Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello. I am considering buying a Black Roughneck, (Varanus Rudicollis)- I think.... Does anyone know of a link or website with care sheets/information on this species? The information I gathered from the clerk was not as detailed as would have liked, but he was rushed,( I was one of like 8 customers at the time.) Even better would be someone with first hand expierence keeping black roughnrecks.

Thanks in advance,
Jesse Custer

contact Ben Aller at roughneckmonitors.com

Do you have the exact email? The website is not up and running yet.

>>Do you have the exact email? The website is not up and running yet.

Comes up for me. And it is.....

admin@roughneckmonitors.com
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

I am not rudi expert but will share what I have learned over the last few months.
I built a tall cage, not tall by rudi standards but as tall as I could in my house.
My biggest problem was figuring out how to maintain 80% humidity.
I have ledges and boxes high up stuffed full of leaf litter.
I also have a few feet of leaf litter on the floor.
Basking temp is,(just checked hahaha) is 137.
My temps are lower than the Aussie and African species I kept.
When I had them between 90 and 70, the seemed to spend most of their time buried in the litter or in the water.
Now I have adjusted the temps to 84 to 72.
They have become more active.
My head is kinda fuzzy right now, if you have any more questions, I will do my best to answer.

If I am doing anything wrong, I hope, hell I know, someone will point it out. hahahaha

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Thanks for the help. I think I'm going to buy this little guy today. I have a 40 gallon tall all set up with 2 elevated hide spots, lots of faux plants, lots of climbing branches, bark as substrate, a big pool, and a ground hide spot. I got a 150 watt spotlight, a 5.0 uvb, and an undertank heating pad, and a digital themometer with probe. I moved the cage from the basement where ambient was 67, upstairs to where it's now 80-75. The basking spot is at 105 and climbing. I'm on my way now to pick the little one up, and from what I've gathered he should be pretty comfortable in his new home. If I am missing something for his enclosure, please tell me.

Thanks,

Jesse Custer

Great, enjoy. Some things that came to mind:

1. Ditch the uvb it’s not needed at all.
2. I wouldn’t use an undertank heater…just rely on the light for their heat – that way you know right away if it is working or not and you can easily adjust basking heights / wattage to get where you need to be.
3. Figure out some way to cover the tank to prevent moisture loss…very common and dangerous with an open (screen) top enclosure for little ones.
4. Lower the wattage of your spot – er actually use a flood instead. You should reach the desired basking temps easily with a 45 watt flood in that size enclosure (130 surface) and minimize the moisture loss a 150 will cause.
5. Get some natural forest mulch for substrate (works like leaf litter) and make it as deep as you can in that tank. My rudi does not climb as much as I expected, he is a ground dweller 90% of the time and likes to bury himself down in the mulch.

Anyway, good luck – rudi’s are great.

Tom

Just got home with my first Varanus Rudicollis AKA Black Roughneck Monitor!!!!!! Thanks for the help. I got the under tank heating pad directly under my water dish/pool so that it evaporates quickly and helps keep humidity levels higher. I know you were saying to find a way to keep moisture inside the cage, and thats a method I thought might help. If I'm way off please say so. BTW- 1.How much of the screen top can I cover to prevent humidity loss? 2. Is plasic wrap o.k., assuming it's far enough away from a bulb, and if not what material is acceptable? 3.How often do I feed?

Thanks,

Jesse Custer

I would cover the entire top and use aluminum foil.

You bought an animal without even knowing how to feed it.....very sad.

Thank you for your help. I should cover the whole top portion with aluminum foil? Does that mean I should put the basking bulb inside the cage, or can it "go" through it? It's a 40 gallon tall so it would be a tight squeeze... Also, thank you for your concern, but I was merely seeking yet another opinion on a feeding schedule. I have heard and read a few different opinions on the matter, and was hoping to be enlightened by another, more personal account. I cannot tell if you meant your words to be offensive, but if not, and your truely trying to help someone, I suggest using education, not judgement.

Thanks again,

Jesse Custer

Post pictures of your set up and we can help further.
If possible, place the basking light inside.
If not, cover the entire screen with tinfoil except where the light is.
Sart making plans for a larger enclosure.
The aquarium won't last long.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Hello Kap & Jesse,
Correction, the aquarium will last long but the monitor won't if it has to stay in it for life... In fact, my advice is to keep it in the tank for the night and buy a trough tomorrow- Get your lizard off to a good start, it's a rough start at best right now- It's up to you to change this... Best to you- Mike