savannah monitor lizard where to buy in NY?

baby monitor lizards for sale image

David B

I am deeply interested in finding a savannah monitor lizard, i live in ny, at the beginnings of Long Island, but only 25 miles from nyc. i would love nothing more than to find a breeder, but i cant find any, even when i go to places such as kingsnake.com, its almost impossible to find specifically what im looking for, and i dont want to buy from large chains like petco and petsmart that have no idea about anything they sell, and their animals are in unfortunate horrid conditions. if anyone knows some breeder or place nearby where i can purchase a savannah monitor lizard (preferabbly a baby from a breeder nearby) then please tell me as much info as u can...i want to make the lizard a new part of my family, and am committed to giving it unconditional love!

Answer
You're probably going to have to wait till spring time and order one.. With most of the monitors now being illegal in NY, I'm sure any local breeders are probably a bit leery of posting their stock online. Savannah's are still legal, but, your average animal control officer probably can't tell the difference between them and a couple of the banned monitors..
Here's a nice looking girl for sale on Kingsnake, though, you'd have to have her shipped...
http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=53&de=565558

I would almost recommend going with a different monitor, like an Argus or Roughneck..
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/animals/monitors-and-tegus/-/young-adult-argus-monitor/
There's a young argus..
They seem to be a lot more available then the savannah..

Here's a good care sheet on the Savannah..
http://www.anapsid.org/savannah.html

I have never owned a monitor though, and can't really help you more then that.. I had done research on them as I was considering taking a friend's Nile monitor on, but, decided against it..

How much do these reptiles usually cost by just the animal itself?: Monitors, Iguanas, and Boa Constrictors?

Khalis

I understand that monitors can be a sort of demanding species and even aggressive as iguanas but I constantly do my research and read a lot about them but how much do they usually cost just the animal itself because some of you already know I want to start a reptile collection filled with snakes, monitors, and iguanas and who knows maybe even some crocodilians but that's only if they are legal in the state of california in which I doubt but i've seen and heard of some pet stores carrying those around here and i've even seen a picture of a albino rattlesnake being for sale at my local reptile store so yeah how much are monitor lizards more like the cheap species: Ackie, Savannah, Nile, and Water Monitors and how much are the Green/Red Iguanas? and Boa Constrictors as well? I need to know ASAP!

Answer
On the boas, it really depends on what kind of boa you go for. If you are just looking for a Red Tail boa, then your looking at between 50-150 depending on size and pattern. Savannah monitors tend to be around 50 for hatchlings, and it increases as the size of the monitor goes up. Niles start at around 150 to 200. Water monitors start at 200. Green iguanas can usually be found for about 20 as hatchlings. Red iguanas are usually around 50.

If you are going to start a reptile collection, please, please, PLEASE do you research on the animal you are looking at getting. Monitors take a lot of work, can be highly aggressive, and require alot of room. Niles usually grow to around 7 foot, and some reach larger than that. They weigh 100+ lbs, have very sharp claws, and a very powerful, bone crushing bite. Their appetites are also ridiculously large. Depending on the species, they will require a high protein diet and will need to eat every 2-3 days.

I would honestly start with just a normal Colombian Red Tail boa. Males tend to max out around 5-6 foot, females closer to 6-8 foot. They are commonly very hearty snakes. In my experience, they have been easy to tame, and are very good eaters and will almost never refuse a meal. As babies, they will eat a rat as big as the thickest part of their body every 7 days. As they start to get bigger, you can reduce the feedings to every 10-14 days with an appropriate sized rat or even small rabbit. I have a 5 and a half foot female that is the sweetest thing. She often comes with me as I go around and run my errands. She is a great eater and is in a 200 gallon enclosure.

Also, you should keep in mind that not every reptile is the same. They have personalities just like humans. One monitor may like being with you and being handled, while another one of the same species may not want to have anything to do with you, I repeat my earlier statement by saying PLEASE do your research. You need to make sure that you have everything you need to properly house and take care of the reptile you decide to get. Each different species have different requirements for living a healthy life.

I hope this helps you and I hope you find something that you can love and take care of and make a part of your family and not just some fancy show item.

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