Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just purchased a trio o these guys, I use trio loosely because they are unsexed. I have found some info on them online, but there isn't alot out there. I read they are relatively new to the hobby, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them. I have kept monitors before and bred Savannahs, but I am getting back into monitors and these guys are just to cool. I think that they are semi arboreal, and they don't seem to get to big or heavybodied. Any help or thoughts on diet or some husbandry tips would be appreciated.

I currently keep a V. melinus. They are triple threats, they love to dig right into soil,swim and scale everything. He is a 'cool' captive when he wants to be, but for the majority of the day/week, he is hiden. I've seen people keep them in groups, but i would have extra cages handy just incase they either get tired of each other or for breeding purposes. They like to be kept warm and humid. I have a cage thats super flooded with branches and cork. I vary my animals diet with seafood, small vertebrates and roaches. I buy shrimp in bulk and smelt in bulk from my local asian market. They also give me their throwaways like small fish heads,shrimp heads and other parts. V melinus are known to get well over 4 ft, but you're right, not a heavy bodied animal like V albigularis.

http://indicus-complex.webs.com/#

Check the link for V.melinus. The first few photos are of my animal from a few months ago.

Cool, thanks for the info. I'm glad you said they like to dig. I was going to use an organic potting soil that they sell at Home Depot.(fertilizer free) The guy I got them from had them all together, so I'll try that for now, but I have several large cages, and material to build others need be. These definetly hide a lot also. Thanks for your help. Anyone breeding these guys? Are they typical monitors, difficult to sex?

Yea, they are difficult to sex as smaller animals, but as they age, a thicker curved bottom jaw,higher tail crest,larger head and posture indicate male. Males of this species are also known to be prettier then girls. My animal is dark, but by the characteristics, he looks male.

There are a lot of people that have melinus, either individuals like me or groups that haven't done anything. I know of a gentleman on another forum that has a group of V. melinus...other then that, thats it.

Hopefully you come around to keeping and developing some more information on these guys as a group(growth, and go through reproductive cycles)...they need some justice. Post pics when you can.

I have to modify one of my cages, and I'll go pick them up next week. I'll post pics then. Two are very bright yellow, one is darker like yours. I checked out some of your youtube posts, yours seems very mellow, is this typical?

I've never given him a reason to be agressive. I've had to force handle him before to treat a small burn under his foot when he was about 12" and even then there wasn't much fuss. The only time he's put up a full display(tongue flaring, arching and show me his back) is when I introduced him to natural uvb one time.

Many people will report they aren't overly agressive animals. I really like my animal, he's cool when he wants to be. I have a lot of photos and vids of him appearing like he's the coolest thing to keep which to me, he's awesome, but he hides sooo much.
Sometimes he'll hide for days. I wish he didn't hide as much and had the same great attitude.

Hello,
I needn't ask how it got up there!? Hahaha! Great looking melinus... Best to You- Mike S

Also,
I agree, this lizard should have a much larger following... I think if if there was greater hope of reproducing these animals successfully more people would choose to keep them- they are very beautiful and have wonderful color variations. The ones I and friends have kept all ate off of tongs very willingly. Really a non-agressive enjoyable species. Best to you- Mike S

I've worked with a couple - they're funny little monitors. Like previously mentioned, they hide A LOT, but I notice that within a group there tends to be at least one that seems more "dominant" and will be out significantly more than others. Heat them up plenty and they'll be out at least once during the day. The older they get the more they seem to be out. One other thing - fat (or even just plump), well fed monitors have little reason to be out much during the day because they don't need to forage for food. They'll hide in the warmest spot of the cage for long periods to digest, rather than bask outright (although they can and will bask).

The San Diego Zoo has a pair on display in one of their reptile houses, they were both out and inspecting everything last time I visited and didn't seem too bothered by the masses walking by.

~jen
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"We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words."
- Anna Sewell (1820-1878)