Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i'm setting up a 75gal tank for my bluetailed monitor. i want to make it as natural to its native home as possible but can't find anything about if its more of a wooded area with many logs or what. please help me out.

k

If you want to be more naturalistic, dump the 75gal. These guys get over 5ft in length and are very active foragers when not disturbed. I have mine housed in an 8x2x4ft cage that is too small in my opinion. There is roughly 12in of mulch and numerous cork and wood hides and a large sweater box of water. The one I have is from the region of Dore where the original holotype was found. The region is heavily forested and near human habitation, they are found foraging in late afternoon on tree branches and roofs of huts. Mark Bayless should have some scientific sources that have observations in their native habitat.

its just for now its still little. thanks for the advice

Hi Rich,

How did you know? As a matter of fact I do, a few sources to be exact. V. doreanus live in open forest riparian habitat where freshwater is present, and feed on crustaceans in the waters. This species can be found co-habitating with V. jobiensis and V. salvadorii, although the latter 2 occupy other niches in similar habitats nearby (arboreal and well as fossorial). V. doreanus in captivity tend to engage in lethal combat unless ample space, multiple basking spots, multiple feeding stations, hiding spots and so on...as Rich says, they are BIG lizards, with BIG teeth, V. salvadorii-like mouth/teeth, so they can inflict razor-like deep lacerations to one another/keeper.

There are a very few articles/sources to their habitat, if your seriously interested, feel free to email me.
Good Luck,
mbayless

Dont think because the live in the forest that they dont like to dig. They make better burrows then Ackies! Mine have three feet of leaf/dirt substrate and make excellant burrows and tunnel as well. Size also depends on local.
Good Luck, Robert

I hope you find good information of what doreanus live in. That is very nice. But unfortunately has little positive effect on how to care for them in captivity.

In captivity, its required to find out what the animals hide(live) in. the temps, humidy and type of surface, as most of their life is in these areas. With monitors this boils down to two basic types, Xeric monitors, the ones that live in arid and semi-arid habitats, these mostly use the earth as their base. and Mesic(rapairian) monitors, ones that live where the ground is to wet to live in. These types find raised areas to find shelter. These normally find dead trees, hollow limbs, litter piles and at times, high sand mounds created by high water.

All monitors use these base areas to control their lifes, temp, humdity, escape predators, escape extreme conditions, etc.
This information is what is by far the most important to understand in captivity. For this information, check out Rsg's post on Dums. a day or so ago. (he also has this species)

What and how a species forages and finds food is more or less unless in captivity, as here they eat out of a bowl(just an example) But never are allowed to wander a swamp, or pond, desert, etc.

About aboreal, in captivity its normally a very silly term. Unless you are willing to jack a large hole in your roof and build a 50 to 200 foot tall cage, its not going to be aboreal. I believe a monitor knows its not up in a tree, no matter how many branchs you put in the cage. The same as a monitor knows its not in a pond or river, by putting a bowl of water in its cage. Normally our conditions only allow 8 feet or lower, that is climbed, normally and often by even the least aboreal monitors. F