Care Sheet for MonitorsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 5.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 08/09/2007 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Monitors |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | JPsShadow |
Years Experience: | 15 to 20 Years |
Species: | Varanus Indicus |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Varanids in the Indicus Complex |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Lower jaw line of males is more pronounced, much straighter in females. Width of head is also greater in males. Sexually mature males show hemipenal bulges. Males also tend to have a high tail crest. |
Mostly Active During: | Both |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Leaf litter, coco bedding, dirt, or a mix of them, works well for this species. Be sure it is deep enough for them to burrow down into especially egg laying females. A large water tub for soaking and submerging will be welcomed by them. |
Lighting and UVB: | No UV lights are needed. My cages are lit by the bulbs I use to heat the basking surface. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Offer a wide range of ambient temps 70’s - 90’s from the cool to warm end of the cage. With a basking surface temperature of 120-150. Humidity falls in the 70-80 range. Keep in mind you will have to adjust to your own setup and monitors. |
Heating and Equipment: | A simple 45-65watt incandescent flood bulb will work fine. You may need to use a multiple bulbs for large adults. This will allow them to heat from head to base of tail. Use a thermometer to gauge your ambient temps. A temp. gun should be used when checking your basking surface temps. |
Caging Provided: | I start my babies off in a 2x2x2 cage, then move them up as they grow to larger cages. My adults are currently in a 4x6x6 cage. Keep in mind the bigger the better. Also be sure to use a material that will stand up to the environment that is kept inside. Lining the inside of the cage with FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) works well. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Feed whole prey items! I offer mine mice as the staple of the diet. On occasion I may toss some insects, crayfish, shrimp, or smelt. By occasion I mean it makes up less then 10% of the diet and could easily be omitted. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | When using insects as a food source you will need to dust them with supplements (cal. w/D3). There is no need to supplement when using whole prey items. |
Maintenance: | Spot cleaning will need to be done daily along with water changes. Most monitors tend to defecate in their water tubs and indicus are no different. Feeding should be done 1-2 times a day or as needed for babies, older individuals get food every day to every two days or as needed. The schedule should be set by your monitor not by you so learn to read it’s behavior. |
Some Words on this Species: | This species can start out shy and nervous but once they get used to you are no different from other monitors. Mine will jump out of the cage onto me during feeding. They have very sharp claws and tend to defecate on you if startled. That is a defensive trait many monitors share. Offer plenty of limbs and branches as they love to climb around. They just as readily take to the water and spend hours submerged or swimming around. |
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