Hey there,
I will try to tackle your questions, having owned a few timors in my day..
1. The cage size you described seems adequate; I would make the longer dimension the height, because they will do a great deal of climbing.. It is also important to construct the enclosure so that humidity does not escape, ie. screening-terrible for keeping an enclosure humid. Keep in mind, timors come from indonesia, which, for the most part is rather humid... Reptiles die when they become dehydrated from improper humidity, monitors are no exception.
2. Timor monitors in my experience NEVER calm down. Many others will tell you that Timors are probably one of the most skittish and high strung monitor out there. Perhaps if you are able to locate a TRUE captive bred individual(more about this later), you might have a shot at making it "handleable", but in my opinion, they do much better when left alone. If you are looking for something handleable, in a pint size like the timor, go for an ackie or storr's monitor... They have great outgoing personalities and most do not mind being handled.
3. A good captive diet for timors would be primarily insects, ie. crickets, roaches, mealworms, superworms, etc.. as well as baby mice.
4. Captive Breeders???? I do not know of anybody who breeds timors consistently.. All of the hatchings that I know about have been rather sporadic.. I would have to say that 99% of all the timors out there are wild caught...regardless of what somebody may tell you...ALWAYS ask to see proof of them being captive bred, ie. pics of breeding, eggs, hatching.. most people cannot back up their claims because they are lying.. So, chances are, if you do purchase a timor, regardless of its size/age, it is going to be a wirey, skittish, nervous little lizard...
In all honesty, if it is a "pet" that you are looking for, go with an ackie or storrs... I hope this helps you in your decision... Take it easy,
bob
The Odatriad
