Any Herp (lizard) lovers? Uramastyx, Tegu, Monitor

Anyone into these? I've always had exotics but my last reptiles were a decade ago.

I'd like to get into a Ura or a tegu/monitor (I know quite different). GF has forbade snakes and didnt want lizards but didnt rule none at all. So I've also debated going with things i"ve had before that might be better to wean her onto being ok w/ lizards. (Leapards cute and soft tails, or beardeds calm/lazy though prolly ugly in her eyes.)

The ura/monitors though would be completely new to me so I was seeing if anyone had good local resources/people/etc. Local breeders, great stores, or recommendations from online.

Anyone built their own enclosures? If I do the monitor the plan is a coated/sealed wood "pan" at least a foot deep for room to burrow and an overall cage that is a 6x3 footprint, likely on a stand.

There is one user on here that I know of that is. His name is Reticman and he is in Fort Collins. He has built a few custom enclosures for multiple types of creatures.

My son is a member of the Colorado Herpetological Society. There are a bunch of breeders and otherwise enthusiasts there that know how and where to get just about anything. They have a lot of fun activities also. Membership is free so you should check it out if you're in the Denver area.
http://www.coloherps.org

Monitors can get very large, very fast. Their claws are incredibly sharp, and they are quite fast with a bite or a tail slap. If you're seeking a herp that you just want to feed and look at (little interaction) there are several varieties of monitors that are striking to look at. If I recall correctly, there are a lot of different breeds and a six foot enclosure with a foot deep pan isn't large enough.

I've found Tegu have MUCH more personality, but they stress easily and can go off their feed. They're wily, faster than you'd expect, and they can get to be about 4 1/2 feet long.

I had a friend in Maryland that had a Uromastyx named Fred. Fred was really cute in a spiny way. He was also little and might be more non-threatening for your girlfriend.

A cool tropical display would be fun. Live plants, misters, maybe Dart frogs, Chameleon or turtles or something that everyone enjoys looking at. Make sure you get an enclosure that you could put an Emarald green tree Boa in later.

Kinda old thread the guy got bumped. I already now have a pair of Ackies and Tegu. (Need to sell one, came in too small and was not getting along with other one.) Initially was dreaming big but went with the lazy tegu and dwarf monitors before I work up to some truly big berthas. The 6x3x3 I meant for Tegu but now will be 8x4x4. I know I'd need bigger for black throat or anything else huge is part of why I shied away for now.

Hate frogs and turtles, I do like Day Gecko's but all pretty boring and can't really be handled. Girlfriend forbids snakes and I'm meh about them. (I prefer feeding raw meat/insects/other than mice/rats since I'd happily get more rat pets.)

For enclosures I recently scored a nice 4x2x wood enclosure cheap I need to do some work and modify up a bit but should be nice for the Ackie. I'll do a build thread probably when I get around to the 8x4x4 but that wont be for a bit. (Tegu still very young.)


Also might jump and go over the top and get a Uro too. Girlfriend hates it. She actually likes Tegu. (hates ackie, basically anything spiky) I do love the tegu/monitors because of the higher level of activity/inteligence. (Can hunt stuff in the tank well vs your average laszy lizard.)