Younger reptiles are much more wary of predators, while larger individuals do not have as much to fear. Humidity levels around 60 to 70 percent are perfect as overly humid conditions can lead to health issues like scale infections. These lizards require lots of space to climb, bask and explore, so you should try to build as big of an enclosure as you have the space for. On our first male black water monitor we removed over 200 ticks one by one. The immense size of an adult water monitor is simultaneously one of the most impressive and most challenging aspects of their care. Therefore, a T+ hatchling water monitor may appear quite dark as a baby having a purplish hue that will gradually become lighter with age.

Within these regions, they have proven to flourish in a variety of landscapes throughout this range, including urban settings such as the metropolis of Bangkok, Thailand! Malayan Water Monitor, Asian Water Monitor, Common Water Monitor, Water Monitor, Two-banded Monitor, Ring Lizard, Plain Lizard, Rice Lizard, No-mark Lizard, 1.5 – 2m; largest specimen recorded is 3.21m, Around 19.5 kg; heaviest specimens weigh more than 50 kg, Blackish or dark brown, under part consists of yellow spots, Sri Lanka, India, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, islands of Indonesia. If the humidity level gets too high in the enclosure, your monitor can become susceptible to scale and skin infections (more on that later). This initial step can prove difficult even for experienced keepers.

I am wondering how is Drylok compared to water-based Minwax Polycrilyc, that I used to seal my enclosure. You’re also going to want to add a large water area to the enclosure, but we’ll be discussing this in more detail later on in the care sheet. Asian Water Monitor Enclosures. Asian water monitors are regarded as the third longest lizard after the komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)  and the crocodile monitor (Varanus salvadorii). The preferred monitoring method at our facility however is ultrasounding female water monitors. Your monitor can get sucked into it and get seriously injured. When a female possesses optimally sized follicles, in the 15-25mm range, a male is paired with her. This species also prefers habitats with flat areas for them to dig burrows. These four variations encompass some of the most popular options currently available. Water Monitor Enclosure ideas So I am looking into the idea of getting a water monitor, and am trying to plan out what I want to eventually do for the enclosure. For an adult monitor you will need an even bigger pool where they can fit in full body length and more, because they have to move around in the water. Years ago, it was virtually incomprehensible that we would one day have the mutations and line-bred Varanus salvator we have today, resulting in an entire spectrum of stunning animals.

There’s no other way to say it. For adult water monitors, a small doghouse or large branches work well. In captivity, this extreme intelligence has allowed keepers to socialize our animals and establish relationships that previously weren’t considered possible. At this temperature babies will begin to hatch in six to seven months. With good care and a healthy diet and environment, these lizards can potentially live for 20 years or more. These lizards have the characteristic monitor body that features a long neck and snout, serrated teeth, sharp claws and almond-shaped eyes. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Performing such actions in shallow water often helps as well, since monitors are naturally more confident and calm in water. Black dragons from the Thailand locality, generally are referred to as the subspecies komaini. Hyper melanistic water monitors or “black dragons” are a naturally occurring heritable color phase. Behavior of the Water Monitor You have of course every right to decide this yourself. I was wondering if anyone had any good advice about enclosures. Though some people do keep these lizards, they can reach surprising lengths. Caution must be exercised when opting to use fragile decor like live plants, as such items can oftentimes be easily damaged even by a gentle giant.

This is extremely difficult with Water monitors. Large logs, branches and a variety of shelves can be used.

Placing numerous bulbs in a bank positioned parallel to one another is best for larger monitors to adequately heat the entire animal during basking.

Never attempt to handle an adult any more than is necessary. Some common prey items include fish, lizards, snakes, birds, rats, turtles, frogs, crocodile hatchlings, and carrion. Also how much substrate? As our understanding of water monitors grows, we will continue to see their popularity grow. Would a 6 ft tall 6 ft wide and 3 ft deep cage work well for the first year? What you often see is that the parasites or ticks are too much for them and they die. Temperature/Lighting Water monitors are exothermic, meaning they need high temperatures to function properly. Monitor lizards hand raised in captivity also tend to be more innately tractable and well-socialized when provided with proper care. The massive size of the Asian water monitor is going to be your biggest challenge when deciding on the type of enclosure you are going to build. Asian water monitors are scavengers with absolutely huge appetites. Monitors must be provided a cooler area as well, where the reptile can retreat to cool down, as this is critical during digestion where body temperatures can rise due to metabolic activity. The humidity level in their habitat should stay between 60 and 70 percent. Once your enclosure is set up and you are prepared for the task of feeding your urban dinosaur, it’s time to choose your water monitor.

Once the female has laid her clutch, the eggs are placed in a plastic container filled with hatchrite media and incubated at 86ºF. Vertical space however can be created by including items such as branches, shelves, and logs as basking areas. They’re peaceful, easy to care for,…, Caiman lizards are a beautiful and unique reptile that can make great pets for experienced owners. If you take away their hiding space they have no place to go and they will notice you are not that bad.

There’s also health risks with wild-caught animals, such as parasites or foreign contaminants. Therefore, once the water is replaced the majority of cleanup is completed.

This species hails from southern and Southeast Asia, where they’ve evolved over millions of years to survive in both wild and urban settings through their many adaptations. A good rule of thumb is to have an enclosure at least 1 1/2 times the length of your monitor, including tail. Adult Asian water monitors only need to be fed 2-3 times per week. Since females tend to have regular cycles, scheduling breeding based on the last time she laid eggs is also possible. They are active and smart. An other problem is they are so extremely afraid. It’s recommended that hatchling water monitors are fed daily to every other day for their first year of life. As a child, Isabel spent countless hours following her older brothers on their search for reptiles, amphibians, and other critters. T- water monitors lack the enzyme tyrosinase that is critical for melanin production. Baby water monitors at the other hand are parasite, worm and tick free. It took hours, after that we gave them something for the worms and parasites. You can add a UVB bulb to your enclosure, but Asian water monitors usually get all the calcium and Vitamin D3 they need from their prey.

On average, a single clutch contains about 10 eggs. Respiratory infections: If the enclosure is too damp or cold, a monitor can get a respiratory infection. This can look very pretty. Always make sure that the lights are not burning your monitor’s skin. But if you’re committed, owning one of these lizards can be incredibly rewarding. If you have a hatchling, it is going to need to eat daily or every other day for a year or so. So you must pay attention when seasons change. They need a certain basking temperature to be able to activate their digestive enzymes. An informed pet owner is a responsible one, and we know that you’re going to want to give your monitor the best possible care and attention. Make sure that the hides are sturdy and safe. Varanus salvator are now typically regarded as “gentle giants,” rather than unpredictable and difficult to handle. The longest water monitor on record was a specimen from Sri Lanka measuring an impressive 10.5 feet long!

With males you can see that on the top of the penis there is a brush. With time and patience this simple technique will aid in having a large, gentle beast to enjoy for years to come. This quickly turned into a deep passion for these animals that she has to this day. Placing an adequate size water reservoir also helps elevate humidity levels in the enclosure. From the age of 1,5 year (110cm+) females will start laying eggs, even if she has no partner. While they prefer living in aquatic habitats, these lizards live in a wide variety of ecosystems. It is constructed from industrial aluminum profile frame and oak plywood, sealed with Minwax policrilyc. This is another reason to think very carefully before deciding to care for an Asian water monitor, because there’s no way around this! Water monitor lizards are the world’s second largest monitor lizards found in south and Southeast Asia. The vast range of water monitors is a testament to their remarkable ability to adapt. We use many big branches for them to climb up high. This will help avoid burns as the monitor will be able to achieve their ideal temperature in a reasonable time period. Two issues arise when it comes to the water set up. This voracious appetite means adult water monitors are prone to obesity in captivity and that can result in a host of health issues, ultimately resulting in a shortened life expectancy.