Reptile & Amphibian Forums

this is the first time i have caught her out in four months! here are some pics!! my male is in the background.

How easy/difficult are these guys to keep? I know of a few breeders and it's always been my favorite from books, and photos.

I've also read many conflicting numbers on size.. I've read that they only get 3-4 feet total length, (Snout to tip of tail), I've also red that they get 5-6 feet long, and are heavy bodied, similar to a Savanna of Cape. I've also read that they are as nasty or even more so than a Nile and absolutly hate any human contact.

Explain a bit about your setup, feeding schedule etc... If you don't mind. Also, post some more photos!

Thanks,
-Kory

they are not a beginner lizard at all under any circumstance!! but they are not hard to keep at all ether! my male shot up to 3 feet in the first year or so, and is still growing but it has slowed down a lot... id say 4 feet would be the max. Snout to tip of tail.
no they are a leaner lizard.

yes!! they are or can be very nasty!! the Nile I had a few years ago would bite more but it never attacked me. these guys have there days when u can hold them but then again they have there days when they will try to kill you...haha but they only bite as a last resort... all in all they just need there space and just need to be watched. they don't mind that too much.

as of now they don't have a feed schedule bc they just woke up! but as soon as they get back on there normal day, night pattern I will feed them every other day as much as they will eat. I have noticed that my male will eat anything that moves with out thinking about it at all, but my female takes her time smells it... scratches it... moves it around... and then grabs it and rips it apart!!haha
my cage is 8x4x3 but soon as i get the money im goin to make a 15x8x3! they have a cool side, a very hot side (130-140)! a water dish and plinty of hides!! much like any other deser lizad!!

ill get some more pics. as soon as i can!!

Thanks for the info etc. I look forward to seeing more pics! I've been "out" of collecting monitors for about 10 years or so, but recently saw a Desert Monitor at a store in Socal and well, you know how it is!

My first monitor was a Nile, which grew to almost 6ft, and was 20years plus when he died. From there I had Savannas, Capes, Roughnecks, Dumerils, an Argus, and a Green Tree monitor. I raise mostly vegetarians now... Tortoises, Cyclura Iguanas, and Chuckwallas. It's a bit cheaper on food, and way less smell

The challenge is not a problem, as long as they are hardy in captivity, once established. Do you know if they easily get respiratory infections, or have other health issues not common with other species?

Thanks again,
-Kory

they are very hardy the only thing is depression! but i havent had any problems with that at all!!