Monsters!!!!!!

[Reptile4life]

Has anyone ever owned a "Guila Monster"? I want one so bad.

[DDReptiles]

You mean Gila Monster?? LOL, they are on my to get list, I used to work with some Beaded lizards (almost the same thing) and they are super cool, though people think they are boring at the serpentarium as they just sit around all day but in the morning and at night they are super active.

www.gilaranch.com has a huge collection of them.

Thanks Derek

[Matthew Parks]

Yes they are very cool animals, but as with all venomous critters you need to know what you are doing. Their bite is bad but not fatal, most people describe it as the most excruciating and non stop pain they have ever felt. Just do your research first before getting one.:)

[Reptile4life]

Yes I plan on doing that once I get a profession and everything. What states are they illegal in?

[Eriks Reptiles]

You have to check your state laws to know if they are legal where you are or not... Where I live I cant keep venomous snakes but I can keep Gilas.. Go figure!

But check this website out: http://www.drseward.com/ . Mark is a very good friend of mine and has a TON of knowledge about these guys!! You should see his room... I think he has over 300 of them!! The room they are all kept in is controlled from temps to humidity all on a computer and each cage has a camera in it.... Mark is definatly a good guy and doing everything in his power to keep and breed these guys! He is having alot of success too! Just look at his available page!

PS: If you want good information on them buy his book! It is jammed pack with info!!

Thanks Erik

[Raquel]

I have no intensions of keeping Gila Monsters, but the information on Dr. Seward's website was informational and interesting. Thanks for sharing and linking the site.

[Reptile4life]

I cant wait to get my whole reptile collection under way.....which wont be till I am out of the house. I am probably gonna move to either California or Arizona.

[DDReptiles]

Well if you move to Arizona, you might run into trouble keeping Gilas if you don't get a permit, but I might have to double check that. Though you could just go out and see them in the wild. I want to go out there this spring or summer and do some herping out there, so far looking to go to Gila Natl. Forest on the western side of NM bordering AZ.

[Eriks Reptiles]

Gila Natl. Forest on the western side of NM bordering AZ.

Hey! Thats where a friend of mine wants to go. I might be going with him too...

PS: Gilas feel SO cool. They truely feel like beads covering their whole body!!

Thanks Erik

[DDReptiles]

Hey! Thats where a friend of mine wants to go. I might be going with him too...

PS: Gilas feel SO cool. They truely feel like beads covering their whole body!!

Thanks Erik


Cool, I am still debating of going there or the Mojave desert, only thing holding me up on going is the current airfare prices hopefully soon they will drop.

Thanks Derek

[Matthew Parks]

I am starting to plan a trip this year for Arizona. I'm not sure on exact dates or anything yet but I usually try to hit the monsoons in late July or early August. If you guys want to meet up out there and do some herping, that would be cool, I know some great spots!

Gilas are tricky to find out there, there are a lot of native Arizonans that have never seen one! I think May is the best month for them since they are out and active for a large part of the day, but you can find them in the summer too, usually at the crack of dawn.

[Eriks Reptiles]

I am starting to plan a trip this year for Arizona. I'm not sure on exact dates or anything yet but I usually try to hit the monsoons in late July or early August. If you guys want to meet up out there and do some herping, that would be cool, I know some great spots!

Gilas are tricky to find out there, there are a lot of native Arizonans that have never seen one! I think May is the best month for them since they are out and active for a large part of the day, but you can find them in the summer too, usually at the crack of dawn.

Ya, Man! I would definatly go! I can talk to Mark about good places to find them to as he goes and researches them in the wild quite frequently!

Thanks Erik

[Reptile4life]

Derek, do you know of any websites that would have the laws of reptile keeping. I usually here the occasional dog law but never the reptile law up here in Chicago. I am thinking of going places this summer. I know I am going to Colorado for about 6 weeks 2 for a weeding and 4 to see my Aunt and Uncle.

[DDReptiles]

Try googling Arizona reptile laws. I found this link pretty informative:
http://www.azgfd.com/pdfs/h_f/herp_regs.pdf

Thanks Derek

[RangerGrrl]

Try this site:

http://www.venomousreptiles.org/

They have loads of good info and I vaguely recall them having links to a site that is like a links page of all the state's laws or something. Also, any state's Fish and Wildlife Dept. is a good start.

[Crested Lady]

I am starting to plan a trip this year for Arizona. I'm not sure on exact dates or anything yet but I usually try to hit the monsoons in late July or early August. If you guys want to meet up out there and do some herping, that would be cool, I know some great spots!

Gilas are tricky to find out there, there are a lot of native Arizonans that have never seen one! I think May is the best month for them since they are out and active for a large part of the day, but you can find them in the summer too, usually at the crack of dawn.

Gotta let me know when you decide to go, Matt. I just got some new herping boots and need to break them in. :D I'd love to see a Gila in the wild, that would make my year.

[Matthew Parks]

I'll keep ya posted!:)