Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What do the experienced monitor keepers on this site have to say about this subject? I know the proper ambient and basking temperatures that monitor lizards require. However, how cold tolerant are the lizards during bad weather? Has anyone here had experiences where the house was unheated for an extended period of time? Did the lizards survive the disaster (with or without permanent or temporary health problems). What temperature did the house/enclosure drop to and how long did it remain at that temperature. I live in an area of the country that has cold winters and thought that this info could be useful to know. The cold tolerance of nile monitors is my primary concern, though info on other monitor species would be appreciated as well.

I am no expert, but in my limited experience with savanna monitors, I have found that if there belly's have any food in them, they don't fair very well. If you are talking about a seasonal difference with gradual reduction of food and a gradual reduction of temps, I believe they actually are really hardy. Obviously you cannot push them to the point of starvation and suffering for extended periods of time, a variant they probably would not face in the wild.
I am not experienced enough with indo types to give a opinion on thier tolerance to cold (leave that answer up to someone who does) But from my first hand experince with my monitors (v. exanthematicus)and slight seasonal cooling, they do great,no, not just fine, but great! growing well active, not over wieght, no respiratory infections and my males seem to get really active when they warm up. By active I mean, searching for food (good feed response) and showing interest in the ladies. I have had a few nights when it has dropped pretty low last winter and I was definitely worried
, but they came out like nothing ever happened.
I am pretty sure some people are going to scrutinize me for this, but, that is how we learn. Actually, weather data that I have researched from certain locals of africa Basically devided into five catagories (northern, mid, southern, east coastal, west coastal) have a noticeable difference in temps, so local is something else you might want to research into as well. What type of monitors are you speaking of?
-Aera
P.S- I am ready for the bombardment of expert knives, let 'em fly. I can only speak from the knowledge and deductions I have obtained over the last 20yrs of keeping herps, including monitors. Most of the EXPERTS on this forum are older then i, and a good bit of my knowledge on varanids are from publications, personal conversations with the old cronies, personal experience and well, as of the late, this forum.
Actually, it's prety funny that I even need to use this defense after giving my opinion. Proves the point once again, some people claim to be here for knowledge and to better understand our animals, but in reality, they are only here to pat themselves on the back daily and not for the hobby's advancement.

-Aera

To temps from 40f on up for periods of time from minutes to around an hour, Ive had the power off for hours in my house with temps dropping but not near that far. Some species adults are not bothered other than to slow them down, some do not do well below 50f, but African monitors are not tropical, in fact I wouldnt call most Australian species tropical either. Temp differences with my albigs, ackies, flavi-argus, storrs, timorensis, exanthematicus, niloticus, ornatus, that I have or had from 50f on up never effected them in any negative way.
Its always best to keep constant availability of usable temps, air and surface, with gradients that go from 68-90f, and surfaces from 130-195f, depends on that animals use of these temps.