Reptile & Amphibian Forums

does or has anybody kept this species- if so likes or dislikes. and is standard monitor husbandry sufficient.

Many folks here have kept them. I do not post much but saw yours and having had them for many years I can tell you if you enjoy interacting with your monitor then forget it.
They tend to dissapear and you never see them. Now if you give them unsutable set ups like astro turf and no hide spots they would be visable but most likley unhappy. I have seen one or two posts where they are hatchlings and are out on a branch but these are not tree monitors despite the name the were tabbed for early on.
To me they are much more like a mangrove or indonesian species.
I keep tree monitors both blue and green and they are as far from them as you can be.

They are priced better than ever at 250.00 (do not pay more) but I bought mine for over a grand when first brought in about oh 8/9 years ago. Non agressive get thick but not water monitor big but as I said give them soil and they will burrow to china. You will notice food being eaten and thats about it.

I actually thought about trying to develope an enclosure that would minumize the hide spots but is that really best for the buggers so I aborted that!

Good luck eaither way. I plan on going either PEACHIES like my bro Mike or Dumerls.

Cheers
THE BAT

www.batlizard.com

thanks for the info.

I have two melinus monitors, and both unlike mangroves are very friendly, they never have tried to bite. The older one is more shy and generally doesn't like being watched from far away. Once he is in your hands he settles down and relaxes. The other, the younger, is very fearless and friendly. Every day at 9:30am he is up and darting about his cage putting on feats of acrobatics as if he were entertaining a paying audience. It is my belief that the difference between my two has a lot to do with their individual comfort level due to the age when human interaction on a regular basis began. The more secure they feel the more they will spend less time hiding. Matter of fact at the time of composing this letter one is sitting chilling out on my shoulder napping on and off. I am selling a melinus monitor about a year old if you are interested. E-mail me at mattfremgen@yahoo.com
Yellow spotted monitors are really a joy to take care of if your willing to spend time with them.

-matt

I acquired a hatchling last August, and it has never been shy. When I clean it’s cage or change the water bin this guy will walk right up to my hands or arm and hop right on. It takes food from my fingers, and is fearless. Sure, he burrows and sometimes sleeps in them but spends all day out and about, doing monitor things.

I am betting that the younger you get one, the less shy they are. Either way it has been a great species to work with so far.

Regards,
Lou

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