what age has to
Do with it, I keep some reptiles at home but have spent a lot
Of time caring for these animals properly and have learned a lot about
Varanus.
 
FLAherper said:
Haha I meant not for a beginner. And idk what age has to
Do with it, I keep some reptiles at home but have spent a lot
Of time caring for these animals properly and have learned a lot about
Varanus.
Click to expand...

Age should play some part in you decision making process.Look at it objectively.Monitors take an exceptional amount of time,room and care.Then reflect on your current situation.Your fifteen and live at home.Do you plan on going to college,when you go do you think your folks are prepared to care for your friend?If not college when you turn eighteen you'll likely need a place to live.When I was eighteen I could afford a shoe box size apartment. Whether school,full time work and or both you will be pressed for time.Personally if I were you I'd let life flesh out a little more before taking on medium to large monitor.
 
age CAN mean sometning... but im 16 and keep currently 2 large iguanas, 6 larger monitors, a ton of dragons and theres constantly more coming into my home. i persnally think as long as your mature enough to care for them, and do things RIGHT then go ahead. have you thought about a CBB savannah? not huge, not small and common enough. im not a fav of savsa they are too small for me LOL but the are a great beginner monitor if you ask me. that was my first monitor.
 
Im bringing this thread back up.
Sometimes Im really unclear on my posts when I go mobile, and then people post something about a gecko and stuff kicks in.
Big responsibilty to care for a medium to large monitor and Im not taking this lightly:iagree:.
Im actually currently becoming emancipated though, so no I wont be living at home. I actually have a friend who worked at a LARGE place who is going to hire me when I go to college. Hes a reptile breeder thats a little under the radar but I could keep anything I currently am working on...
btw as of know Im shooting for diamond jungle carpets in next 2 years, Picked up unrelated pair.

Thanks
 
You said you're becoming emancipated so you won't be living at home- So how will you afford to have a place big enough to have the space for such an animal? I do think that age can mean something. Sometimes it means you are mature and responsible enough to "go big" so to speak, and sometimes it means that you're not. I think it really, really just depends on the situation and the person. I'm not discouraging you, just trying to get you to think of those little things. You are a minor, so by law you can only work so much in a week. If this changes because of emancipation, feel free to correct me. But that being said, if you can only work a few hours a week, how will you afford housing, food, other living expenses(gas, insurance, ect), on top of caring for your animals? Think about these things and don't make a quick decision.
 
Just so you know though, but here in Florida a minor cannot be emancipated until they are 16. Not sure how far off you are, but if you have about a year, then you should really discuss having a large monitor at home with your parents in the meantime.
 
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