argus monitor

[leobreeder]

hi new to the forums and was looking for some info on these awesome monitors...

i am going to be purchasing my first one here soon...

im going to build a cage that measures 4' high 5'long and 3' or 4' deep...

any tips and general info would be awesome! i am new to monitors...i havent been able to findany info that is really useful...some first hand advice would be great!
thanks..........................................
link to my caging question...http://newenglandreptile.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=4927#4927

[PadraigC]

id go bigger 6x3x3 or 8x4x3 my biggest suggestion would be to look at stock troughs at your local feed store and build around one of those.

[leobreeder]

6 feet long isnt a problem...

now as far as husbandry gos...easy or a harder species? from what i read as long as you keep them well fed and the temps up there should be no problems...

[PadraigC]

not beginners IMHO especially considering they are wound tight...ackie or even blackthroat or whitethroat would be my first choice

[leobreeder]

what does wound tight mean?

i have kept a variety of herps and havent ever had problems really...i have a buddy that said out of all the reptiles hes had it was one of the easiet to keep...as long as the temps stay good and keep them well fed and offer them a variety of foods that it will do fine..

i really am set on a argus...the other monitors you suggested are they similar in behavios to a argus? i want a monitor that is pretty active...

what makes arguses difficult?

im willing to do whatever they need...i love these monitors...i just need to know what to do really...

i also noticed the species you suggested arent sold through NERD...i like the price of a argus...and that they arent the heavier bodied...

[Omar]

and they are all cbb, unlike the others(aside from ackies mentioned) which are hardly ever CB, let Alone CBB and the ones that are cost more than 100 which the average price for an import. So yeah, I'ld go with the argus, flavs are args with less temperment, and less size, so they're good too.
panoptes hornii....

[PadraigC]

flavs are args with less temperment, and less size, so they're good too.


How about a flav x argus cross even better :smt023

Args can get 4.5-5 males and can really do some damgage if your not careful about them especially at feeding time.

[Omar]

Yep. the crosses are good, less money than pure flavs, and great looking and great size.

[leobreeder]

flavs are args with less temperment, and less size, so they're good too.


How about a flav x argus cross even better :smt023

Args can get 4.5-5 males and can really do some damgage if your not careful about them especially at feeding time.

oh man i know about the power of a large monitor...my buddy had a huge croc...i got nice and tore up by that one night i was taking care of it...

but from every pic i have seen they are more of a slender lizard not a heavy bodied lizard...

i am defiently buying from NERD my buddy got a argus, dwarf caiman and a few other herps...they said his arg was gonna be 8" but he got a 18" monitor!

how many mice can these things demolish in a week?

[PadraigC]

Argus, what seperate them is there friggin huge massive shwazanager like limbs theyre huge' a 18" argus has to be just a yearling or a animal not fed well. How many mice can they demolish. Thats a question of how much do you have?

Im not trying to be a butt here but, u said you got torn up by a croc? Their bites are serious I hope it made you think. An argus bit ill compare to a nile monitor bite which probably doesnt help. I think some kid with a hompage phrased it best when he said they dont have the crushing power of say iondesi but it still hurts and has a tendency to tear more. They suck Im guessing from your name you started with leos............would you of started with Uroplatus? Monitors are hard because u want to dive right in but you cant. Im suggesting to you a bite more reading and try to find someone with an aduklt argus and get a feel. As always I think Ozzie Dwarfs are great altwernatives but then agian im biased :smt023

[leobreeder]

he had a walk in cage for his croc monitor and i had to go in to change the water and clean out the tub...he was on the other side of the cage under a spot lamp i went to spot clean around his perch and when i looked up he was looking at me with his look(im about to pounce on you)he mainly just scratched me...i got bit once and it lasted about 2 seconds...

your not being a butt at all you are giving me exactly what i wanted to hear...the good the bad the ugly...i dont know, u do...i will take all advice into account...i have read every article about arguses called NERD and spoke with them for a lil bit...emailed chris?there monitor guy...i am not scared about getting bit...im prepared to take what these monitors can dish out...

i did start with leos...i have breed them for a few years now...along this time i have owned several animals...a tiger retic, burmese, rattlesnakes alot of animales deserving of respect...

ahhh uroplatus...nope never dabbled in them...i have worked with leos alot...i have a tokay in my collection...but never tried breeding them...day geckos i have kept but i prefer the leos...i got into them after i got into other reps tho...

thanks

[leobreeder]

flavs are args with less temperment, and less size, so they're good too.


How about a flav x argus cross even better :smt023

Args can get 4.5-5 males and can really do some damgage if your not careful about them especially at feeding time.

sounds expensive...

i really want to get into the monitors...a savanah isnt quite what im looking for...my buddy has one into is nice sized thick bodied...i love acks but i cant seem to find them for sale(and they arent as big as id like)...and when i have they are not in the price range of a argus...the argus appeals to me as it is beautiful, get to decent size, are active!!!!!!<----that is a big one i like watching my animals explaor there surroundings...

the mice/rat question was me seeing if it would be a good idea fro me to get a male and a female...maybe two? and breed them...im all about saving money where i can...in my area a mouse is in the $2 a piece range...i can see one of these eating 14-20+ dollars worth of them a week...would be easier to breed them for me as i can use them for other reps i have...