After my last post and doing more research, I settled on deciding to get a Savanah. Now I’m discouraged because it doesn’t look like you can get captive bred. Any thoughts on similar monitors. I really do not want a wild caught. Back to the research board.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

The brontosaurus neck petting extravaganza continues! I’ve been petting Liora for about 25 minutes and my arm is getting tired 🤣

But I love her so I will keep going 🥰🦕

I was trying to sync my phone to my accursed sound bar that doesn’t want to play anything, and suddenly I spied an adorable face monitoring me from her bamboo bridge!

Liora wants LOTS of brontosaurus neck pets today 🥰🦕

Thank you to everyone who calmed my nerves after my last post. I wanted to follow up to confirm what all of you already knew: Leonidas was, in fact, under the dirt. Here he is feeding this morning!

Just chilling with my little buddy here. He’s got the best resting face and really knows how to soak up the sun.

I noticed he was trying to eat the cord a bit, so I attempted to take it away 🤦🏻‍♀️

I like arboreal lizards and I really like tree monitors. Ever since I saw them I have been mesmerized, watching endless podcasts, builds, guides, or even just watching them play on video with toys or just chilling there. Needless to say I am hooked and hope to get one one day, but until then, I want something a bit smaller.

I really prefer the look of a tropical arboreal setup. I can skimp on the tropical but arboreal species have always been more interesting to me.

I’ve looked into gilleni and they seem really cool, but I can’t seem to find them up in Canada on the west coast (I’ve never imported an animal so I don’t know how that process would look. If there was some in WA or OR, or maybe even ID depending on the time, I’d drive down if that would make sense to do)

I have room to build a 3x2x8, I could stretch it to 3x3 if I have to, it would just require more of a grow tent set up since this is a spare closet and I would need to fit in there. I could also go longer but then I’d have to cap my height depending on how long it is because there’s a sloped ceiling if I go in that direction.

Saying that, those keel bellied lizards are quite beautiful and I’ve seen a lot of good thing about them and their intelligence. If they really are a smart and interactive lizard, I think I can source babies here since I really want to raise one from a baby.

So those of you with monitor experience, how do they compare? Is there another species you’d recommend?

Edit: I also have an 18” cube I can use as a baby tank if it makes sense to do that

She was sold as a girl and is about two years old. Can anyone help me confirm that she is indeed a girl?

Liora majestically posing this morning 🥰

Trying to decide on a monitor lizard. Just looking for some input. Have done a lot of research on the ones I’m looking at and in general am experienced with other reptiles ( bearded dragons, crested geckos, leachianus geckos), understand lighting and uvb, have a solar meter, etc. have bred Jackson chameleons.

Overall my daughter and I would like a more social/intelligent animal that is rewarding with effort and work. I know each has there own personality and need work to get to where we want them to be.

Thoughts on: Ackie, Kimberly, pilbara, black tail, freckled, female Savanah. Open to other suggestions. Argus and sands seem awesome but I think they would get too big.

Looking for most rewarding with effort and time. Saw some pretty cool videos of Savanah and kimbos (almost wanting affection).

Appreciate the help.

Hello all. My 9 year long endeavor to become an ackie owner finally reached its end today. I brought Leonidas home maybe 5 hours ago and it was the most fun I'd ever had with a reptile. He was darting all over the place exploring his new home, climbing, basking, taking small naps, and even eating from my hand. I left him to his own devices so he could settle in for a bit and I came back to spy on him and he is nowhere to be found :,]. I did my absolute best to create an enriching environment so I hope he's just under the dirt, but I feel like I left the baby at the grocery store with the way my mind is currently racing through every way I might've fucked up. Can anyone reassure me or am I right to be worried? I'm open to either right now. Thanks.

Shameless plug: I design for Peculiarity Shop in addition to my own brand, Varanid Paradise! I have to get a whole bunch of inventory out to the former since I don’t have much left there after the last collection sold, so my goal is to get a shipment out this coming week.

Liora loves watching me make jewelry and unbox beads! And I love having my little bead dragon assist me.

She vigilantly monitored the earrings I just made then was just “Enough jewelry! I want CUDDLES!”

So I snuggled with Liora on the couch and she sweetly splooted onto my left boob and rested her head by my neck as I petted her, until she indicated evening baby snuggles concluded and was ready to go back into her house.

I love her so much 🥰🦕 and I need to make her a tiny OSHA vest!

A quick video from one of the 3 baby cumingi enclosures they are temporary for the first year of life (2 meter long x 1.5 wide x 1.5 tall) it’s starting to get really green I love how that begonia has grown

The tittle says it all.

I went to feed my female yellow Ackie today
And noticed she seemed off. On further investigation I realized she is dragging her back end. She is still able to move her legs but can’t really walk on them or use them for climbing.
I managed to get a same day vet visit at a different vet than I typically go to. My vet didn’t have any openings. The exotics vet did an x-ray and exam costing me $370. He said he couldn’t find anything wrong. He said he didn’t see any Mbd,blockage, retained eggs, or fractures. Any thoughts? I plan to get her an appointment at our normal vet asap but they aren’t open till Monday.