What is the best pet monitor lizard?

The videos featuring puppy-dog tame, giant lizards performing tricks and coming when their name is called have captured the hearts and minds of herp enthusiasts across the world.

Many people will walk into a store and make an impulse purchase in order to have their own internet celebrity.Don't be one of those people!

Keep reading to discover what you need to know about monitors as pets and their care requirements.

Not every enthusiast has the time, commitment, and finances to care for a monitor lizard.

The inherent risks of owning a monitor are similar to that of a wild animal.Monitors grow large enough to cause serious wounds that would require emergency treatment.

They are incredibly smart.Studies show that the most intelligent reptile is not only a problem solvers, but also a thinker.

Rock monitors can count, Nile monitors engage in cooperative hunting, and Komodo recognize people that take care of them.

It can be their downfall in captivity if they have that level of intelligence.

A bored lizard is a grumpy lizard.Some keepers think that they figure out our schedules, read our body language, and calculate opportunities for escape to take advantage of negative opportunities.

Monitor lizards are one of the most rewarding reptile species to own and care for, as long as you are willing and ready to put in the work, according to seasoned monitor keepers.

Their small size and agreeable temperament make them suitable pets for reptile keepers.

The Ridgetail Monitors are native to northwestern Australia.

It is thought that they spend most of their time hidden in crevices waiting for prey to come to them, because they are less active with slower metabolisms.

They range from dark brown to bright red.They have long tails that account for 1/3 of their total body length.

The communal species can be housed in an enclosure that is 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 2 inches tall.You look like a predator when you approach these lizards from above.

If you give them a chance, they will dig.They need a lot of opportunities to hide and climb, like rocks, caves, branches, and hollow logs.

Being native to desert-like environments, the Ackie Monitors need a 150 oF basking spot and moderate humidity levels.If you poke your finger in or form a ball, they should hold their shape.It is either too dry or too wet.

Most of the insect's diet should be fed daily, with a vertebrate prey offered once or twice a month as a treat.It's a good idea to use a high-quality reptile multivitamin once or twice a week.

One of the most popular pet monitors are the Savannah Monitors.You can usually find the smaller versions in reptile stores.

This availability has led to the neglect of impulse-purchased monitors.

The good news is that they are one of the most friendly and mild-mannered species of monitor.

The Monitors are native to Africa.They are related to the ornate monitor and the Nile monitor.

They seek the cool respite of burrows during the hottest parts of the day because they are diurnal.

The short limbs of the Savannah Monitors evolved for digging.Their heads are triangular due to their jaws, and they have shorter necks than other Varanid species.

Despite their popularity, experts haven't unlocked the keys to keep them in captivity.

Most animals die from dehydration at a young age or live for 3-6 years, with the only symptom being Obesity.

Considering that most monitor lizard species live for 20 years or more and the fact that female Savannah Monitors produce only one or two clutches before they die in captivity, it seems logical to assume that our current captive husbandry standards are lackluster at best.

If you want to put your reptile keeping skills to the test, the Savannah Monitor might be the right lizard for you.

Some insects and mollusks are occasionally eaten by the Wild Savannah Monitors.They have to fast for five to six months.

Feeding a monitor a diet of insects, rodents, and processed foods year-round is the reason they don't last long in captivity.

If you decide to take on a monitor of your own, we recommend doing a lot of in-depth reading about their natural history in the wild so that you can do your best at replicating their diet and seasonal changes.

The Asian Water Monitor is a lizard that is popular in pet stores but too large for most casual reptile keepers to provide adequate housing and care.

Asian Water Monitors are the most common monitor lizard in Asia.Due to habitat loss, Asian Water Monitors are a common sight along canal systems in Sri Lankan cities.

Thanks to its willingness to eat mammals, reptiles, birds, and even carrion, this opportunistic predator thrives anywhere that there is water.They are almost as good at climbing as they are at swimming.

The large, mighty lizard has a flattened tail that helps it swim and scale trees.Young Asian Water Monitors are black or dark gray with bright yellow bands and spots, but they usually fade with age.

A pool for swimming is required for Asian Water Monitors.The pool will be used for drinking and defecating so it needs to be cleaned daily.

They don't have to worry about their nutrition requirements since they're opportunists.

Asian Water Monitors thrive on a diet of insects, meat, feeder rodents, and commercial monitor lizard diet with reptile vitamins and calcium added occasionally.

It is difficult to find Pygmy Mulga Monitors in captivity.Their size and personality make them perfect for living life as a spoiled pet lizard.

Don't let that make you feel discouraged.You will find one of the few Pygmy Mulga Monitor breeders if you research and reach out.The wait is worth it for this little guy.

The Pygmy Mulga Monitors are calm and manageable.They claim that they are the least bitey of the dwarf monitor species.

It is possible that they are one of the easiest Varanus species to care for.

The Pygmy Mulga Monitors are native to Australia and live in trees.

The Pygmy Mula Monitors may be more vertically-inclined in the wild for the sole purpose of escaping predators.The Pygmy Mulga Monitors are happy at ground level.

Attach their habitat with branches, hides, and sand.They need a basking spot that is at least 150oF.

Pygmy Mulga Monitors thrive on a diet of commercially- available feeders that are occasionally dusted with calcium and multivitamin powder.

Males may engage in combat during the breeding season, but this species does well when housed communally.

Pygmy Mulga Monitors are more common in captivity, but they may be easier to track down.

If you want a jungle-like habitat, this species is perfect.They're one of the most shy species on our list.They are better suited for observation.

The Monitors are native to the Asian island of Timor.They are dark green or gray with gold or blue speckling.They hunt for insects and lizards on high branches and tree hollows.

The habitat of a captive Timor Monitor should include artificial vines, cork tubes, and any other climbing apparatus you can come up with.

The importance of hiding opportunities is not emphasized enough because the Monitors are very shy and will stress out if exposed.

Coconut husk, organic topsoil, and cypress mulch are some of the materials that can be used in a moist area.

Being native to the jungle, the basking temperature of the Timor Monitors is 120oF.

If you want the humidity to be above 80%, you need to mist it up to three times a day.

The occasional pinkie mouse can be fed a diet of mostly insects.They are prone to being obese, so be sure to watch their intake and body condition.