Just to correct you, it's V. prasinus and V. macraei... not prasina and macrei. These animals are NOT "pet" monitors, and do not take well to any form of touch, whether it be scraping shed skin off of them, or even worse, handling. These animals are highly stressed, and do not handle stress well in captivity.



Sadly, most who are purchased die within the first year, as people want their captives to be something other than what they are(an animal who wants to be left alone). Dehydration is a critical factor in their health, and must be prevented/avoided at all costs(where most keepers fail).



If you have never owned and acclimated a monitor before, much less a wild caught species, I would NOT reccommend a tree monitor. These are one of/if not THE most difficult species of monitor to keep alive and well in captivity, and are definately not an 'entry level' monitor. People buy them on impulse, or because of their beauty and allure, whithout knowing or understanding their needs and requirements in captivity.



I would recommend that you gain experience with a CB species, such as an ackie, where it will be easier to understand the needs of monitors in captivity, as well as signs and behaviors, and what they mean. Getting a tree monitor, putting it in a cage, throwing crickets or mice in there every now and then won't get you far unless you understand what a monitor is, how they behave/why they behave, and what they need to survive..



This is based on my experiences, and from watching dozens of people make the same mistakes over and over again, here on these online fora.. Tree monitors are very sensitive, and not recommended for beginners..



I hope this offers some insight.. Take care, have a wonderful day! For additional information, check out my website below, which is dedicated solely to members of the V. prasinus complex.



Cheers,



Bob
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Treemonitors.com

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