Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'am looking into getting one but i cant find any info on the web.

So any info on the care of this monitor would be appreciated.
And if you have any pics that would be nice too.

I think I saw a pair for sale on the classifieds of this site not more then a few days ago...

V.Melinus is in the Indicus complex, captive husbandry, housing and diet are all similar within this complex.

I keep a 1.1 pair of Jobiensis in an 8'L, 3'W, 8'H enclosure with plenty of hides and basking sites.

I CONSIDER THIS ENCLOSURE THE BARE MINIMUM FOR AN ADULT PAIR!!

Ambient temps range from 79 to 90 degrees, basking sites vary from 95 to 130.
Humidity range 75% to 100%(I spray my Peachthroats alot).
I feed them Roaches and Rodents as a staple.
I do offer mine shrimp, mussles, squid, june bugs, cicada, and katydids.
I hope this helps.
Mike

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Mike's Monitors!

Who took that photo ? ? ?

it wouldn't be this goofy looking character would it?

I'm always impressed with your caging...you really have to stand in front of them and see them in person to truly appreciate them! Great job BRO!

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Mike Heinrich,
Mike@amazontreeboa.org
www.amazontreeboa.org

Mike
Your the one!
Next time your here I want some good shots of the Hatchlings.
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

care isn't any different than any other Indo monitor, really.

they are available as spectacular babies on the classifieds all day long, at a great price.

but as adults they make miserable captives, and provide a miserable experience.

i would suggest looking more towards the Peachies, if that type of monitor intrigues you.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

why do the adults make such poor captive monitors?

Robyn, a friend of mine near here has a pair that from a distance look like giant yellow bananas and are wonderful Varanids. I quit breeding Varanids over 20 years ago but recently bought 6 juvies because of seeing Erics. Keep in mind right now mine are in 4' x 2' x 3' tall outdoor cages. I liked his so much I'm considering breeding these as adults outside they are one of the most remarkable Monitors I've seen. Why do they make poor captives as I've only had juvies. Keep in mind if I decide to work with them they will be outside year round in spacious accomidations...TC...By the way Erics are almost 5' long and almost solid bright yellow!!!!

By the way Erics are almost 5' long and almost solid bright yellow!!!!

Interesting. Quince Monitors were recommended to me, as a smaller monitor, by the person I bought an Albig from. He also said they had become his favorite monitor to work with.
Any chance of some pictures of these 5ft bananas?

Susan.

Next time I go there I will as well as pics of 15 year plus captive 10-13' croc Monitors. Amazing collection.....TC

Next time I go there I will as well as pics of 15 year plus captive 10-13' croc Monitors.

That got my attention!- Yes please.

Susan.
ps.a yardstick next the 13footer if he lets you

I can do better than that. He actually walks up to the shelf the biggest one is usually on[its blind] and lets it flick its tongue on his face. He has taken one severe bite on the arm and is well aware of what could happen. He has adult Goulds[real ones] and a plethora of lizards and chelonians that one now seldom sees. Thats where the long term Cuora galbinfrons I had came from....I'm not suggesting he's a novice but more like a "Grace Olive Wiley" of lizards. I know FR will know who that is.....TC

No monitor has ever been reliably and proven to exceed about 10'3" (Sri Lankan V. salvator). If it's anywhere near even 11' long, it's a WORLD RECORD. You should get a solid picture of the animal with a measuring reference of some type. That would be interesting for sure!

Krusty

Did you know Grace? I lived very close to her when I was young.

ALso, I have pure goulds and have bred them for many generations. Even produced some odd ones. One hatched out pure banded. I rasied it up and its one of the prettist monitors I have ever seen.

Also, I bred croc monitors several times. They seem to be blind to close objects, same with many large monitors. They depend on smelling objects up close. So yes, putting your hand up and letting them smell you, really eases their minds. Cheers

Tom
Like I said the adult male I got from Robyn will eat right from your hand. This Melinus has sired many cross clutches of Melinus/Indicus.
My friend really likes his and when ever I go to his place it is always out and about!
No empty cage syndrom there.
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

you have probably mentally crippled the poor thing with that mug of yours, and he has just given up all hope.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Robyn
That Melinus wasn't with me that long...and if you think my mug scared it your wrong.
This guy is uglier than both of us! LOL
Mike
Again he loves that Monitor!
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Mike's Monitors!

it all comes down to personal choice, but i know quite a few keepers that have tried with these guys and just had a poor experience.

the babies are fine to keep, very easy. perhaps a very large cage for adults is key.

we constantly battled social issues, biting and tearing between adults, they hid constantly, super skittish.

i am sure you can keep lots of monitors successfully Tom. for a beginner keeper, i think they are still a terrible choice : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Hi Tom. First off, Robyns comments are very very correct, but mainly aimed at the newbie keeper. What a newbie keeper and you see in a monitor would be polar opposites. What a newbie keeper and you will do with them are polar opposites.

For the advanced keeper(if there is such a thing) They are boring and no fun(OK thats my opinion,hahahahaha) They are so because they and in particular, females, are so very shy. Not mean, not flighty. They just stay hidden for long periods of time. For the breeder or the hopeful breeder, they need to hide during key events. Which means, you may miss when they are gravid or have nested.

An example is, Fort Worth zoo hatched a few. Only they did not know they had a gravid female or even eggs for that matter. One day, bam babies in the cage. For me, it was another example of the empty cage syndrome. They are kinda like having a nice empty cage. Which as we know is sometimes nice. hahahahahahahaha

I had them until I acquired True flavis. Now my yellow fix is taken care of with beautiful yellow monitors(V.flavirufus), that do not get so big and do not hide, and do everything in front of you, and lay as many clutches as I want them to lay, and if money means anything, they are worth twice or more and are NOT IMPORTED so the value is not artificially driven to pennies. They do not bite, neither do melinus. They train so easily, food means everything to them.

But if they blow your undergarmets up, then by all means go for them. Keep in mind, like other monitors, not all are pretty, in fact, some melinus are bEEEEEE hind end ugly. hahahahahahaha

Other then not comunicating well with their keepers, they are normal varanid ware. Cheers

always liked and years ago bred were V. flavescens. I've not seen or heard of any for many, many years. Are there still any about and is anyone working with them? Heck most folks never even heard of them......TC

They are appendix 1 and you know how that goes. Of course, they are/were in Europe, saw them there. But we must follow those dang rules we make up. Cheers

It's funny you say that about the species Robyn, that huge adult male you gave me will eat right out of your hand now!
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

But any male monitor will not only eat out of your hand, but also take your hand as well. hahahahahahahahaha

To be truthful Mike, tell everyone what happened to the ones you have years back. You see, that is most likely to happen with most people. History has shown they die off, or there were be millions out there, as they are commonly imported.

As I mentioned to Tom, Robyns advice is correct for newbies and average keepers. Melinus IS NOT the monitor for them. The only reason is COST. They are cheap. Being Cheap, folks want them to be a good newbie monitor. That they are not. Cheers

Frank
Any Melinus I ever owned went to my friend, unfortunately all females died off. BUT the big male I got from Robyn is still kicking out hatchlings.
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

Tinley Park show. You had a butt load of them with you.
That must have been about the time they quit "blowin your skirt up".
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

What would be a butt load? I think the most I ever had was five at one time. Is that a butt load? Just wondering Cheers

"I think the most I ever had was five at one time. Is that a butt load?"

That depends on the size of your butt.

Ha! Couldn't resist that one.

See ya!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

I have a cute little butt, so it could be. The real point is, I think I took two to that show. Which of course is only a butt load for someone with a weee tiny bum. Ya think?

Of course, he could have mixed up Melinus and Flavis. Cheers

5 of any species you show no interest in is a butt load to me!
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

I think I had two at that show, and I was selling them because I was no longer interested in them. Is that wrong.

Is that not what you have done in the past. Or should I keep them because I am no longer interested in them?

Personally, I think we should fine folks that ARE interested in what we are no longer wanting to keep.

I am really wondering, what in the heck is your point?

At least I actually kept them to decide whether I liked them or not, I did not go by anybodies word. Just my own experience.

There is nothing really wrong with them, there was nothing really right either. So I choose to keep what I have fun with. Again, is that wrong????

Then when someone asks my opinion, Or i offer my opinion to a asked question, what am I suppose to offer, my opinion, or someone elses? Again, I think I am suppose to give my opinion based on my experiences. Cheers

Frank you can stick them in your moon for all I care, I never liked them either! So I did like you and dumped them.
Now they are with a guy who loves them and breeds them.
Mike

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Mike's Monitors!

Is that what your saying, if it is, why did you say anything??????

And are you saying you know someone who is consistantly breeding melinus. Or is it someone who is breeding a male melinus to mangroves??????

You see, the point of my post was that FEMALE melinus were the problem for breeders as they hid all the time and most keepers did not even know they were gravid. Then is anyone would have CARED TO ASK, if you force female melinus to stay out in the open, THEY FAILED. And like with so many monitors, they did not fail right away, but did fail in short order. Short order is a comparison to normal females what have dozens of clutches in them.

SO again, WHY did you even post?????? Cheers

Your right Frank, I know nothing about them!
Thanks for your input.
Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

Where did I say anything about what you know????? nowhere sir. I asked why you even responded to that thread?

What I had or sold that that show, as nothing to do with that thread, period, and you know that. Your simply being weird or something. A butt load of them, is what you said, man that is one silly statement and it sure is telling something about you. When In reality, I may of had two at the show and the most I ever had at once was five. Two adults and three babies. A butt load, dude what are you smoking?

And again you failed to address any questions I asked you. Why? Cheers

Frank
The subject went unanswered for a while...so I responded.
To answer your question you'll have to reread my original post to the subject, that is why I responded. Funny thing is how far this thread has gone without one word from the original poster! LOL

Sir...(thats funny!!) a butt load to me(everybodies different) was the ONE Robyn sent to me.
It was a huge beast, you'd have to see it!!

Mike

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Mike's Monitors!

I'd rather have my finger nails ripped out then have to take in a Melinus.

Melinus make the best pet monitors. In fact I’ll sell you a couple of ‘em.

Just kidding. I more or less concur with what Robyn an FR are telling you. Cheers