Monitor Lizards are beautiful, surprisingly intelligent, and very impressive. Their fascinating attitude will drove you to fall in love with them. They have the potential to bond with you. Lizards can interact with you. Very active and phenomenal. Very friendly and very tame. They are awesome animals. They make fantastic pets. Disadvantages
Are monitor lizards good for beginners?
Monitor species are not beginner's pets. They are not for anyone who is just looking for a big lizard to impress people. It is recommended that you have a few years experience with reptiles, especially large lizards. It would be even better if you could work with monitor species before purchasing your own.
Are Nile monitor lizards good pets?
The Nile monitor is often available as a pet, but is a difficult lizard to tame. The ornate monitor is from the forests of Africa. It is a black lizard with rows of yellow spots and a banded tail. It can grow to be over five feet long. Although a very attractive animal, the ornate monitor is often a difficult lizard to tame.
Are Asian water monitor lizards good pets?
The Asian Water Monitor is another monitor lizard species that is quite popular in pet stores and captivity in general but grows too large for most casual reptile keepers to provide adequate housing and care. Asian Water Monitors are native to Asia’s wetlands, where it is the MOST common species of monitor lizard.
Are savannah monitor lizards good pets?
Savannah monitors are native to the savannas of Africa—hence their name. Although they are larger than the first two lizards on our list, savannah monitors are one of the most popular pet monitor lizard species because of their mild temperament. They are also easier to find than some other monitor lizard species.
Are monitor lizards harmless?
Monitor lizards are usually dangerous when provoked but their bite is not fatal to humans. Most times, monitor Lizards, will not attack unless they are provoked. Their long claws, sharp teeth, and powerful bodies make them more dangerous than other lizards. But it is rare for them to be aggressive towards humans.
Do monitor lizards like to be handled?
Reaching up to 4 feet in length, these predators are always on the prowl, seeking small animals to eat. Despite their fearsome appearance, savannah monitors also make good pets. Young lizards that are well trained grow up to be gentle-tempered adults that enjoy being held.
Do monitor lizards recognize their owners?
However, most reptiles do seem to recognize people who frequently handle and feed them. “I don't know if it is love,” says Dr. Hoppes, “but lizards and tortoises appear to like some people more than others. They also seem to show the most emotions, as many lizards do appear to show pleasure when being stroked.”
What is the friendliest monitor lizard?
Do Monitors Make Good Pets?Best Pet Monitor Lizard #1: Ackie Monitor.Best Pet Monitor Lizard #2: Savannah Monitor.Best Pet Monitor Lizard #3: Asian Water Monitor.Best Pet Monitor Lizard #4: Pygmy Mulga Monitor.Best Pet Monitor Lizard #5: Timor Monitor.
Does a monitor lizard bite hurt?
Are monitor lizards venomous? Contrary to previous beliefs, most lizards do possess glands that secrete venom. While the monitor uses its venom to kill its small preys (symptoms include rapid swelling, drop in blood pressure, and blood clot inhibition), it has a relatively mild effect on humans.
What lizard makes the best pet?
Popular and increasingly popular species include:Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)Leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius)Veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)Monitor lizards.Uromastyx.Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko)Blue tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia)Frilled dragon (Chlamydosaurus kingie)More items...•
How do you know if a lizard is happy?
13 Signs your Bearded Dragon is happyThey don't run away from you. ... They can lay on you for a long time. ... They willingly go on your shoulder. ... They let you pick them up. ... There's no sign of aggression. ... They're eating, basking, pooping, and sleeping normally. ... They ask you to come hang out. ... They look healthy and alert.More items...
What are the smartest lizards?
THE MONITOR LIZARD And coming in at the most intelligent reptile on the earth is the Monitor Lizard. Monitor Lizards can grow to be over a metre long and weigh more than 10kg. Monitors belong to a family of carnivorous lizards called the Varanidae.
Do lizards get lonely?
Do reptiles get lonely? It depends on the reptile. Most snakes don't live in groups in the wild, and if they encounter another snake outside of breeding season, they ignore it. Most lizards (like bearded dragons, monitor lizards, and leopard geckos) are also solitary.
Can you tame a monitor lizard?
Can a Lizard Be Tamed? Absolutely. In fact, you may be surprised at the level to which a lizard can be tamed. Snake-lovers don't like to admit it, but I personally feel that lizards are generally more interactive with their keepers—there's just something different about how they look at and respond to you.
Can Komodo dragons be pets?
However there is one issue, Komodo dragons are an endangered and protected species. So no, it is illegal to own a Komodo Dragon as a pet. It's also illegal to remove one of these lizards from their native habitat without express government approval.
How long do monitor lizards live?
Nile monitors can live up to 20 years in captivity. They are the largest lizard species in Africa and can attain lengths of about 6.5 feet and weigh up to 17.8 pounds, although a typical adult averages 5 feet in length and weighs close to 15 pounds.
Can monitor lizards be tamed?
Absolutely. In fact, you may be surprised at the level to which a lizard can be tamed. Snake-lovers don't like to admit it, but I personally feel that lizards are generally more interactive with their keepers—there's just something different about how they look at and respond to you.
Can Savannah monitors show affection?
One pro to owning a monitor is that unlike other reptiles like snakes that don't show love, savannah monitors have been known to display signs of affection towards humans they've bonded with!
Are lizards affectionate?
Not usually. I say 'usually,' because most reptiles are not social animals, so they do not form social bonds with each other - much less with a human. They aren't wired for it - they're literally not capable of warm fuzzy feelings that make them want to be with an individual just for the sake of hugs and pettings.
Can Savannah monitors be tamed?
Suitability as Pets: Savannah Monitors are one of the most easily tamed monitor lizards but can grow quite large and require a correspondingly large habitat. If procured when they are older, they have the potential to be skittish and are considered one of the more “shy” monitors.
Are Monitor Lizards Dangerous
Monitor lizards are usually dangerous when provoked but their bite is not fatal to humans.
Monitor Lizards Bite
A monitor lizard’s bite is one of its most dangerous traits and it can cause severe pain. This species is venomous and its bite can kill its prey.
Largest Monitor Lizards Species
The komodo dragon, Asian water monitor, Nile monitor, and so on, are some of the largest species.
Most Dangerous Monitor Lizards
The Komodo dragon and the Crocodile monitor are some of the most dangerous monitor lizards.
What is a monitor lizard?
Monitor lizards are a large species of lizards. Like other lizards, they are reptiles (class Reptilia). Monitor lizards come under the genus Varanus. In the genus Varanus, there are about 80 recognized species. The family Varanidae probably originated 65 million years ago in Asia.
Where do monitor lizards live?
Monitor lizards live mainly in the selected regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Recently, monitor lizards have started to live in the Americas too.
Why are monitor lizards called oviparous?
Monitor lizards’ venom is diverse and complex. The quality of the venom depends on the diverse ecological factors of their habitats. Monitor lizards like other reptiles lay eggs. That’s why they are called oviparous animals.
How many eggs do monitor lizards lay?
They remain active throughout the day in their territory and prey on mammals and other small reptiles. Monitor lizards lay 7-37 eggs. They cover the eggs with soil or hide the eggs in the hollow of tree stumps.
Which lizard has the highest metabolic rate?
Monitor lizards have the highest standard metabolic rate of all the reptiles living on the earth. Monitor lizards are intelligent animals. Some of the species can count numbers. Studies show that Varanus albigularis, a monitor lizard species, can differentiate numbers up to six!
What do nile monitors do?
Nile monitors show an interesting preying technique. One monitor lures the female crocodile out of her nest. The other monitors eat the eggs. The previous one also joins the feast later.
Where do nile monitors live?
Nile monitor ( Varanus niloticus) Nile monitors, a large member of the monitor lizard’s family, live in Sub-Saharan Africa and along the Nile. It is also called the African small-grain lizard and iguana. Nile monitors are carnivores. These monitors are well-adapted for an aquatic lifestyle.
What is the purpose of monitor lizards?
In parts of Pakistan and southern India, as well in Northeastern India particularly Assam the different parts of monitor lizards are traditionally used for treating rheumatic pain, skin infections, hemorrhoids, and the oil is used as an aphrodisiac lubricant ( sande ka tel ).
What do monitor lizards eat?
Most monitor lizards are almost entirely carnivorous, consuming prey as varied as insects, crustaceans, arachnids, myriapods, mollusks, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Most species feed on invertebrates as juveniles and shift to feeding on vertebrates as adults.
How big are monitor lizards?
The adult length of extant species ranges from 20 cm (7.9 in) in some species, to over 3 m (10 ft) in the case of the Komodo dragon , though the extinct varanid known as megalania ( Varanus priscus) may have been capable of reaching lengths more than 7 m (23 ft). Most monitor species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known. While most monitor lizards are carnivorous, eating eggs, smaller reptiles, fish, birds, insects, and small mammals, some also eat fruit and vegetation, depending on where they live.
How many monitor lizards are there in the Philippines?
Although normally solitary, groups as large as 25 individual monitor lizards are common in ecosystems that have limited water resources.
What is the skin of a monitor lizard used for?
The skin of monitor lizards is used in making a Carnatic music percussion instrument called a kanjira .
Why are varanids called "monitor"?
The name may have been suggested by the occasional habit of varanids to stand on their two hind legs and to appear to "monitor", or perhaps from their supposed habit of "warning persons of the approach of venomous animals". In Austronesia, where varanids are common, they are known under a large number of local names.
Where did monitor lizards originate?
The family Varanidae probably originated in Asia at least 65 million years ago, although some estimates are as early as the late Mesozoic (112 million years ago). Monitor lizards probably expanded their geographic range into Africa between 49 and 33 million years ago, possibly via Iran, and to Australia and the Indonesian archipelago between 39 and 26 million years ago.
What is the color of a monitor lizard?
It is a smaller monitor and only grows up to about two feet in length. This lizard is a brown color with yellow spots and a spiny tail. Rough-Necked Monitor. The rough-necked monitor is found in Asia and Indonesia and spends most of its time living in trees.
How many different types of monitor lizards are there?
Although there are over 70 different species of monitor lizards, only a few are commonly found in the pet trade. The types available range from small to large and live in different habitats. Below is a list of some of the more common types found as pets. The list is not all-inclusive and other species may be available.
How big can a savanna monitor get?
It can grow to be over four feet long and is a slender lizard with a semi-prehensile tail. The rough-necked monitor is a timid reptile, but can be tamed over time. Savanna Monitor. The savanna monitor is a stocky lizard from Africa where it spends most of its time on the ground or in a burrow.
What is a nile monitor?
The Nile monitor is a hardy lizard that lives throughout Africa. As an adult in can be over five feet long. It is a black or brown color with rows of yellow spots. The Nile monitor is often available as a pet, but is a difficult lizard to tame. Ornate Monitor.
Where do Dumeril monitors live?
This lizard can grow up to four feet in length and can be tamed over time. The Dumeril’s monitor is found in Asia and the islands of Indonesia. This lizard may spend its time in trees, on the ground, and in the water.
Where does the ornate monitor come from?
The ornate monitor is from the forests of Africa. It is a black lizard with rows of yellow spots and a banded tail. It can grow to be over five feet long. Although a very attractive animal, the ornate monitor is often a difficult lizard to tame.
What is the best monitor lizard?
Top 5 Types of Monitor Lizards. 1. The Ackie ( Varanus acanthurus) The Ackie is by far the best monitor species to be kept as a pet. Ackies are a relatively small (by monitor standards) species that has many advantages over the other monitors. They average 2–3 ft as adults and come in both red and yellow coloration.
How big can a water monitor get?
Water Monitors are huge! They are one of the biggest species you can own. They can reach lengths of 7–8 ft and weigh 60–70 lbs. While they are massive monitors, they are surprisingly good candidates as pets for those that have the space and have done copious amounts of research.
What is the size of a blackthroat monitor?
Blackthroats can reach lengths of 6 ft and certainly aren't suited for anyone that is short on space.
How big are Savannah Monitors?
Savannah Monitors are another very popular pet store species. They are smaller than some of the giants (only around 4 ft) but are known to be aggressive when young. Some specimens will carry that aggression over to adulthood, though it is rare.
Do water monitors tame?
Water monitors tame down quite well and can be surprisingly docile and gentle for such a large reptile. If you have the space, money (for care, enclosures, feeding) and the time, consider this species.
Is a monitor a lizard?
Monitors are a very special niche of lizard species. They are by far much more intelligent than any other reptile and even some mammals. The ability to work with such an inquisitive, intelligent, and personable reptile is an amazing experience that many do not regret.
Is Savannah monitor bad for you?
Micky Witt on June 27, 2018: Savannah monitors are actually really bad animals for most people. Only experts should work with them, as only 0.03% are truly captive bred with no casualties. They are one of the most abused animals in the pet trade and there’s not enough none about them.
How many monitor lizards are there?
Are you thinking about buying a monitor lizard to keep as a pet, but wondering which species is right for you? There are around 80 recognized monitor lizard species in the world, and although only a handful of those species are commonly kept as pets, it can be difficult to narrow down which are the best fit for you and your home.
Where do monitor lizards live?
Monitor lizards are generally large lizards that are native to Oceania, Asia, and Africa. They belong to the taxonomic family Varanidae and are thought to have originated around 90 years ago in Asia. The size of these lizards ranges vastly from species to species; the smallest monitor lizard species only grows to be about 8 inches long, but the largest monitor lizards can be several feet long. The Komodo Dragon, one of the most well-known examples of a monitor lizard, can be as long as 10 feet and weigh as much as 300 pounds.
How big do Asian water monitors get?
These creatures are a popular monitor lizard species that grow to be quite large at up to 6 feet long and 60 pounds. As you might guess, these lizards require a pool in their enclosures. Keeping your Asian Water Monitor’s pool water clean will require more maintenance than other monitor lizard species as the water gets dirty quickly. Since Asian Water Monitors are opportunistic carnivores, they can eat a wide variety of foods, but they will likely do best on a diet of insects, mice, or mollusks.
How big are Dumeril's monitors?
Dumeril’s monitors are the largest monitor lizards on this list. At 5 feet long and over 100 pounds, it probably isn’t too surprising that these lizards require a large enclosure. The bigger the enclosure, the better, though it should be at least twice your Dumeril’s Monitor’s length. A lot of people don’t have space for an animal as big as the Dumeril’s Monitor (or the Asian Water Monitor, next on our list), but they are popular among reptile enthusiasts. When you are creating the enclosure, you should keep in mind that Dumeril’s Monitors are native to Southeast Asia and need a very warm, very humid environment. The humidity of the enclosure should be kept at around 80% with a basking temperature of 80-120º F. In terms of diet, Dumeril’s in the wild primarily eat crabs; pet Dumeril’s, however, typically eat rats and mice as well as various insects.
Where do Savannah Monitors live?
Savannah monitors are native to the savannas of Africa —hence their name. Although they are larger than the first two lizards on our list, savannah monitors are one of the most popular pet monitor lizard species because of their mild temperament. They are also easier to find than some other monitor lizard species. Savannah monitors are made for digging and will need an enclosure that gives them the opportunity to do so. These lizards eat some insects, but their diet primarily consists of mollusks.
Do Timor monitors need humidity?
Timor monitors are relatively rare in captivity, but they can make wonderful pets. They are natives of the island of Timor and require a tropical habitat. Their basking temperature is lower than that of other monitor lizards at 120º F; however, they need an environment that is much more humid at 80%. Maintaining the humidity in your Timor’s enclosure will require a bit of maintenance, especially if you manually mist the enclosure multiple times a day instead of investing in an automatic misting system.
Can you get a monitor lizard in a pet store?
Finally, finding a monitor lizard will not be easy; they are not the type of animal you will find in your local pet store. In fact, most monitors aren’t very common in captivity, which means you would probably need to go the extra mile to find a breeder. Even once you find a breeder, you may find yourself waiting a very long time before you actually get your monitor lizard.
Overview
Monitor lizards are lizards in the genus Varanus, the only extant genus in the family Varanidae. They are native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania, and one species is also found in the Americas as an invasive species. About 80 species are recognized.
Monitor lizards have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. The adult length of extant species ranges from 20 cm (7.9 in) in some species, to over 3 m (10 ft) in the ca…
Distribution
The various species cover a vast area, occurring through Africa, the Indian subcontinent, to China, the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan, south to Southeast Asia to Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia, and islands of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. The West African Nile monitor (Varanus stellatus) is now found in South Florida. Monitor lizards also occurred widely in Europe in the Neogene, with the last known remains in the region dating t…
Habits and diet
Most monitor lizards are almost entirely carnivorous, consuming prey as varied as insects, crustaceans, arachnids, myriapods, mollusks, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Most species feed on invertebrates as juveniles and shift to feeding on vertebrates as adults. Deer make up about 50% of the diet of adults of the largest species, Varanus komodoensis. In contrast, three arboreal species from the Philippines, Varanus bitatawa, Varanus mabitang, and Varanus oliv…
Biology
The genus Varanus is considered unique among animals in that its members are relatively morphologically conservative, yet show a very large size range. Finer morphological features such as the shape of the skull and limbs do vary, though, and are strongly related to the ecology of each species.
Monitor lizards maintain large territories and employ active-pursuit hunting techniques that are r…
Evolution
Varanus is the only living member of the family Varanidae. Varanidae last shared a common ancestor with their closest living relatives, earless "monitors", during the Late Cretaceous. The oldest known members of Varanidae are known from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. During the Eocene, the varanid Saniwa occurred in North America. The closest known relative of Varanus is Archaeovaranus from the Eocene of China, suggesting that the genus Varanus is of Asian origin. …
Etymology
The generic name Varanus is derived from the Arabic word ورل waral [Standard Arabic] / ورر warar [Colloquially] / ورن waran [Colloquially], from a common Semitic root ouran, waran, warar or waral, meaning "lizard beast".
In English, they are known as "monitors" or "monitor lizards". The earlier term "monitory lizard" became rare by about 1920. The name may have been suggested by the occasional habit of var…
Intelligence
Some species of monitors can count; studies feeding rock monitors varying numbers of snails showed that they can distinguish numbers up to six. Nile monitors have been observed to cooperate when foraging; one animal lures the female crocodile away from her nest, while the other opens the nest to feed on the eggs. The decoy then returns to also feed on the eggs. Komodo dragons at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, recognize their keepers and seem to ha…
Exploitation
Monitor lizards have become a staple in the reptile pet trade. The most commonly kept monitors are the savannah monitor and Ackies dwarf monitor, due to their relatively small size, low cost, and relatively calm dispositions with regular handling. Among others, black-throated monitors, Timor monitors, Asian water monitors, Nile monitors, mangrove monitors, emerald tree monitors, black tree monitors, roughneck monitors, Dumeril's monitors, peach-throated monitors, crocodile monito…