Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can you guys give me the low down on dwarf timor monitors i cant find anything on the net and Bennets book has some but im trying to find some more info cause im looking at a dwarf timor right now and just need to know the basic questions how big? what size cage? i know they are found in australia so i know the heat requirements. Help me out!!

Timor monitors are not really from Austrailia. They are an indo species found on several islands.

Timors are known for being a very shy species and easily stressed. Personally, I wouldn't waste my money on that imported garbage(and yes....most for sale are imported...I rarely hear of someone producing timors in captivity). If you want a good starter dwarf monitor, I would suggest getting a red or yellow ackie as all are CBB since they are an Aussie species and they are much better to interact with.

Timors come from Timor island (hence the name) and a few other surrounding islands that are just north of western Australia There were a few subspecies of this monitor that are now considered full species that do occur on Australia (Similis and such I think.) but I am not too familiar with them as most of my interest is with waters and others from western indo/malay area. I do however keep three timors I do not find them to be all that shy with the exception of the one female I have. They get about 2 ft. They love insects and I have never had much success with them taking vertebrate prey (mammals anyway) not even pinks. they seem to somewhat take quail eggs as I remember but I haven't used them for a few years since I stopped raising quail. They are quite a bit more arboreal than most of the monitors I work with. Most of them are wild caught however there are people who breed them. There is a pet store where I live (Orlando fl. area) that had a clutch of babies a few years back and had them for quite a while because no one would buy them for some reason. In fact I think my female mat have laid eggs when I first got mine several years ago but I didn't realize it at the time and I have not tried that hard since to try to get eggs from them since although I am starting to concentrate on them more. I find them to be rather undemanding as far as monitors go and have had good luck with mine (other than breeding of course.)