Monitors:: Sand/Argus Monitor
Sand monitors (Varanus flavirufus) are native to Australia and Argus monitors (Varanus gouldii) are native to Australia and Indonesia. In the pet trade these species have been successfully hybridized with the offspring being fertile. The hybrids generally are more attractive than either of the parent species and are calmer than the usually fiesty Arguses.

My sand/argus cross, Syd, was purchased from J&B Reptiles (now Gateway City Reptiles). He was hatched 11/26/01 and is growing rapidly. He is extremely active and inquisitive. He does not like to be picked up but quiets down once he is held. Syd eats 3 large pre-killed fuzzies a day, when he was smaller he ate crickets but now ignores them.

Check out the Flavi/Argus Gallery!

Update
8-24-02 I traded Syd at the NoVA Reptile Expo this weekend for two sub-adult Dumerils Monitors. They are much more my speed, and are much friendlier than Syd.

5-25-02 Syd is growing very rapidly and is now quite territorial in his enclosure. He's good unless I move quickly or get too close, then I get a wicked tail whip (man that sucker stings!). I've started to get him out and hold him in a towel (his claws are razor sharp) and he settles down quickly. Soon I will need to build him a larger enclosure, he's outgrowing his Vision cage.

To learn more about ackies and monitor lizards in general go to Kingsnake.com's Monitor Forum. Be sure to search the board archives, as most of your questions have probably already been answered.