I’m an anarchocommunist, all states are evil.
Your local herpetology guy.
Feel free to AMA about picking a pet/reptiles in general, I have a lot of recommendations for that!
It’s true that just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous, however, in this case, it is actually not dangerous, just painful, unless you’re allergic/have extreme health issues.
This is a neurotoxin, so, generally if it’s not paralyzing your cardiovascular system it doesn’t do much to you except hurt!
This isn’t really fair, the guy was just unlucky, the vast majority of people could easily get a gila monster and keep it as a pet, and it would be a very good pet.
Their venom is not particularly dangerous, this man was just already unhealthy and so the little bit the venom did did him in.
If the average young healthy person had a pet gila monster, their venom would be absolutely no concern at all unless they’re allergic. There’s a reason this is the first death in nearly 100 years!
Hey, they always do exactly as they’re told!
If you can house them outside, that makes them significantly more bearable, however, for most people, the green iguana is the worst reptile short of a highly venomous one you can possibly get as a pet.
They’re by far the most abandoned reptile, they’re filling up shelters for a reason, you can easily get one for free there because they regularly and randomly begin attacking people, due to their hormones changing as they age, they have weapons and like to use them.
They’re huge, have randomly shifting personalities, require an absolutely massive enclosure to properly house, and you have to be an expert-level keeper to keep an iguana properly.
Do watch the video and the channel, it’s worth your time, he’s a PHD herpetologist and makes excellent videos.
There are much better iguanas you can pick from as well, I’d personally much sooner get a rhino iguana. Much better than any iguana, a tegu, which is basically a lizard dog, which will even be affectionate!
If you do decide on an iguana as your final answer, please ensure that you’re rescuing one, there’s far far far too many available for rescue, because they are just horrible pets for the vast majority of people.
He was likely allergic or had other health complications, nobody has been killed by one of these in nearly 100 years, they really aren’t very dangerous
venom is extremely rare in non serpentes lizards
although some people are arguing that all lizards are TECHNICALLY venomous, which may be true depending on your definition of venom.
Please get any other reptile
Absolutely not, that guy is eating marketing