ok i have done

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

a lot of research and i think i want to get a male and female yellow spot timor monitor,
any tips? or comments?
any reasons why i shouldnt get one?

[Josh]

I know you dont wanna hear this but think small!!
something like an anole a gecko a long tail grass lizard

[Ameivaboy]

well,

varanus timorensis is a very shy species, you wont see much of tehm exceptf or quick glimpses here and there until they acclimate.
They need large enclosures (even though they are "dwarf monitors")
that need to be well build to withstand the amount of humidity they should be provided. with tree monitors and arboreal monitors caging that is taller than you are is the best way to go, the feel safest looking down on you or your dog or whatevere might be entering the room in which they reside (because they feel the safest high up in trees). Really not a species for beginner lizard or varanid species, a good beginner monitor species would be an ackie (varanus acanthurus) but on the same note they would not be a good beginner lizard species.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

ive had lizards before ones ive caught around my area like blue belly's, lots of alligator lizards, blue and pink tailed skinks, i would like to get an ackie but they cost a ton and my moms limit would proably be 125 each for christmas

Originally Posted by Ameivaboy

well,

varanus timorensis is a very shy species, you wont see much of tehm exceptf or quick glimpses here and there until they acclimate.
They need large enclosures (even though they are "dwarf monitors")
that need to be well build to withstand the amount of humidity they should be provided. with tree monitors and arboreal monitors caging that is taller than you are is the best way to go, the feel safest looking down on you or your dog or whatevere might be entering the room in which they reside (because they feel the safest high up in trees). Really not a species for beginner lizard or varanid species, a good beginner monitor species would be an ackie (varanus acanthurus) but on the same note they would not be a good beginner lizard species.

[flakgunner]

hey,
well,if this is your first attempt at lizards,I'am not so sure that these are the best way to go,I've never been a big lizard fan.but after my wife picked up a Bearded Dragon,I was more than amazed,and hooked!!!she bought one at a reptile show,it was 5 months old.so amazed ,that we went and bought two more!!,but these where very small babies.mine two weeks(4 1/2") and hers four weeks old(5 1/2"),it's been abit tuff,and a huge undertaking at that age,I would skip buying one from a shop.and go to a swap meet and purchase one,direct from the breeder.you'll be hooked,guaranteed.ours enjoy being held and carried around on our shoulder,mine looks forward to his baths (mine almost died a couple of months ago,ate a piece of bark and became impacted,it was horrifying to watch,so he got 4/5 warm baths a day) when they reach 20" - 24",you can buy a harness,and take them outside,weather permitting,but becareful,their are a few bugs outside that are dangerous,one lighting bug(firefly)is all it takes to kill a full grown dragon,within hours!!!!!we know this first hand !!theirs good books out their and a couple of web sites dedicated to dragons,if you want the sites,let me know.as they grow veggie's take up a good part of their diet.ours are now at 50%,by adult 60/70% ,with crickets making up the rest ,with proper care and diet,they'll grow 1/2 per week!!we've had our babies for three months now,mine is a whopping 11"!!despite being sick and stopped growing for 2 weeks,and the wifes little girl is 11 1/2".

Joe

[drache]

personally I'd go for something a bit more personable
I too look at the varanids and think they're beautiful
I have these plated lizards that are a good size
I haven't measured them, but they're bigger than the beardie
they're not that hard to keep
they're just quite a bit shyer than the beardie and they hate being handled
they do come out to bask and stay out with just us in the house, but anything at all can make them disappear
I have really mixed feelings about them
I don't think I am sufficiently into lizards to want ones that are really shy
what's the point of having animals you hardly ever get to see
I have a few snakes that I look for in the substrate a couple of times a week to make sure they're still alive
not sure how I feel about them either
I know I often feel like I'm intruding
and I can well understands a captive large lizard being grumpy a lot
after all - how much space can they be given unless you're an institution with funding - and even then
when the museum of natural history her had their lizards exhibit and displayed live animals, pretty much the majority of them were in enclosures that I would consider inadequate
think about it, Reed
how much square footage do you have to work with
and please don't plan to put an animal in something that some care sheet has designated as the smallest enclosure size you can get away with
the minimum for a single adult beardie is 2'x4'
any lizard larger than that is going to need more space
with your mom's spending limit it's gonna be tough to come up with an enclosure that size - especially if you blow all the money on the lizard
anyway - just my opinion
good luck with it all

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

yeaa i hate putting animals in small cages i couldnt bring myself to keep my garters in 30 gallons so i beeged my mom to get them 65 gallons i think if im going to get a lizard im gunna wait till i get some money from garters babies after burmation then maybe i can build a bigger cage

Originally Posted by drache

personally I'd go for something a bit more personable
I too look at the varanids and think they're beautiful
I have these plated lizards that are a good size
I haven't measured them, but they're bigger than the beardie
they're not that hard to keep
they're just quite a bit shyer than the beardie and they hate being handled
they do come out to bask and stay out with just us in the house, but anything at all can make them disappear
I have really mixed feelings about them
I don't think I am sufficiently into lizards to want ones that are really shy
what's the point of having animals you hardly ever get to see
I have a few snakes that I look for in the substrate a couple of times a week to make sure they're still alive
not sure how I feel about them either
I know I often feel like I'm intruding
and I can well understands a captive large lizard being grumpy a lot
after all - how much space can they be given unless you're an institution with funding - and even then
when the museum of natural history her had their lizards exhibit and displayed live animals, pretty much the majority of them were in enclosures that I would consider inadequate
think about it, Reed
how much square footage do you have to work with
and please don't plan to put an animal in something that some care sheet has designated as the smallest enclosure size you can get away with
the minimum for a single adult beardie is 2'x4'
any lizard larger than that is going to need more space
with your mom's spending limit it's gonna be tough to come up with an enclosure that size - especially if you blow all the money on the lizard
anyway - just my opinion
good luck with it all

[drache]

Originally Posted by reed_Kamsler

i think if im going to get a lizard im gunna wait till i get some money from garters babies after burmation then maybe i can build a bigger cage

I think that's an excellent idea
and if you're good at building, you can save a bundle

[zooplan]

a book
an enclosure
enough time
a pet

Thats what I think is the right way to successful maintenance.