Blackthroat

gunznrosez13 · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject: Blackthroat

I was wondering if ya'll with expirience with these beautiful monitors could give me some helpful sites or just plain info. Instead of 2 tegu i might get 1 tegu and one black throat or just a black throat. There is no way my mom will have 2 BT it here houses though. So if you know any great resources so I can become more knowledgable of the animal that would be great!

thanks.

daniel

gunznrosez13 · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:04 pm Post subject:

Or the white throated monitor

blair0228 · Honored Member Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 150

can't seem to be interested in one species longer than a week, eh?
hahaha.

eradi · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:12 am Post subject:

If you have never had either and you want a tame pet get an argentine
b/w tegu. In my experience they are by far the easiest and most tame
of the larger lizards. Tegus being captive bred have fewer maladies and
ailments with overall better temperments. Having both I also feel tegus
have a better "pet" personality. Even though there are now SOME CB
black throats that doesn't guarantee a tame "pet" type lizard.
Many BT's are wild caught and can succumb to respiratory and digestive
tract infections. They stress much more than tegus do during transport
and acclimation. Go on kingsnake and check the classifieds for juvenile
or adult tegus and BT's. You will find many more tame tegus than BT's.
And lets not forget about the growth potential! Yes, tegus can chow down
and eat a considerable amount. However, a BT will eat even more.
Bottom line is if you don't provide enough food for a BT you will have a
an unhealthy and unhappy lizard with a big mouth. MANY BT's are loud
hissers and tail whippers. With their size potential of 5' to 6' I would not recommend this lizard to a beginner or amateur. Don't get me wrong,
I think they are an awesome lizard but it is my opinion that they need much more time and dedication than a tegu. Take your time and be responsible in your decision.

Again, this is MY experience and opinion which I feel most would agree
with. I am in no way giving BT's a bad name, I love them myself.
I just feel they are for the dedicated and more experienced herper.

There are quite a few here who breed tegus like Rick and Varnyard.
I think Rick has sold his hatchlings but Varnyard may have some left.?
I know people have been more than happy with V's tegus and praised
him for his animals, shipping methods and service.
_________________
1.1.0 B/W Argentine Tegu
0.0.1 Red Tegu

Grimlock · Honored Member Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 213

i really think that if your mom is anything less than 100% on-board with you getting a large carnivorous lizard then you should really, really wait until you have your own place. how old are you anyway? if you're younger than 16 it's probably best to wait until you are older before you purchase a large, hard-to-handle and potentially very dangerous creature.

reptileking · Member Joined: Nov 09, 2006 Posts: 51 Location: Indiana

TheNero · Valued Member Joined: Sep 28, 2006 Posts: 115

The above is for everyone younger getting reptiles to think about, do you have place for them to go when you leave and go away to college, you won't be able to keep them in a dorm, but if you are living at home for college then I see no problem. I know there are a few younger people who own right now, daggit umm a few others, just something to think about.

Daggit_Columbian · Honored Member Joined: Oct 10, 2006 Posts: 251

ha what the dorm police don't know won't hurt them.... i am just kidding, my kid sister loves my boy and worst case senario i would leave hime with her.

gunznrosez13 · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:50 pm Post subject:

Blair-haha its not that i get tired of different kinds of lizards, I am just very curious and always want things.

I am 14 going on 15 (and one of the youngest on this site) but have been doing research on primarly tegus (some monitors etc.) for a year now. My mom is 100% on board with whatever I get she just doesn't want her whole house filled with enclosures. We both have thought what I am going to de in 4 years (I was held back) when I head off to college. I belong to a family that is obbsessed with animals, and my younger bros will care for my animals while I'm away. He will learn by watching me clean, feed, and everything else that is essential to raising these herps. I wouldn't call myself an beginner in herps when it comes to knowledge but I am classified as one because I don't physically own one right now. So as far as a place for it to stay and be cared for I can provide that untill I'm out of school. I'm not looking for a affectionate pet or one that loves human interaction as much as one that will be interesting/entertaining to watch and just fun to be around. So having a "tame" lizard isn't what I'm after. These WT or BT is probably the monitor I have researched the least and will deff allow plenty of months for research before I commit to owning one. The main reason I posted this topic in the beginning was to receive feedback on peoples experience on them(whether it was positive or negative).

TheNero · Valued Member Joined: Sep 28, 2006 Posts: 115

thats all understandable, but are you also going to be there to buy for food, have the money to pay for its food while your also supporting yourself for the first time. Just stuff to think about like I said every family is different and if you have one that will help you to take care of them while your gone, all the power to you.

gunznrosez13 · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:59 pm Post subject:

thanks. But still curious what monitor to go with if I wasn't to get a tegu. Don't think about my age or experience or whatever just your opinion on the best one to own.

TheNero · Valued Member Joined: Sep 28, 2006 Posts: 115

I've always heard a good first monitor would be a sav smallest I believe, but then again all I know are tegu's and Boa's, roachs, spiders, and emp scorps

TheNero · Valued Member Joined: Sep 28, 2006 Posts: 115

and another thing I saw that you said you couldn't afford to feed a sav, if you can't feed a sav I don't see how you plan to feed a black throat. Unless your parents are willing to help pay not only for the reptile but also its food. Tegu's and Monitors both eat a good bit, we are talking fresh veggies, rats, mice, fish, chicken, that and you will see your electric bill go up from the multiple bulbs going, a few for just heat, and your basking UVB bulb. Now again I know you want us to think beyond your age, but if you are feeding them on your weekly money your getting from mom and dad, heh that would of been nice when I was a kid. You should think about the cost of housing, how big the enclosure your gonna be building is gonna be, these reptiles grow fast. 8x4x4 would very nice, and some what costly if you cant' do it yourself and I'm not sure you would be able to. Are you going to be able to pay for vet check ups, vet bills if it gets sick. These are all questions you gotta think about, and if you can't maybe you should think about getting a job if you still have a passion for reptiles as much as we all do. I know at one point i had to for a bit of extra money to build an enclosure, and I know how hard money can be to come by lol i'm in college paying for rent, college, working full time lifes tough, but the the pleasure in owning these animals bring is worth it.

gunznrosez13 · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject:

forget i said that. by the time i get it i will have my summer job and rake in a reasonable amount. That wont be a problem.

TheNero · Valued Member Joined: Sep 28, 2006 Posts: 115

another thing would be is your family ok with say having roach colonys, mealworms, and crickets in the house. This can help the cost of feeding alot starting your own colonys to feed from early, I would say start now so that they are large enough to feed from when the time comes. You can start all 3 for pretty cheap maybe 20 dollars or so each. some 10 gallon containers, the food, sub, fresh veggies once every week or so, some heat tape if needed, and your good to go.